Adsideo “to come along side of”
“I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”
-Leo Rosten
Every great story has a miniscule beginning.
At Lakeland High School there is a small group of students that meets every week before the sun has a chance to rise over the mountains. Consisting of less than twenty teenagers and seldom more than two adults, this group hopes to make a difference. It was decided that the group would be called Adsideo, which means “to come alongside of.” Issues like hunger and poverty, even homelessness and humanity, are discussed. Various projects have been taken on, including an October night spent on the school football field entitled “Care to Bare the Cold.” Blankets have been handed out to the homeless, and supplies have been raised to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The purpose of this small group has often been questioned, but the response is always “change.” This starts with awareness.
Through an organization called Oxfam America, Adsideo has recently taken on a new kind of project; a bigger project. Focusing on world hunger and poverty awareness, it was decided that Adsideo would put on a Hunger Banquet. Very oxymoronic, it seems, but there is something great to be said here. Basing attendance on world averages of hunger and homelessness, attendees were handed a card with a story on it. Every story was real; every card depicted in a short paragraph the real life of a real person. Each card was placed in an “income” group, and the seat of the attendee for that night depended on the card they received. There were three levels of income; low income (green cards), middle income (yellow cards), and high income (blue cards).
The low income group, reflecting international statistics, made up the largest
group, at almost 50%. This group was seated on the floor, with nothing between
them and the hardwood but cardboard boxes. The second group, roughly 35% of the
group, was the middle income group, seated in rows
of chairs close to the low income group. The last group, a mere 15%, was
high-income.
As the low income group was seated, they passed a hand-washing station. At this
station, water was poured over their hands.
They were then dried off and given hand sanitizer. When they received
their
meal, they realized why; large basins of steaming rice were brought to groups of
the low income. They were given one large spoon and told to serve and feed
themselves; they had nothing but their now-clean hands to eat from. Along with
their basins of rice,
low income groups were given a pitcher of dirty water (merely tea leaves…) and
plastic cups.
While the low income groups were hard at work with their meal, the middle income group formed lines to receive their meal; a bowl of rice and beans, with utensils, and a cup of clean water. They returned to their seats and visited, enjoying the simple luxuries of cups, forks, and napkins.
At the very top was the high income group. They were seated at finely-dressed tables and served three-course meals by waiters and waitresses in black slacks. They were given their choice of coffee, tea, or ice water to drink, and served chocolate cake for dessert.
Throughout the course of the evening, all present at the banquet were faced with the reality of the inequalities in the world. They learned that poverty and hunger were not issues of limited resources, but rather of power and unequal distribution. Eighty-five percent of the people present were not seated at tables; eighty-five percent present did not share in the general wealth of the world. They learned that every 2.9 seconds, a child (under the age of eighteen) died of hunger or poverty-related illnesses.
A man by the name of Marsilius Flumo gave a brief presentation on the political coupe of Liberia in the 1980’s and 90’s. He shared his story of escape to America, of his struggle to find education and work to bring his family to his new home. He faced people with the harsh realities of life in foreign countries, and what it means to be truly hungry and oppressed. His presentation was moving and powerful, and he left the floor with thunderous applause.
All statistics from the evening wheregathered by the World Bank Indicators for 2007. According to this bureau, people are considered “low income,” or in poverty, if their total income is less than $875 a year. Education, as well as basic food and water, is a scarcity. “Middle income” takes in between $876 and $10,725 annually. Levels of access and security of basic needs vary greatly, even within this group. The “high income” group consists of people that have a per capita income of more than $10,725. They are fortunate to have a nutritious diet everyday, as well as healthcare and education.
These statistics, when deeply processed, are staggering. More than half the world lives in poverty, on less than TWO dollars a day. Almost every family in the United States resides in the “high income” group. Where does that leave the rest of the world? With the money raised from ticket and t-shirt sales, Adsideo raised over $1,000 to donate to Oxfam America. It was asked that the money be sent directly to Ethiopan herders in Northern Africa to purchase drought-resistant camels as farm animals. These animals can help sustain the herders, families, and villages of this nation during the current drought crisis, as they can sustain the high temperatures and waterless geography far better than normal herd animals. Over 10 camels were purchased!
Through the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet, Adsideo hopes to have brought these facts to life. When faced with truth and statistics, as well as the heart-wrenching views of reality, even if only for two hours, change was seen. People left with a different perspective and reality of what the world was like, and hopefully a desire to make a difference. If nothing else, at least many people now know the truth. Because of this, Adsideo hopes to be the miniscule beginning of a great story of change.
(Written by Angeline Little - Senior - 2008)
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