On Friday night, my fellow INDEVOURS and I hosted a Global Gala event. There was a dual purpose for this event: to raise awareness about global food inequality and to raise money to help subsidize our international field placements.
Each of the 52 guests at the Gala were given an alternative identity for the night from either Canada or one of our seven field placement countries. They each had information on their employment situation, date and place of birth, and a description of their daily lives. When it came time for dinner, people were all served differing amounts of food depending on their country of residence, job, number of dependents, age, and gender. It was a really neat experience to watch the expressions on the faces of our guests. There was confusion, surprise, humour, and even a bit of anger. We asked a few people to comment on their meals. Were they satisfied with the amount of food they had received? Did they feel inclined to share with those at their table who were given less food than themselves? Did they feel embarrassed to be eating more than others? Were they angry at those who were given more food than themselves? After giving our guests time to consider the realities of food inequality, we eventually provided everyone with a full meal.
There are so many more interesting things that happened at the Gala and it would take too long and would be too difficult to describe everything that happened, but I really just wanted to thank everyone for making this event a success.
To those who attended the Gala: Of course, without our guests there would never have been an event. Thank you for taking the time to spend a Friday night with us. Many of you have played an influential role in the lives of one or more INDEVOURS and I hope that at this event you were able to see the type of people we have become.
To the community: Thank you to all the businesses and individuals who donated their time, services, money, and prizes to us. The world sometimes seems like a dark place full of greed and distrust, but seeing the generosity from complete strangers is a constant reminder of the good that is still displayed by so many people in the world.
To my professors: Thank you for your support over the past three years. You have helped to shape the people that we have become. I hope that you enjoyed the Gala as much as we did and I want to thank you again for coming and supporting us once again.
And finally, to my fellow INDEVOURS: You are all amazing people and I can not wait to see what you all accomplish in the world as you leave on your placements in September.
So when you cannot understand a word being said to you.
When you get a virus, food poisoning, or malaria...
When you are homesick...
When you cannot wait until your placement is over...
Then remember that there are 31 other people who are going through the same things all over the world.
They are the people who went through three and a half years of university with you.
They are the people who love you for your quirks and eccentricities.
They are the people who cannot wait to share your experiences when you return.
And they are the people who made the Global Gala happen!
