Contact Information

Zach Peirce:

As a freshman at Mooresville High School, I found out about Darfur from Colleen. I was inspired to start my own STAND Chapter at MHS.  Now as a sophomore, MHS has a successful STAND chapter and we have partnered with LNHS STAND in presenting DarfurFest. The hundreds of hours I have put into STAND is worth it because each amount of effort alleviates someone's suffering. Each amount is a step closer to ending the atrocities in a ravaged region.

Email Zach

Colleen Jose:

    My life’s steering wheel is what Gandhi said, “be the change you wish to see in the world.”  I am driven to raise awareness, act, and instill compassion. Compassion in the fact that an ocean away, genocide is tearing up homes, ripping out the future from innocent children’s lives. Darfur is Rwanda in 1994, Cambodia in the 70’s, Armenia, and in a more common term: the Holocaust.  I found out about the genocide during my sophomore year.  In the wake of my anger about worldwide indifference and despair about not being able to end the genocide, I set out to pursue a goal.  I decided to do something, anything.
    As group leader of our broadcasting class, I utilized my position to raise school-wide awareness.  In my junior year, I initiated a STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition chapter at Lake Norman High School.
    Our first event, the Lunch STAND-In, is forever imprinted in my mind.  In the middle of our commons area, fifteen out of fifty members stood side by side with their mouths taped and branded with words such as “apathy,” while holding posters bearing statistics.  A megaphone amplified my voice. Together, bonded in our common purpose, the club has sold “Save Darfur” t-shirts and wristbands estimating to $3,500. We had a raffle, letter writing campaign, and event titled ‘Movie Night: With A Cause’.  This winter we launched a Hot Chocolate-STAND.  Our biggest fundraiser will be DarfurFest in April.
    STAND is a colossal part of my life.  In November ‘07, STAND received a Recognition Award from Holocaust survivor, Charlene Schiff.  A conversation with Mrs. Schiff touched the core of my being.  It revitalized my hopes of a better world.  Her riveting story on atrocities and escaping in the harsh, wintry woods of Horochow, Poland shed light on my definition of meaningful.  As the sole survivor of her entire family, she bears witness.  Standing up for Darfur means standing up for Mrs. Schiff, using my voice for those who cannot, and carrying out a vision of change.

Email Colleen

For any general questions about DarfurFest. Please send an email to:

Info@darfurfest.org

we will get back to you as soon as possible.