Preparing to paint.  Sophomore Ali Wilkman selects her materials from the table. 

All last Saturday afternoon, the Lyme-Old Lyme High School cafeteria was a hive of activity.  Paint-spattered students milled about, talking, working, and taking the occasional pizza or cookie break.  While they labored, they were serenaded by, at various times, bagpipes, a rock trio, and a singer accompanying herself on acoustic guitar. 

At the center of this activity was a plain brown canvas tent that was rapidly morphing into a rainbow-colored messenger for human rights. 


Freshmen Abby Wilkman (right)) and Maddy Barclay take a break from their work.

 

The event was Tents of Hope.  Sponsored here by the high school’s chapter of Amnesty Intentional, the Tents of Hope project is a campaign to raise awareness regarding the humanitarian crisis and genocide in Darfur, Sudan.  Students and adults "bought" a square on the tent that they could then decorate as they chose.  All proceeds benefit efforts to assist the situation in Darfur.  In the words of the national organizers, communities across the country are “creating tents that are both unique works of art and focal points for learning about, assisting, and establishing relationships with the people of Sudan.” 

The tents are meant to be displayed in the community at various locations to raise awareness of the cause.  LOL High School Spanish teacher, John McGannon, who leads the school's chapter of Amnesty International, said he hopes to display the tent at several sites in the community.  He has approached a few churches but still awaits a firm commitment. 


It was a family affair as the teacher behind the event, John McGannon, points out a feature of the artwork to his son.

 

“Our goals for this project are education, advocacy and aid, “explains McGannon, who has been involved with Amnesty International since the 1980s.  It is an organization with about 2.2 million members worldwide devoted to the campaign for internationally recognized rights for all and the elimination of human rights abuses.  McGannon found it was a cause that he was both inspired by and could embrace. 

Many colleges and some high schools throughout the US have active Amnesty International chapters.  McGannon himself has started four chapters at various high schools where he has taught. 


Close attention paid to a masterpiece in the making.

 

Although his high school chapters may not always claim large numbers of members, McGannon has never found a lack of interest or enthusiasm.  Asked about the challenges of raising awareness among teens about the plight of those who have endured human rights abuses, he minimized his role, saying, “In many of the schools where I’ve worked, the students have been a bit shielded from the harder truths that we consider in Amnesty International and this is often the right thing.  But once they do become aware – and high school might be just about the right time, they are generous.  They really want to help and just need some pointing in the right direction.” 

Roger Haynes, LOL High School history teacher and Regional District 18 Teacher of the Year for 2007, offered praise and encouragement to the students on Saturday for “trying to understand and change misery beyond our understanding.”

 

Slowly but surely, the sides of the tent are filled with artwork and humanitarian messges.
 

The Tents project seems to have given these students just the right venue for their energy, empathy and solidarity.  According to McGannon, “The kids want to be part of something better – they jumped on this.”  Stephen Burke, a junior interested in a media career, who was videotaping the event on Saturday, said he was peripherally involved earlier in his high school years.  That changed when he accompanied friends to a movie night sponsored by Amnesty International and viewed, "The Devil Came on Horseback." 

Burke continues, “I wanted to do something and the tents project has gotten me and a lot of other people to be active.”  The movie is a documentary about the situation in Darfur that follows Marine Captain Brian Steidle, an official military observer, who resigned in frustration at the inaction of the international community, and returned to the US to speak about the tragedy. 

Gabby Nunez, also a junior interested in media studies and an acknowledged leader in this project, expresses similar feelings, “Amnesty International helps us see the bigger picture – the tents project gives us something concrete to do to make positive change.”  Both students feel they will stay involved in Amnesty International after high school. 


Ali Wilkman (left) and Megan Devlin pause from their painting.

 

The culmination of the project will be a gathering of tents from various church congregations, schools and civic groups in Washington, D.C. in October 2008.  McGannon hopes to send his students and their tent to the “Gathering of Tents,” though he admits, “there are many logistics to work out.”

 

Drew Groth is one of only two freshmen members of the high school chapter of Amnesty International.  He was encouraged by family members to join and is unfazed that he is also one of the only male members of the chapter.  Groth says, “It feels good to help and this is an opportunity to get involved.  Kids really need direction – most want to help, but don’t know how.” 


The high school cafeteria was abuzz wih activity all Saturday afternoon.

McGannon, with his many years of experience in leading students, agrees.  Many Amnesty International members, along with American Field Service (AFS) members who lent their support, expressed pleasant surprise at the turnout of their friends and peers last Saturday afternoon.  McGannon was pleased too ... but not surprised.