On October 16-18th, millions of people around the world will STAND up and TAKE ACTION to pledge their support for the fight against extreme poverty and the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals. Shouldn't the church be leading them?!

Church of Edmonton, this is our chance to follow Christ in his compassionate heart for the poor and helpless, and to show the world that we care.

Here is our challenge to you:

1) Participate in a STAND Event

2) TAKE ACTION with our "Poor For A Day" Challenge

3) REPORT Your Involvement so we can Celebrate

1) Participate in a STAND Event

Either Participate in an Existing Event
(Check out the listing of Edmonton events in the right sidebar!)

OR

Organize Your Own Event

This can be simple as dedicating a 5-10 minute portion of your service(s) on the weekend of October 16-18th to having willing participants stand and read a pledge together.
See page 13 of the Stand Up 2009 Toolkit for more specific instructions.

(You can post your own event in the right sidebar)

2) TAKE ACTION with our "Poor For A Day" Challenge

It's one thing to stand and say we care about ending extreme poverty (and that's an important start), but true change also requires tangible action.

So we're challenging you to choose one day during the week of October 12-18th and practice personal solidarity with the world's poor.

We're challenging you to live one full day spending no more than $1.25 USD (about $1.35 CAD) which is the current international poverty line.

Then, calculate the difference between your normal daily living expenses and what you spent living at the international poverty line like this...

"Poor For A Day" Sample Calculation

Living Expense Item	Normal Day	Poor For A Day
Breakfast	$5.50	$0.15 (Slice of Bread)
Commute to School/Work	$2.00 (Transit Pass / Gas Cost)	-- (Walked / Biked)
Lunch	$8.00	$0.35 (A Bit of Bulk Pasta)
Afternoon Coffee	$2.50	--
Commute Home	$2.00	$0.25 (Car-Pooled)
Supper	$10.50	$0.40 (Small Bowl of Soup)
Telephone Costs	$2.67 (Daily Portion of Monthly Bill)	-- (Turned Phone Off)
Electricity	$2.00 (Daily Portion of Monthly Bill)	-- (No Electricity)
Water & Other Utilities	$3.33 Daily Portion of Monthly Bill)	$0.20 (Used a Bit of Water)
TOTAL	$38.50	$1.35
Difference		$37.15

...and donate the difference to a dynamic, growing local Make Poverty History initiative in our city, the University of Alberta Make Poverty History student group.

Make Poverty History at the U of A is a registered student group that has been in operation for over 2 years, and has built up a membership base of over 1000 members.

It is one of the most visible groups in the community, hosting the U of A Stand Event which is the largest annual social justice event organized by students on campus.

Make Poverty History at the U of A has developed partnerships with the University Administration, Students' Union, SUSJ coalition, NGOs such as Oxfam Canada, Millennium Promise, Amnesty International and Engineers Without Borders, as well as with other groups across Canada, South Korea, and the Millennium Campus Network in the United States.

Following the pattern set by Carleton University in Ontario, Make Poverty History at the U of A is trying to implement a petition to have University of Alberta students annually support a Millennium Village project through their student fees.

U of A Make Poverty History webpage
U of A Make Poverty History facebook group

Donations should be sent directly to Make Poverty History at the University of Alberta by October 28th.

• Donations can be made via cash or cheque (cheques should be made out to "Make Poverty History University of Alberta").
• Donations can be dropped off at the Make Poverty History office at 6-18 in the Students Union Building at the University of Alberta (8900 - 114 Street), or mailed to the following address:

Make Poverty History University of Alberta
SU Box #4
6-18 S.U.B., 8900 - 114 Street
Edmonton, AB T6G 2J7

*All "Make Poverty History - U of A" designated funds received by Pentecostal Campus Ministries by October 28th will be forwarded to the Make Poverty History Group at the University of Alberta

3) REPORT Your Involvement so we can Celebrate

Tell Us about the STAND Event You're Organizing / Participating In

Organizers, you can list your event in our Edmonton Churches Making Poverty History "Events" listing in the right sidebar.
Participants, you can scroll to one of the events and click to indicate that you will be attending.
(The participant numbers reported in this events listing is not the official number that will be reported to Make Poverty History. Organizers, you must still submit that number at www.standagainstpoverty.org by midnight on October 18th)

Tell Us if you're taking on the "Poor For a Day Challenge"

Use this short online form to announce that you're taking the "Poor For A Day" challenge and to post your first name, your last initial, the faith community in Edmonton and area that you're connected with, and your chosen day of poverty (during the week of October 12-18th).
Your name will appear in the "Poor For A Day" participants list in the right sidebar.

Web Design by Chad Carbert