By Abbie Neufeld

The Genocide Awareness Activism Club, a delegation of nine students and one parent, raised $300 by walking in the Jewish World Watch Walk to End Genocide on April 10. Student participation increased this year, and middle school students joined the walk for the first time in the club’s history.

“It’s always hard since the first question we always get when we ask people to join us is ‘does this count for community service?’, but I feel like despite this difficulty, the club did a really good job getting students not in the club involved,” club Co-President Jasmine McAlister ’11 said.

These students joined about 2,200 other people for the walk, which began at Warren Park. The walk route took them around Woodland Hills and was just under three miles.

After the walk, there was an awareness fair where walkers could learn about the various human rights abuses in Darfur and the Congo and the different campaigns attempting to counteract those abuses. Students participated in a scavenger hunt with clues that led them from booth to booth while learning about the conflict.

Students were also able to advocate for the cause in different ways, including writing postcards and signing petitions. Students also recorded a video message for children in refugee camps in Chad.

“I think that we showed our commitment to raising awareness about the genocide and problems in Sudan,” club co-president Federica Brecha ’12 said.