2008 Woodie Awards
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Habitat Week raises awareness of Athens' poverty
SONIA SHARAN
Issue date: 4/16/07 Section: Variety
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This weekend temperatures dropped again, and many didn't go out because of the thunderstorms. While students enjoyed warmth inside, there were many in Athens who do not have that luxury.
Habitat for Humanity is having their annual Act! Speak! Build! Week until Saturday with various events aimed at making students aware of their mission to build houses and increase awareness of poverty and homelessness.
Monday - Discussion Panel
When: 6 tonight
Where: SLC 248
Price: Free
Wednesday - Habifest Night
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Memorial Hall room 407 and Tate Plaza
Price: $15 (includes dinner, breakfast, T-shirt)
Thursday - Letter Writing Campaign
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Tate Plaza
Price: Free"[It] is a worldwide, student-initiated advocacy event for affordable housing," said Ashley Doliber, Vice President of Public Relations for UGA Habitat for Humanity and a sophomore from Savannah.
The week of events came from a realization that Habitat's mission was not clearly expressed to students, said Doliber. The activities aim to help students understand what Habitat does and why.
"The whole Act! Speak! Build! Week experience is amazing because it gives you a new perspective about poverty and its impact," said Seychelle Vos, a sophomore from Clemson, S.C., who helped organize Habifest.
There is a divide between life as a student in Athens and residents who are impoverished. Athens-Clarke County consistently ranks high in studies on poverty levels. The poverty rate is 28.3 percent, which means over 26,000 residents living in poverty, according to data compiled by Partners for a Prosperous Athens.
"Athens is a poor city and we often don't realize it while we are stuck in our little University world," said Vos.
Habitat for Humanity is having their annual Act! Speak! Build! Week until Saturday with various events aimed at making students aware of their mission to build houses and increase awareness of poverty and homelessness.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY'S ACT! SPEAK! BUILD! WEEK
Monday - Discussion Panel
When: 6 tonight
Where: SLC 248
Price: Free
Wednesday - Habifest Night
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Memorial Hall room 407 and Tate Plaza
Price: $15 (includes dinner, breakfast, T-shirt)
Thursday - Letter Writing Campaign
When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Tate Plaza
Price: Free
The week of events came from a realization that Habitat's mission was not clearly expressed to students, said Doliber. The activities aim to help students understand what Habitat does and why.
"The whole Act! Speak! Build! Week experience is amazing because it gives you a new perspective about poverty and its impact," said Seychelle Vos, a sophomore from Clemson, S.C., who helped organize Habifest.
There is a divide between life as a student in Athens and residents who are impoverished. Athens-Clarke County consistently ranks high in studies on poverty levels. The poverty rate is 28.3 percent, which means over 26,000 residents living in poverty, according to data compiled by Partners for a Prosperous Athens.
"Athens is a poor city and we often don't realize it while we are stuck in our little University world," said Vos.
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