Week of Solidarity

This past week, the Peace and Social Awareness Committee presented the Week of Solidarity.  I didn't know much about it, so I got a participant, Felicia Schmutz, to explain it to me.

Q: What is the Week of Solidarity?

A: It’s where we fast, and have lentels and rice for lunch and supper, in order to think about and pray about refugees around the world.  We get put into groups, and each group represents a different country.

Q: How long does it last?

A: It lasts for a week.  It started on Sunday night at midnight, and lasted until Friday at 5 pm.  We all got together to celebrate and watched a movie about refugees. 

Q: Why did you decide to get involved?

A: I wanted to get outside myself and pray for others, and to realize how fortunate we are and how grateful we should be for what we have.

Q: What was it like eating rice and lintels for 5 days?

A: At the beginning I didn’t like the taste, but after a while you get used to it.  I put honey on it, and it was better.

Q: Any dizzy spells at all?

A: Nope.  I got a headache at one point.  A few people were feeling a little weak.  Some people cheated a bit and ate some cafeteria food. 


The Week of Solidarity is one of the most intense events put on by student council.  Too intense, it seems, even for me. :-)  And yet, to get the change of perspective from our normal, affluent lifestyle might be a very worthwhile thing.