One of the stations at the presentation allowed students to write letters to their elected officials. Another station asked students to sign a petition. Other stations included pictures that young Darfur children drew and a banner that students signed that is now hanging up in our junior/senior cafeteria.

During the presentation, students learned that government neglect is one of the causes of this genocide. Due to the government neglect the Sudan people were left “poor and voiceless.” Many people are misguided in their assumption that the genocide is sparked by religion. In reality, it is an ethnicl dispute: Muslim Arab Sudanese are killing Muslim black Sudanese.

Stacy Mazzarra, a member of STAND, said she is so passionate about the Darfur genocide “Because humanity matters. If I don’t help them who is going to help me when I need help?” When asked what she hoped to accomplish with this presentation she said, “I really just want to get more kids to join. More importantly, I want to inform as many people as possible.”

Mrs. Pasternak, one of the club’s advisors, said she is concerned about Darfur, “Because I would want someone to be that passionate to save me. We’re all in this world together.”

 “I hope to raise awareness. People need to know what’s going on around the world. I hope to help children understand that they can change the world and that their voice counts,” said Pasternak. “I hope everyone learns something and that they tell other people about it because the first step is getting the word out.”

This presentation was informative and heart wrenching. Many of the students came out of the presentation room with a green or red heart on their faces or hand, which was to show their support for the Darfur people. Many of the students have had their eyes opened to the atrocities happening in Darfur, Sudan. This genocide is the first of the 21^st century and their mission is to ensure that it is the last. The most important message that STAND wanted to convey was to stand. Don’t stand by, stand up!