Theology professor Dr. Steven Bridge, of Standish, introduces glass-cutting venture in Haiti

STANDISH, ME (01/30/2014)(readMedia)-- In its tenth year of bringing volunteers to Haiti and Guatemala to work on housing, educational, and health projects, Saint Joseph's College's International Service Trips saw the introduction of a new project in Haiti in early January of this year. Dr. Steven Bridge, a professor and chair of the college's theology department, introduced a glass-cutting business venture to women in Haiti.

Bringing his own faceting equipment, Bridge spent a week teaching seven local women how to cut and polish discarded material – glass of all shapes, colors, and sizes. The equipment ran exclusively on solar energy.

The result was four cut and polished items: a 19-carat dodecagon, a 4.31-carat octagon, a 2.17-carat trillion, and a five-carat octagon. These items were then listed on eBay, where the proceeds of the auctions were split: half went directly back to the seven women and half went to fund additional faceting equipment and maintenance, which will help continue the project. In total, the auction raised $306.50.

The college's International Service Trips are coordinated in conjunction with Partners in Development (PID), a nonprofit organization committed to the education and economic advancement of the developing world. PID is based out of Ipswich, Massachusetts. The college has been partnering with PID since 2004.

Saint Joseph's College is Maine's only Catholic college, providing a supportive, personalized, and career-focused education for more than 100 years. From its 430-acre campus on the shore of Sebago Lake, the college offers more than 40 undergraduate programs to a population of approximately 1,000 students. Saint Joseph's College Online provides certificates, undergraduate and advanced degrees for working adults through an online learning program. For more, visit www.sjcme.edu.