John Muir Middle School "Challenge for Change"

"The sun shines not on us but in us." - John Muir

Thank you for visiting John Muir Middle School's Dollars for Darfur page.

As students study the Holocaust and genocide in seventh grade, many of them develop similar statements and questions; for example, “We want to do something about genocide, but what can we do as middle school students from Wausau, Wisconsin?” In response to students’ interest, some of the teachers and administrators at John Muir Middle School, in association with the Save Darfur Coalition, have created an opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and ambition by extending their voices of concern to the greater community and the world. The benefits of contributing to this campaign are, in the least, twofold. By contributing to the John Muir Middle School Challenge for Change, you are validating for young students that their voices can and will be heard; in addition, you are participating in a humanitarian movement to show the world that when its leaders promise “never again” to genocide, their words will not be forgotten. On behalf of the seventh grade students at John Muir Middle School, thank you for visiting this website, and we hope you will take some time to contribute to this campaign.   ___________________________________________________________________

With your help, we can make a difference for the people of Darfur. Hundreds of people are being raped, starved and murdered by the Sudanese armed forces and a Sudanese government-backed militia known as the Janjaweed. As many as 400,000 people have died and more than 2 million Darfurians have been left homeless. The United Nations Security Council authorized a peacekeeping force for Darfur, but the Sudanese government is continuously blocking its full deployment. Meanwhile, the calculated campaign of displacement, starvation, rape, and mass slaughter continues.

Dollars for Darfur is a national school competition to raise funds to help end the genocide in Sudan. Our school is competing with other schools across the country to show our concern about this issue.

Middle school students can make a difference. There are over 27,000 middle and high schools in the United States. If each school raised just $50, we could raise more than one million dollars. Donating through this website is simple, fast and completely secure. It is also the most efficient way to support our fundraising efforts. Half the funds raised will go to support the advocacy efforts of the Save Darfur Coalition. The other half will be divided between the International Rescue Committee and Oxfam America.

Many thanks for your support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might also wish to donate.