400,000 Faces is a Facebook-centered student advocacy organization and campaign to raise national and local awareness of the humanitarian consequences of the Darfur Conflict. The Facebook group and corresponding project were created by Jeremy Riddell-Kaufman of Central Coast, California. Other administrators include co-Vice Presidents Jordan Rambis of Loyola Marymount and Steve Revis of Wisconsin. The group is a partnership between Students for Darfur [2220] and Amnesty International, Group 204.

Description

The group was inspired by the Paper Clips Project, a campaign by Tennessee middle-schoolers to put a human face on the genocide of the Holocaust by collecting paper clips to represent each victim. Using the statistical average of 400,000 as the estimated number of deaths by violence and starvation to date in the Darfur conflict, the 400,000 Faces campaign undertakes a similar goal, employing the newer medium of digital photography to represent the human face of each death in Darfur. By joining the group, each member consented to the use of his or her Facebook profile picture in the final file. The pictures will be printed out one hundred to a page on recycled paper, with the resulting 4,000 pages to be displayed during awareness rallies at each of over 200 school and university sites nationwide on April 28, 2007. The goal of a 400,000-count membership in the group was achieved on January 9, 2007, at 1:31 a.m. West Coast Time. However, the group has made it clear that it is not restricted to 400,000, and urges its members to continue spreading word and inviting their friends to show support and pursue other Darfur-related goals through the organization.

Mission Statement and Goals

A copy of the mission statement can be found on the group's Facebook page [2221],although Facebook registration may be necessary. Paraphrased, the mission of the organization and campaign is to raise awareness about the Darfur conflict and its effects, and to show political leaders and representatives that students in America care about the genocide in Sudan. After the rallies are held in April, the organization's local student representatives will initiate a mailing campaign to raise further awareness, sending letters and pictures of the completed project to senators, representatives, United Nations officials, and others.

Organization

The group consists of over 200 units or chapters nationwide, run by student representatives with a great degree of local autonomy. Both high school and college and university students are involved. Each local chapter is responsible for its own planning, contacting of the media, publicity, and fundraising, which includes the costs of printing the 4,000 pages and mailing the letters and pictures of the completed project. Students raise funds in a variety of ways, collecting donations in public areas and on campus, hosting fundraising events, and selling T-shirts and bracelets. Since the responsibilities can be large for young students, the organization's administrators urge them to form large and supportive groups in their communities, delegate activities, and encourage their friends to participate in the project.

See Also

Darfur Conflict

STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition

External Links

1. 400,000 Faces Facebook Group
[2222]

2. Students For Darfur

[2223]

3. University of Delaware Review article

[2224]

4. Monterey Herald Article

[2225]

5. San Luis Obispo Tribune Article

[2226]