History’s in the making

By Rebecca Fraser
BERWICK’s Alana Smith has a vision.
The passionate 20-year-old wants to make world poverty history and has called on Casey’s youth to help alleviate global injustice and support her cause.
Ms Smith, who is the chairperson of Vision Generation, said World Vision’s youth movement is helping drive the Make Poverty History campaign, which aims to halve world poverty by 2015.
Ms Smith said Vision Generation was a group of young people aged 15 to 27 who were passionate about educating, empowering and inspiring young people to take action in alleviating poverty and worldwide injustice.
Last year, Ms Smith and 200 other young people travelled to Canberra to deliver their clear message to various politicians and she said the campaign was quickly gaining momentum around the world.
“The message is simple: we want the government to incorporate the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) into their white paper early next year, which outlines Australia’s future aid direction.
“These MDGs are a list of eight goals that the UN wants to be achieved, all of which aim to halve poverty by 2015.
“These goals relate to the Make Poverty History Campaign, a campaign that is asking the government to increase foreign aid, make trade rules fairer for developing countries, and drop the debt of developing nations,” she said.
During the Our Generation’s Challenge road trip, Ms Smith said participants had met with their local members and expressed their support for the campaign.
The former St Margaret’s student met with LaTrobe MP Jason Wood to discuss her aims and has now urged other young Casey residents to follow suit and contact their local member of government.
“If the community is aware, they’ll pressure the government and hopefully, there will be progress in the fight against poverty.
“I also want to allow young people in the area to get involved in a group such as Vision Generation (VGen) that empowers young people to get out there and take action on issues that they are passionate about.
“Such a large group of people had such an impact in Canberra and I think that it is important that other young people are aware of what they too can do to Make Poverty History,” she said.
Two years ago, Ms Smith went on a study tour to India and witnessed world poverty. The university student said this trip had changed her life and she now sponsors an 18-month-old boy from Ecuador through World Vision.
Ms Smith and Vision Generation are now busy raising funds for a permiculture project in Ecuador that will help yield higher crops and create more food for impoverished communities.
Mr Wood said he was impressed by the commitment and dedication of Vision Generation members and urged other young people to become involved.
He said he was keen to help the group with their cause and to advocate the needs of less fortunate nations.
Anyone wanting further information or to support the Make Poverty History campaign can go to www.vgen.org.