While community service is a perfunctory line item on many college application forms, 50 High School North students are gaining hands-on experience organizing three upcoming events. The group, formerly affiliated with Amnesty International, offers “STAND up for Darfur,” informational sessions about genocide at the West Windsor Library on Friday and Saturday, January 9 and 10.
“Dine for Darfur” will be held on Friday, January 16, at High School North. The $10 admission includes food, speakers, and presentations about human rights issues and genocide. The event benefits Doctors without Borders.
STAND, the student-led division of the Genocide Intervention Network, “envisions a world in which the international community protects civilians from genocidal violence,” according to its web page. Through training the organization empowers individuals and communities with materials, educational information, online resources, policy expertise, and a network of concerned and active peers.
“The goal is to raise awareness as well as funds for the genocide going on in Darfur,” says Mackenzie Nelson, a sophomore at North. “It is an event open for both the student body at North and hopefully other members of the community with an open mind.”
Nelson already has several volunteer projects she is passionate about. She founded the Class of 2011 Carbon Neutral campaign at the beginning of her freshman year at North. The campaign raised close to $1,”000 selling bracelets made from recycled materials and hand painted t-shirts.
“Mackenzie is passionate in her volunteer efforts,” says her mother, Suzanne Nelson. “She spent the summer in Paraguay at age 15, anticipating reforestation work in the rain forest. At the last minute, the program was unable to organize the effort, so Mackenzie volunteered in a very poor elementary school in Paraguay. The experience was life changing.”
Students involved in organizing the projects include Adam Carlson and Josh Victor (an actor in North’s musical, “Camelot”), both seniors at North who have already been accepted to college. Aly Gideon, Jenna Simanovsky (also on the lacrosse team), Raj Ardeshna (also on the fencing team), and Nelson (a cheerleader) are all sophomores at North. Gideon and Mackenzie run “Class of 2011 Carbon Neutral,” a fundraiser featuring custom-made jewelry and accessories to raise money for the Green Belt movement (so far they have raised more than $1,”000). Victor, Ardeshna, Simanovsky, Carlson, and Gideon also raise funds for Doctors without Borders.
STAND: Students Taking Action Against Genocide, West Windsor Library, 333 North Post Road, 609-799-0462. WW-P High School North students present program to promote awareness of the genocide in Darfur and its need for assistance. Friday, January 9, 3:30 p.m.
STAND: Students Taking Action Against Genocide, West Windsor Library, 333 North Post Road, 609-799-0462. WW-P High School North students present program to promote awareness of the genocide in Darfur and its need for assistance. Saturday, January 10, 3:30 p.m.
STAND: Students Taking Action Against Genocide, High School North, Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro, 609-716-5100. “Dine for Darfur,” a program to promote awareness of the genocide in Darfur and its need for assistance. Speakers include victims of human rights. Screening of short movie about genocide. Food prepared by club members and AG Italian Foods. $10. Friday, January 16, 7 to 9 p.m.
