‘To spread knowledge is to spread peace’. Those were the words inscribed by means of a Sharpie onto the inside of a linen tent. The message, surrounded by hundreds of other thoughtful messages, was inscribed on the canvas tents of Camp Darfur. Edina High School hosted the traveling exhibit on Monday, October 5, 2009. “Learning about past genocides sparked my interest in becoming more aware involved, in current world crisis,” says Jen Choi, a senior at Edina High School (EHS). Students were encouraged to ask questions and participate in short discussions before continuing on to the next tent. Seniors Shara Mohtadi and Emma Weisberg led the organization of the event, and they also reside over their newly founded STAND chapter. “Students are not only the leaders of tomorrow,” says Mohtadi, “but of today.” Students came out more aware than ever before, as many admitted to never having heard of the Armenian or Cambodian genocides. “If we can even change the perspective of one person,” says Weisberg, “Then it’s all worth it.” Hours of organization, two tents lost in transit and six hundred student audience members later, it was most definitely worth it.
Reflection by Edina High School Leaders Shara Mohtadi and Sasha Rieland
I have been organizing and hosting Darfur events and action campaigns since I first heard Ruth Messinger from AJWS speak at Portland State University in Spring 2005. I have been traveling with Camp Darfur since September 2007. I can’t even count how many presentations I’ve given or conversations I’ve had over these years. Like many, I am tired and I wish I didn’t have to give anymore because peace and justice have reached our friends. Last Friday I rediscovered why I do what I do.
So often I tell people that I continue to take action for the people of Darfur, but I also continue this work to empower the next generation of leaders to take control of their future and the future of our world. The students at Vaughn International Studies Academy in Pacoima, CA reminded me that Camp Darfur still has the intense impact to inspire an entire school and move them to action.
Students ran the entire day. They had prepared for 6 weeks. Putting together slideshow presentations for Armenia, Holocaust, Rwanda, Darfur and food rations. Each group gave 5-6 presentations each period for 5 periods. One student, Oscar, took on the role of explaining the panels with drawings from Darfur children of the attacks on their villages. He poured his heart out and brought me to tears. He got everyone to pull our their cell phones and text Secretary of State Clinton. Administrators were touched, and the middle school was invited last minute because the principle was so proud to see his students passion channeled into such an event.
Before we had left the students had already brainstormed ideas to get more of their student body involved and decided that they wanted to bring Camp Darfur back in the fall and open up to their parents and the rest of the community. Normally Gabriel and I do something during Camp Darfur, but on this particular Friday instead of me standing in front of students trying to inspire them, I was re-inspired by VISA High School students.
We meet thousands of students every year at universities and high schools around the country! Many are affected by the faces and stories of the Darfur refugees that we have met. Our hope with Camp Darfur and our presentations is that the students involved will be moved and empowered to take action. Here are a few examples.
Adam Sensenbrenner, a student from Appalachian State Univeristy in North Carolina, wrote in his Holocaust Seminar Dollar Paper:
“In a time of political and economic change it is important to remember our duty as American citizens. As young people we can make a lasting impact on the persecuted cultures of the world. We are the advocates for those less fortunate. We must be the voice of concern for those forced to be silent. The world may turn a blind eye to the citizens of Darfur, but with the combined efforts of the American citizens and our leaders we can end the genocide of Darfur.”
Adam understands not only the urgency, but also the power that we hold. We can make change.
Last Friday, Gabriel and I spoke to a collection of Journalism students from four South Bay High Schools here in California. Journalists competing in the News, Opinion, and EditorialCartoons listened and asked questions for up to an hour. In 30 minutes they produced well thought out articles and sketches. You can view and read the results of the 2009 Write Off! There is even one about our old friend Ahmet.
On Wednesday November 12, four large boxes arrived in the student union office at Brandeis University. The next morning members of the Brandeis STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition chapter began assembling the contents of these boxes into large tents. By the time three tents were assembled, the fifth box had arrived.
The tents were assembled in the Shapiro Campus Center. Many students and professors pass through this area at some point throughout the day. A large portion of these people stopped by to visit the tents. In addition Mark Auslander, a professor from the anthropology department at Brandeis, and Sabina Carlson, the education coordinator for STAND gave inspiring speeches. The tents were up for most of the day to raise awareness and spark action to stop the genocide in Darfur.
