Volunteers joined BYU–Hawaii’s ONE chapter to present the United Nations’ goals of eradicating world poverty by the year 2030.
Students representing several countries from across the world participated in a ceremony to voice their opinions about various issues concerning the world on Sept. 29. Selected students were assigned to hold signs addressing each of the 17 sustainable development goals the United Nations has established to combat world poverty.
After each reading of the goals, candles were lit to resemble their desires to “light the way” towards progress of carrying out these goals.
The president of BYUH’s chapter of ONE, Rebecca Vigoren, a junior from Washington studying peacebuilding, gave opening remarks. “These goals aren’t impossible to reach. We have the means to do it. We are just working on the will to do it now.”
Vigoren recently stepped in as presiding officer of the organization earlier this semester, a responsibility she said she hopes will influence her and others to turn outward and help those in need. “You hear stories all around campus and meet people who have had their lives changed by coming here to study. And many of our students here at BYUH have experienced poverty. If you get to know them, you will be more inspired to share their stories and to make sure that no one else has to go through it,” she said.
ONE is a campaign advocacy group that petitions for support and awareness of policies from elected officials, an organization that Lillian Martino Bradley, a junior from Utah studying peacebuilding, believes can make a profound difference. She said these types of organizations provide voices for those who have no means of giving their own.
Bradley also addressed the group of students, saying, “through the action of every single one of us, we can make a big difference. We just want your time and your energy, not your money.”
Bradley also runs a non-profit organization, Fahodie for Friends, which rallies against human trafficking in Africa and helps victims of trafficking cope with the effects.
Chad Ford, director of the McKay Center, also made an address and linked obligations of helping the needy with examples from the scriptures. “When we see the connections from the scriptures, it is evident that our role in helping the less-privileged becomes one of our sacred duties,” said Ford.
The event inspired students like Rose Tarakabu, a junior from the islands of Kiribati studying political science, to join in the fight against global warming, one of the United Nation’s 17 goals. “This means so much to me, because the rising ocean levels are a threat to my country of Kiribati. There are parts of the islands that are already underwater, and scientists predict that by the year 2050, if we continue on the same path, my home will be underwater.”
Tarakabu said her island home of Kiribati has been trying to get global attention for years. “The rising ocean levels have never been on anyone’s priority list. I want to change that, and I feel like NGO’s like ONE can be our voice. This is a fight that I am engaging in for me, my people, and my nation.”
After the event, attendees were encouraged to send messages via Twitter to the United Nations as a way of advocating its support for the 17 goals. Attendees also took time to write hand-written letters to their elected congressman or congresswoman, signifying their support and ability to verify whether or not these goals are being put into action.
“These goals are their dreams, and the only way to accomplish them is through action,” said Caleb Bow, a sophomore from California studying peacebuilding.
According to ONE’s website and database, accomplishing all 17 goals by the year 2030 will only use less than 1 percent of the United States’ budget. It is a blueprint of 17 targets to end poverty globally and tackle other problems that each of the U.N.’s 193 members have agreed to work towards, voluntarily until 2030. The 17 goals include: no poverty, zero hunger, gender equality, quality education, clean water and sanitation, and climate action.