After hosting its Fifth Annual Evening for Darfur on October 24, Palm Beach Central High School became the highest individual fundraising school in the Darfur Dream Team, or DDT, Sister Schools Program. The event, where Enough Project Co-Founder John Prendergast and I spoke, raised $15,000 for Palm Beach Central’s Darfuri sister school, Aboutalib B, in Goz Amer refugee camp.
Since joining the Sister Schools Program in March, Palm Beach Central High School has raised more than $22,000 for Aboutalib B school. The donation will support quality education in the camp by providing teacher training and salaries, improving security and student retention, and purchasing books, uniforms, sports equipment and other supplies, as well as building and rehabilitating classrooms as needed. The student group Together Against Genocide, or TAG, and its advisor Maureen Holtzer led the fundraising efforts, which garnered support from the entire student body and community members.
Leading up to the event, TAG held a week of genocide awareness and fundraising efforts, including change-drive competitions among classes. At the Evening for Darfur event, John Prendergast spoke about the impact of student activism, and I discussed the important role that U.S. schools are playing in supporting Darfuri refugee education. The event also featured music from Pure Justice, a local band, a sale of student artwork, and a candle-lighting ceremony to honor genocide victims and survivors.
Learn more about DDT’s efforts to support education in Goz Amer refugee camp.