Last week the University of Idaho Center for Volunteerism and Social Action got in touch with Stop Genocide Now in hopes of bringing the Camp Darfur tents back to the campus as it was such an eye opening event last year. We arranged a FedEx pick-up and within a couple of days five large boxes arrived.
I felt a bit overwhelmed at first as only a couple of us arrived in the morning to set the tents up between classes. However, I was quickly inspired by the number of students who stopped to ask us what we were doing which led into several great conversations about the hundreds of thousands of Darfuri people who have been murdered and the millions that have been driven out of their homes. I was even more inspired by the fellow students who stuck around and volunteered their time to help us set up the tents.
One thing that really stuck out and I keep going back to is the reaction one girl had after she went into the Darfur tent. She was astonished that this was going on and she had heard nothing about it. It really took me back that after five years people are still having this big surprise. I started to realize that it had been only a year ago that I knew nothing about the genocide in Darfur.
The few minutes of coverage the media provides on the lives being destroyed in Darfur is not early enough. It is up to people like you and me to let others know.
An interactive awareness and education event that brings attention to the ongoing genocide in Darfur, Sudan, and gives individuals the opportunity to discover their own power to make a difference. This traveling refugee camp raises awareness and examines Sudan’s Darfur region and its humanitarian crisis – genocide – by placing it in historical context with Armenia, Holocaust, Cambodia, and Rwanda. Camp Darfur empowers communities to raise their voice and take action for the individuals of Darfur.
Check out what others have said about Camp Darfur below!
Living on an island, it’s easy to forget that there is a world out there in need of our care and continued consideration. As part of the Dream for Darfur torch relay event in Honolulu, Camp Darfur was able to bring that sense of reality to the participants of the event, as well as many curious students at the University of Hawaii campus. Through the use of powerful visual images, personal stories from victims and historical accounts of five genocides including Darfur, guests were able to learn and gain a better understanding for the continuing violence that occurs globally when we forget the past and ignore the present. The tents, which were designed to illustrate the simple living conditions of the displaced victims of the Darfur genocide, were covered in signatures from past Camp Darfur participants, and guests of all ages were able to send their own personal message to the victims, creating a more personalized experience. Participants were so pleased, and many thanked us for giving them the opportunity to truly see the violence that too often seems to have become background noise in the news media. Several students were so affected by what they experiences that tears welled in their eyes, and all they could do was ask, “how can I help?” Katie-Jay and Gabriel, thank you so much for sharing your incredible vision and stories from Chad and giving the people of Hawaii the opportunity to feel what they only have had the opportunity to read about.
Despite agreeing to a United Nations/African Union joint peacekeeping mission, Sudan has continued to put obstacles on the deployment of the force. We have started a petition urging President Bush to use the last year of his presidency to push for a stronger UNAMID protection force in Darfur. Lend us your voice by signing our petition!
Gali Slayen from the STAND chapter from Lincoln High School, Portland OR writes to us:
Camp Darfur was an incredible experience to bring to my high school. It gave over a thousand students the opportunity to learn about past genocides and the current genocide taking place in Darfur. The students were really affected by the tents and found it to be a really meaningful learning experience. It opened eyes to the atrocities taking place in Sudan. The other Dream for Darfur events were also very meaningful. Seeing “Darfur Now”, listening to a refugee speak, and attending a candle light vigil to remember all that have passed have empowered me to become more involved and fulfill my duty to help stop the genocide.
Dee Homans shares with us the excitement of Camp Darfur in Santa Fe
Camp Darfur came to Santa Fe at the beginning of December. Set up on the historic downtown plaza, it contrasted strangely with the first signs of Christmas; The large trees overhanging the tents were already festooned with multi-colored lights and people paraded past, their shopping bags filled with gifts. In the center of the Plaza is an obelisk on which there is a description of the Spanish conquest of the Native Americans from which the word /savage / has been chiseled out. Calling to mind the genocide of the Indian peoples, it was a powerful place for Camp Darfur. I remember particularly the individuals who wandered in at surprising moments–in the cold and in the dark–and expressed their thanks for the exhibit being here. Construction workers came down off their scaffolding at the Palace of the Governors to look and a policeman came by to say it was a great event.
