The Darfur Heroes program, started last year by the coalition, highlights individuals and groups who play a crucial role in helping end the violence in Darfur through awareness-raising and other efforts. This month, Save Darfur is honoring Chicago teen Ethan Barhydt.
Here is his story:
On the final day of my 7th grade class on the Holocaust, our religious school teacher unexpectedly announced that we would be taking a final exam. As he passed out the exam face down, I became nervous that I would be unable to conjure up all of the information that we had learned throughout the year. However, when I turned over single sheet of paper, I realized with relief that it was not a typical final exam. Instead, it consisted of a single paragraph we had to read that simply stated: Your final exam in how you conduct the rest of your lives. Can it happen again? The answer is up to YOU and to YOUR CHOICES. Will YOU CHOOSE to get involved or will you be a bystander?
It was on that day that I promised never to by a bystander to injustice. Five years later, I continue to use those words as a reminder of my responsibility to stand against human rights atrocities.
Throughout my high school career, I have worked with a lot of amazing people to improve the lives of victims of the genocide in Darfur. While the following paragraphs will discuss the actions that I have specifically taken, effective activism results from a community of people working together towards a single goal. Through this unity, great change occurs.
During my sophomore year of high school, I began taking a lot of action to help genocide victims. My first action was initiating a school-wide petition drive encouraging the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to support greater attention for Darfur within the international organization. Before sending hundreds of signatures to the Secretary General, a group of us brought the petition to Congressman Mark Kirk in an effort to encourage him to dedicate more time towards Darfur efforts. As the result of our action and the voices of thousands of people around Chicago, Congressman Kirk has supported important legislation to end the genocide.
The following year, after taking many school-wide actions, I began looking for a way to broaden the effect of my activism. In a discussion about Darfur activism with a representative of the organization Facing History and Ourselves, we discussed how powerful an event would be that united young activists from around the Chicago area. Following that discussion, I contacted several student activists in the area, and we began to plan an event called Youth United for Darfur. Our group of 10 worked extremely hard to plan the event, and it was quite a success. On April 27, 2008, almost 170 students gathered from around the Chicago area to learn about effective activism techniques and to take action. The event began with presentations on the situation in Darfur, followed by breakout sessions about activism techniques. After lunch, there was a press conference in which state representatives, state senators, a world renowned architect, and others, presented an initiative to build a Sudanese Community Center in Chicago. Finally, students celebrated Sudanese culture with live Sudanese music and food. We raised money, collected a ton of petition signatures, educated students on how to be effective activists, got media attention, and most importantly, we showed Chicago that teenagers won’t stand for genocide!
In my most recent efforts, I worked with several organizations to create a benefit event for the Sudanese Community Center in Chicago, which included a community service project and live music. People were asked to bring school supplies for the children of Sudanese refugees who cannot afford to buy what they need, and we gathered hundreds of pounds of markers, folders, pencils, backpacks, and other essential supplies! In addition, the nationally acclaimed band State Radio, who often uses their musical influence to effect change, attended and played an inspiring acoustic set, including their song “Sudan,” which educates people about the current atrocities. In total, the event raised over $3,000 to help organize programs for Sudanese refugees. Our efforts are truly making a difference to the Sudanese Community!
The mass violations of human rights in Darfur are truly remarkable. But even more remarkable than the abuses themselves is the power that we have to stop them. Each and every one of us has the ability to make a positive difference to the victims of the most recent genocide. Each action that we take against this issue, no matter how small it may seem, will contribute to creating change. John Prendergast, co-author of Not on Our Watch, believes that average citizens are the ones who provide the base for such important change. When we, the citizens of the United States, speak loud enough against such crimes, politicians, religious leaders, television and radio hosts, musicians and even other citizens, will join. Whether we sign a petition, call our representative, or donate a couple of dollars, we slowly but surely move Sudan towards peace. Already we have seen influential politicians and celebrities speak out against the genocide as a result of our actions. And as we continue to speak up, people from all around the world will continue to speak with us.
The opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Save Darfur Coalition.
Tags: Darfur Hero
