Miles Files: Student works to raise awareness of Darfur tragedy Miles Files: Student works to raise awareness of Darfur tragedy (December 21, 2005)

By Miles McMullin

Ninth-grader, M-A High School

Marli Ruck of Menlo Park, a sophomore at Menlo-Atherton High School, is trying hard to raise awareness among fellow students of the massive human rights violations occurring in Darfur, an exceptionally destitute and war-torn region of Sudan in northeast Africa.

Marli learned of the "ethnic cleansing" going on in the Sudan while attending a meeting last spring at Stanford. That inspired her to take action.

She developed a briefing kit on the genocide that includes historical and background information, a fact sheet, a question-and-answer document, picture and maps, a resource guide, and information on what you can do to help.

She plans to send the briefing kit to 500 high schools in Northern California. She hopes high school students will write articles and aid her in educating others to the crisis in Darfur.

"I feel so guilty when I think of what little I am doing to help these people," she says. "It is a start."

She works with the Public Media Center, a San Francisco nonprofit public interest organization that uses targeted communication to effect social change.

But she is frustrated with the apathy of some students. "I understand that people have other obligations," she says. "But it is disappointing when those that are aware of the atrocity remain indifferent."

She is fundraising for this cause and for the postage to send the packets to these 500 schools. She wants your help. So please contact her at tallsocks13@yahoo.com.

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