As the weekend approached, winter storms were predicted, and our small group was anxious that the weather would work against us. But, thankfully, aside from some drizzle and violent winds that flattened three tents during the first night, the weather cooperated! The nearly constant greyness set the mood for the exhibit which included displays on Rwanda, Cambodia, Armenia, the Holocaust and Darfur. In addition, we set up an “action tent” in which we had petitions and ideas for ways people could get involved as well as /Voices from Darfur /running constantly on a TV monitor. A great group of volunteers of all ages helped collect hundreds of signatures on the petitions over the course of the weekend.
On Friday more than 200 students representing five different schools visited. Katie-Jay and Gabriel gave excellent introductions to the exhibit including a challenge to the students to engage in on-the-spot-activism by pulling out their cellphones and calling 1-800-GENOCIDE. Some of the students were visibly uncomfortable given that they weren’t /supposed /to have their phones on them, but when given special dispensation from their teachers, tried it. Later on in the day and on Saturday, groups of students returned, pen and paper in hand, and took notes for projects they’d been assigned. And a young man from a local youth radio program came by with his microphone. A couple of teachers expressed interest in inviting Cam Darfur back to their schools! Students from the Rotary Club had constructed a shelter next to Camp Darfur with the intention of showing how refugees live–who are not so lucky as to have been given standard U.N. canvas tents. They camped out for two days around a partially filled bowl of grain, with a “fire”( flashlight and red tissue paper) glowing weakly in the corner. One of the more striking moments was when Ibrahim Adam–who is from Darfur and came to speak at the Olympic Torch Relay–arrived. He squatted inside the shelter and told the students about his family who all are living in similar structures in Chad and Darfur.
On Saturday people were “called” to the beginning of the Olympic Torch Relay by the African Chorus of the United World College who processed singing, dancing and clapping on to the gazebo where the speakers were seated. Previously Ibrahim had greeted the chorus who introduced themselves and their coutries of origin, and he’d referred to the numbers of Darfurian refugees in many of those countries. Following the chorus and prior to the speakers, Gilbert Sanchez, a former governor of one of the Native American Pueblos on the Rio Grande, gave an invocation and the mayor read the proclamation declaring December 1st, /Act for Darfur Day./ After the speakers, the 150 or so participants made a circle around the Olympic Torch which Ibrahim lit, and as the African Chorus sang, the clouds opened and the sky, for a moment, was blue.
Gabriel, Mohamed Yahya, and I trekked all over Oregon with Camp Darfur and the Olympic Torch! Months of planning, phone calls, emails and almost weekly meetings in Portland culminated last week with 5 days of events in 3 cities! Gabriel and I kicked off the week with Camp Darfur at Lincoln High School, which was attended by well over 1200 students! Survivors from Armenia, the Holocaust and Cambodia spoke and petitions, lots of petitions, were signed. Thursday was a busy day – we facilitated 3 workshops at the Oregon Peacemakers Conference, did one presentation and screened Darfur Now. Mohamed, Gabriel and I sat on a panel afterwards and almost everyone in the packed theatre stayed. I strongly urge you to see this film, its one of the most powerful I have seen about the genocide. Saturday the three of us drove to Eugene and back for their torch lighting ceremony to pressure China. Sunday the team split up – Gabriel headed up and over Mt. Hood to Bend for their torch lighting and Mohamed and I stayed in Portland for our Interfaith Service: Never Again and candlelight/torch vigil. All in all it was a great week! One participant who drove all the way from Moscow, Idaho said:
“… I have heard people speak now in three of the cities and then different speakers from STAND and no one spoke as loudly as you. No one was able to get me as fired up as you did and so I thought that was important to share. I know I am not the only one that stood out there today and felt so inspired and ready to take action!”
It was a busy but highly successful and inspiring week of events in Oregon!
Rachel Utesch from Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne writes:
Camp Darfur was like nothing I have experienced before. Right in front
of me were 5 tents where I could learn all about our world’s genocides
in the 20th century. After each genocide, humanity would say “Never
Again.” But it happened again. And again. And again…. not only did my
heart break, but it also grew fierce with determination to not let
these people down again. Eleanor Roosevelt said, “It isn’t enough to
talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to
believe in it. One must work at it.” I do not want to be a part of a
generation that stands aside. Thanks Camp Darfur for coming–you made
a difference in a lot of people!
