March 20, 2011 - 4:34pm
Campus Club: One Campaign
BY PATRICIA SNIDER
Correction appended: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated the date of the final event of the competition. It will take place on March 29.
With ties to Nigeria and London, One Campaign is an internationally recognized non-profit organization designed to combat disease and poverty in Africa.
Stephanie Parrish, Public Policy student and co-chair of One Campaign, helped to establish a University chapter of the organization last fall. The group, she said, set out to put pressure on the United States to provide additional aid to Africa and inspire American college students to take action on the issue.
According to the One Campaign’s website, the group is a “grassroots campaign and advocacy organization backed by more than 2 million people.” It was co-founded by U2 frontman Bono and other activists. The group also works closely with African policy makers, according to the website.
“We want to act as a voice for the people who are not being heard,” Parrish said.
Parrish said she initially joined One Campaign in search of a new hobby and global cause. Many members in One Campaign, she said, joined because of personal ties to the social and political issues targeted by the group.
One Campaign has recently joined the One Campus Challenge — a competition between colleges nationwide designed to raise awareness about global poverty.
The competition, which awards the winning school with $10,000, awards points to each college on the basis of its student body’s ability to campaign against poverty. At the end of the competition, the $10,000 first-place prize will be donated to the college’s non-profit organization of choice.
The University’s chapter of One Campaign, Parrish said, plans to host events in an effort to raise awareness of global issues and involve students by having them sign petitions and write letters to Congress.
“This (competition) can bring national recognition to the University of Michigan,” said Parrish.
The University’s chapter is currently in second place overall behind Missouri State University and has one more opportunity to overtake the leader. The final event will take place on campus in two locations — the Diag and East Quad residence hall — on March 29.
