So far, 700 people have been killed in Sudan and more than 152,000 people have been uprooted from their homes because of insecurity this year, according to a report by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Project Peace is a series of three events at UNF Oct. 21-28 to increase awareness about the ongoing genocide and war in Sudan and to raise money to support the efforts of Bridges to Sudan, a Jacksonville-based nonprofit organization that supports Sundanese refugees.
UNF sociology professor Sasha Milicevic’s Sociology of War and Peace class planned the events, and the Sociology Club, for which Milicevic is the adviser, co-sponsors them.
For the past five years, the class and the club have worked together to raise money through Project Peace by selling T-shirts and holding various bake sales throughout the year.
“Through Project Peace, they learn that they actually can do something – and that something may not stop the war, but it will certainly help people,” Milicevic said.
Last year, Project Peace raised $1,050, enough to bring seven refugee women to Jacksonville to take English classes. Participants hope to raise more money this year, Milicevic said.
A panel discussion at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in Building 39 room 1009 titled “Refugees Among Us” will feature talks from representatives from Bridges to Sudan, Milicevic and a surprise speaker.
UNF Sociology Club President Brooke Butler, a UNF sociology senior, said Project Peace teaches people about what’s going on in the world and what can be done to help.
“[The events] show how big of a problem this is and how many people die every day, every hour, every minute in Sudan,” Butler said.
Jenny Lucas, a sociology senior in the Sociology of War and Peace class said she has learned genocide doesn’t get much notice, especially in Africa. She said she hopes Project Peace can help genocide victims.
Lucas said UNF students should gain awareness because knowledge is power and that learning more about genocide has given her the drive to try and help the victims.
“It makes me want to do anything in my power to get these women, these children to safety and comfort and anything that can make them feel better,” Lucas said.
The events begin Oct. 21 with a genocide prevention forum, “Never Again: Genocide in Darfur” in Building 51 and concludes Oct. 28 with the Die-in for Darfur at 12 p.m. in the Student Union Plaza. For more information, “Like” the Project Peace page on Facebook.