I was extremely moved and motivated by the Camp Darfur exhibit. It really illustrated the history of past genocides, and how “never again” continues to happen again and again. Yet in addition to the horrific images of death and destruction, Katie-Jay and Gabriel brought a sense of hope and optimism. In the online video clips from the refugee camps, I saw the bright, beautiful people of Darfur; their smiles and laughter, their colorful clothing and most of all, their human emotion. I saw the joy and sadness of an elderly woman as she caught a glimpse of her grandson via the webcam, an emotion any person, anywhere, could relate to. These people, in all their despair and desperation, have not at all given up hope to a future without genocide, and neither should we.
UI bustled with activism during our stay in Moscow, ID. Camp Darfur participated in a week long series of events dedicated to raising awareness about genocide and increasing student activism. Seventy-five body bags covered the lawn and 600 letters were signed to demand action by Idaho’s Senators, Representatives, and President Bush. A brand new STAND chapter, only a week and a half old, gathered over 50 new members while we marched loudly through campus by candlelight and students camped out all night. Camp Darfur will be returning in the spring of 2008 as part of a challenge to get other nearby colleges involved.
Camp Darfur participated in the kick-off event for the national Dream for Darfur campaign in NYC on the day Colin Powell, four years earlier, declared Darfur a genocide. Survivors from Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur spoke about the impact of genocide and the need to end the violence in Darfur immediately. The New York Coalition of Darfuri had an impressive presence. Words from Joe Madison and Gloria White-Hammond encouraged the crowd to remain engaged and stay active in their fight to bring the Olympic Dream to Darfur, “One World, One Dream.” The Olympic torch was passed by all survivors around the crowd then carried to the Chinese Embassy as community members followed with lit candles.
SGN joined with Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), American Jewish Committee, Amnesty International Group 48, and the Portland Coalition for Genocide Awareness for a rally and the first symbolic Olympic Torch lighting in Portland, OR. The event hosted Camp Darfur, African drummers from a local high school, and a banner where community members could make a handprint pledge to end the genocide as part of an Africa Action campaign. Speakers included Marty Fromer and I from the Portland Coalition for Genocide Awareness, Gabriel from SGN, Al Weiner, a local Holocaust Survivor, and Charlie Clements, the President of UUSC.
We’ve been to so many wonderful places already, and there’s more to come! These are the places that have hosted Camp Darfur or SGN presentations in 2009 already:
Jan 14: New Roads School–Santa Monica, CA
Feb 19: Franklin High School–Los Angeles, CA
Feb 25: Shasta High School– Redding CA
Feb 26: Enterprise High School– Redding CA
March 4: Jewish World Watch — Orange County, CA
March 5: Anti-Defamation League - San Diego, CA
March 9: Valencia High School, Santa Clarita, CA
March 11: Neveh Shalom — Portland, OR
March 13-17: Outrage @ the Federal Building–Los Angeles, CA
March 21: Orange County for Darfur In Darfur–Orange County, CA
April 4: Awake-A-Thon–Lake Oswego High School, OR
April 6-10: Portland Community College-Sylvania–Portland, OR
April 11: Compassion in Action–Corona Del Mar, CA
April 13-17: University of Southern California–Los Angeles, CA
April 20: Gustavus Adolphus College–St. Peter, MN
April 21: University of MN - Duluth–Duluth, MN
April 22: University of MN - St. Paul–St. Paul, MN
April 23: Southwest Minnesota State University–Marshall, MN
April 23-24: University of North Dakota–Grand Forks, ND
April 28-29: North Dakota State University–Fargo ND
May 5: Innovation Academy Charter School–Tyngsboro, MA
May 6: Roybal Learning Center–Los Angeles, CA
May 12: Westminister College–Salt Lake City, UT
May 15: San Pedro High School–San Pedro, CA
May 26: Carson High School–Carson, CA
May 26-28: Western Washington University–Bellingham, CA
Sept 9-11: North Idaho College — Coeur d’Alene, ID
Sept 15: Save Darfur Concert — Los Angeles, CA
Sept 25: Vaughn International Studies Academy — Pacoima, CA
Oct 5: Edina High School — Edina, MN
Oct 6: Edison High School — Minneapolis, MN
Oct 7: Hamline University — St. Paul, MN
Oct 8: Metropolitan State University — St. Paul-Minneapolis, MN
Oct 9: Ausgburg College — Minneapolis, MN
Oct 15-16: Boise State University — Boise, ID
Nov 9: University of California, Santa Barbara — Santa Barbara, CA
Nov 11: Oakwood School — North Hollywood, CA
Nov 18-19: Arizona State University, West Campus — Glendale, AZ
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