Matt Vaughan used his high school job at Pizza Hut to raise awareness for global poverty. The freshman from Mexico, Mo., wrote notes about the ONE Campaign on the board at work and handed out information to customers.
Now that he’s at Western, he’s still spreading the word about this issue.
ONE is a campaign that works to raise awareness about global poverty, hunger and disease, according to its Web site, www.one.org.
Western is competing against other universities in the ONE Campaign Campus Challenge. The schools get points for how many people they sign up online for the challenge and for various tasks. Points can be awarded for contacting members of Congress and holding events, such as Stand Up, the rally for global poverty held in October.
On Dec. 1, the challenge was cut down to the top 100 schools, and Western is in the top 20. In February, the challenge will be cut down to the top 10 schools, and Vaughan hopes Western will be in it.
Vaughan got involved with the campaign in high school. After Hurricane Katrina, people were saying that it was unacceptable for Americans to be living in such conditions, but people in other countries deal with them daily, he said.
Vaughan didn’t think that was right, so he joined the ONE Campaign. He founded a ONE Campaign chapter in his hometown and held a Stand Up event his senior year.
In college he found friends with similar interests, and they formed Americans for Informed Democracy, a group that would work with global issues. AID is organizing and promoting the ONE challenge.
Morganfield freshman Charlie Harris is a committee member for AID and involved with the challenge.
“I feel like it’s an easy way for people to be involved and be aware of what’s going on,” he said.
He’s written letters to legislators about the campaign and has gotten some response. A lot of times they thank him for his concern and tell him there’s not much they can do about it.
Louisville freshman Joey Coe is one student involved with the challenge and AID. He gave a speech at the Stand Up rally with the message that there’s a hope for global poverty.
Coe said that students shouldn’t see the challenge as just a competition, but as a problem that needs to be solved.
Some people tell Vaughan that it won’t make a difference. While he calls himself a dreamer, he feels people can make a difference.
“If everyone thinks that, then nothing’s going to happen,” he said.
Coe agreed.
“My response to that would have to be, ‘What’s doing nothing going to do?’” he said.
A lot of people do care, and getting them involved is what will make the difference, Vaughan said.
“The key is turning that compassion and care we feel into actual action,” he said.
Reach Nina Bosken at diversions@chherald.com.
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