Tents of Hope: Creative, Meaningful, Hopeful

As the genocide in Darfur enters its sixth year, it is easy for those who care about the crisis to lose hope that it will ever end. We have invested ourselves in the cause: worn bracelets, put signs on our lawns, divested our stocks, attended rallies, called our senators, and organized our communities. We have done our best to keep the drumbeat going, but there are times when we may feel that the situation in Darfur is hopeless. How do we continue the fight when we do not see the results we want?

As activists, we have a choice. We can decide that we have done enough, that we need to move on to another issue, or we can continue the struggle, because we know it is right and necessary, despite our want of immediate results.

Now is the time for renewed hope and energy.

In March 2008, UUSC's Drumbeat for Darfur campaign joined with Tents of Hope to provide activists and local communities with a creative, meaningful, and hopeful way to channel their efforts to end the genocide in Darfur.

Started by the United Church of Christ and coordinated by Tim Nonn, Tents of Hope gives people the chance to respond as a community to the crisis in Darfur. Together, groups create colorful tents that are both unique works of art and ongoing focal points for learning about, and establishing relationships with, the people of Darfur.

People of all ages and levels of involvement can help decorate the tents, and it is a fun community activity that can be paired with a pot-luck dinner or a movie screening.

By decorating a tent, we not only foster solidarity with the people of Darfur, we also ensure that their plight is not forgotten.

UUSC has tied its efforts to weave a web of protection for women and girls in Darfur to the Tents of Hope project, incorporating educational and advocacy materials about the vulnerability of women and girls in camps.

True, decorating a tent, in and of itself, will not end the conflict. But part of the solution lies in inspiring and mobilizing activists and others who care about ending to the genocide.

Click here to read about the November 2008 gathering in Washington, D.C. which marked the conclusion of the Tents of Hope project.