Cobourg ON – On October 17th, the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty, students at two of Cobourg’s high schools will be showing their support for the Make Poverty History Campaign’s “Stand up, Speak Out to Make Poverty History” initiative, with the support of Horizons of Friendship.
Members of the St. Mary’s Secondary School’s social justice committee have planned several activities to run throughout the day. The morning will start with the poverty Pledge, during which time students will stand up and join millions of people around the world as they show their commitment to the Make Poverty History goals. This will be followed by several lunch hour activities, including smashing piñatas representing poverty and injustice, distributing information on poverty globally and here in Northumberland County, and unveiling a Make Poverty History banner.
Coinciding with the Stand Up, Speak Out initiative is the CDCI East’s launch of the photo exhibit “Giving Women Power over AIDS,” which shares the story of Ruth, a women in sub-Saharan Africa who is dying of AIDS, and her child, Martha, one of the 11 million children orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. The exhibit will run from October 17-19th, and 22nd. This is a joint initiative with the Peterborough AIDS Regional Network.
The Make Poverty History campaign was launched worldwide in 2005. In Canada, the four main objectives of the campaign are: More and Better Aid; Make Trade Fair; Debt Cancellation and End Child Poverty in Canada.
Times and Locations:
St. Mary’s Secondary School, 11:10-11:50am and 12:25-1:05pm
Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East, 335 King Street E, 11am
This is an excellent opportunity to see student-driven initiatives in action.
For more information, please contact:
Michelle Switzer
Community Outreach Program Coordinator
Horizons of Friendship
905-372-5483 x.24
mswitzer@horizons.ca
