Students and faculty held an informational fundraising event on Wednesday, November 14 to support educational and health initiatives in Darfur, Sudan. Director of the Center for Entrepreneurial & Global Studies Walter Swanson, who teaches three one-trimester courses in global citizenship and social change at the Academy, and Paul Bloomfield, Chair of the Fine & Performing Arts Department, felt they could emphasize this global issue by creating an educational benefit event that would generate funds from art sales. Swanson's students led informational workshops about the situation and Bloomfield's students gathered the art and organized the sale and silent auction.
Through the Artfur Darfur benefit, over 200 students, faculty, and parents were able to learn about the causes and outcomes of the Sudanese conflict and to consider the future of this complex situation. Art generated by students, alumni, faculty, and friends was generously donated for both a silent auction and instant sales. In addition, a limited-edition T-shirt designed by senior Nealon Kallok of Monson was on sale. With the auction and sale of art and T-shirts, the students raised nearly $500, which will be donated to the Save Darfur Coalition.
The Save Darfur Coalition was founded at the Darfur Emergency Summit at CUNY Graduate Center in New York City on July 14, 2004. Since then, the coalition has grown into an alliance of more than 180 faith-based, advocacy, and human rights organizations with more than 1 million activists and 1,000 community groups committed to ending the genocide in Darfur. Save Darfur is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with a staff of 30 professional organizers, policy advisors, and communications specialists.
The mission of the coalition is to raise public awareness and mobilize a massive response to the atrocities in Darfur. By engaging and educating Americans on the dire situation in Darfur, the coalition continues to apply political pressure on elected leaders to end the first genocide of the 21st century.
Wilbraham & Monson Academy, the Global School, a day and boarding school serving students in grades 6 through a postgraduate year, is committed to preparing students for their roles as global citizens and leaders.