‘Stand UP’ in St Marys
16/10/2006 - A dark dreary void, an endless struggle for existence, a deluge of misfortunes and mishaps - This is the definition of life for the destitute in the poorest regions of the world. It was just another harrowing Monday for one such family, who had lost yet another new born to malnutrition and starvation. As they cried in agony and frustration, little did they know that there were a millions of children & youth around the world taking a stand to fight for this injustice.
Over 1500 students of The St. Mary’s Catholic High School made their stand on poverty very clear – Against It! As the moment drew near, the excitement was almost tangible. The assembly progressed and the general mood of the students was transformed from perfunctory discipline to solemn determination as Daamini Shrivastav and Rohit Hariharan of the school’s A’ levels batch took the Stand-Up pledge along with the rest of the school.
It was the moment when they unilaterally opted to take a stand, against poverty. As the riveting and poignant undertaking concluded, a brief moment of silence was observed in which some reflected on the oath whilst some others said a silent prayer for the poor and impoverished. Most of the students were gripped with a sustained sense of perseverance and fervor. Student volunteers for the Make Poverty History-Emirates campaign took the count of the number of children Standing-Up. This marked part of the global attempt to create a world record for the largest number of people to STAND UP against poverty as part of any single campaign.
In the 24 hours from 15th to 16th October 2006, millions of people all around the world literally stood up in groups, to pressure world leaders to fulfil the promises they had made when they signed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in 2000. The Global Month for Action, from 16th September to the World Poverty Day on 17th October, was a month of mobilisation and increased awareness about poverty and the MDGs.
The ‘Stand-Up’ initiative aimed to organise millions of people worldwide to physically and symbolically stand up to announce their resolve to combat poverty and to hold their leaders accountable for eradicating extreme poverty as they had promised, when agreeing to fulfil the MDGs.
By standing up on this day, students as well adults will have contributed to the largest campaign against poverty and injustice in the history of the world. It might have just meant a little action on the part of each of those individuals standing, but it could have been their biggest shot at making history – or rather, making poverty history.
–
Compiled by students from St Marys Catholic High School,
Dubai