South Meck High students dare to make a difference in Darfur

Two South Mecklenburg High School students are spreading the word about the atrocities
occurring in the Darfur region of Sudan, through an injustice awareness week this week at the
school.Sabres Stand Against Indifference is a grass-roots effort created by junior Hannah Heidenreich
and sophomore Anna Sturkey. The two met at the Echo Foundation’s Dialogue Day
last fall when they heard David Johnson, author and photographer of
“Voices of Sudan“, speak. Horrified when they learned of the rape,
torture and genocide going on in Africa’s largest country, Heidenreich and Sturkey felt called to
help.
“What are we going to do? Are we going to stay silent, or are we going to do something about it?
We needed to do something so everyone at South (Mecklenburg High) can know about this,”
Sturkey said.
The ongoing conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan started in 2003 with an uprising against the
government. Militias known as Janjaweed, supported by the Sudanese government, have since
burned thousands of villages and killed more than 200,000 people. Some 2.5 million people have
been displaced.
Following Johnson’s lead, the two immediately started brainstorming.
“What I really wanted was to see who in my school would care,” Heidenreich said.
“I wanted to influence someone,” Sturkey said. “My heart is for Africa.”
The girls’ collaboration mushroomed into an entire week highlighting the crisis in Darfur and
culminating in a Dollars for Darfur Walk on Friday on the school’s track. They have invited their
school, but they also want to get the entire community involved.
Forty student volunteers have jumped on board to help Sturkey and Heidenreich make a
difference in Darfur. The group sent more than 200 letters to community businesses, asking for
sponsorship.
Dilworth Coffee in Quail Corners Shopping Center created a special coffee dubbed the Sabres
Stand Against Indifference blend, which they’re selling at the school and to the public.
While the walk is the cornerstone of the week, Heidenreich and Sturkey took it a step further.
They approached the PTSA and asked for funding to invite Johnson to speak to students and
faculty on Monday.
They also planned an injustice exposure day on Wednesday, where student-led clubs will set up
booths in the school’s courtyard to spread the word about their country or cause of choice.
“Darfur is not the only place where there’s problems going on,” Heidenreich said. “We want to
recognize that fact. Speak up and you can create change, even for the people at your school.”
Want to help?
Organize a group of friends and come to the Dollars for Darfur Walk 3-6 p.m. Friday at South
Mecklenburg High School, 8900 Park Road. The minimum donation is $5 to participate.
E-mail Lora Freeman Morris at lora.freeman@cms.k12.nc.us to place an order for the Sabres
Stand Against Indifference blend. Regular is $15 per pound, and decaffeinated is $16 per pound.
Coffee and T-shirts also will be available for purchase at the Dollars for Darfur Walk on Friday.
All proceeds raised from the walk, T-shirt and coffee sales go to African Leadership.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 19:54 and is filed under Philanthropy, nonprofits and volunteerism - CHARLOTTE,, CHARLOTTE, N.C., Around town - CHARLOTTE, N.C.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.

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