By Mary O”KEEFE

Clark Magnet High School students learned about genocides, past and present, at an emotional event last Thursday when Camp Darfur tents lined the area of the outdoor auditorium. The interactive awareness and educational event gave students an opportunity to see that genocide was not limited to one culture or one area of the world.

The genocide in Darfur has taken the lives of an estimated 400,000 people, and more than 2.5 million are displaced and in grave danger of more violence and starvation, according to Stop Genocide Now, the organization that created Camp Darfur.

The Armenian National Committee of America, Glendale Chapter, chair of Education Lucy Petrosian brought the idea for Camp Darfur to the Glendale school district.

 “Some of the kids didn’t know about Darfur or understand what is happening in Syria now,” Petrosian said.

The ANCA paid for Camp Darfur to be at all high schools in the district. Scheduling issues at Crescenta Valley High School has pushed the event back to fall; however, all other schools have experienced Camp Darfur.

On campuses, tents are set up with the names of areas of genocide including Armenia, the Holocaust, Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur.  Information on Syria has now been included.

“Inside the tents are [photos] and proof of the genocide of that country,” Petrosian said. “It is very eye-opening for a lot of students.”

She added that oftentimes students hear about one or two of the countries that suffered genocide but to see there are so many and that it has happened not only in the past but also in the present is a powerful teaching tool.

The purpose, especially during this time of Armenian Genocide recognition – April 24 – is to create a day of recognition and an opportunity to remember the victims. It is also a chance to show Armenian students they are not alone and to show students from other cultures that many cultures have suffered from this practice of ethnic control.

Genocide is described as the deliberate and systematic extermination of a national, racial, political or cultural group.

Petrosian said that not only have students been moved by Camp Darfur but teachers have as well.

 “Glendale High School teachers have started a writing project about genocide,” she said.

She hopes that many more projects will grow from this beginning and is grateful to the GUSD for allowing the ANCA Glendale to bring Camp Darfur to the students.

ANCA Glendale will continue to educate students on genocide and how to deal with the knowledge they learn through these types of events and assemblies.

Petrosian said she hopes students who learn about what is happening around the world will realize that they cannot sit back and do nothing, but she emphasized that actions taken must be done with respect not only to the United States but also to the countries that have and are suffering from genocide.

“[We need] to educate the students on having tolerance toward each other,” she said.

The ANCA members are active in educating students to be aware of history and not to be silent when they see something that is wrong but to also react with respect, she said.

“Who knows? One of these students who [experienced Camp Darfur] [could] be a world leader some day,” she said.

Petrosian added students experiencing assemblies and events like Camp Darfur will remember what they have learned and be better leaders because of it.

  Mary Okeefe