Although sleeping outdoors under the stars and moonlit sky seems
like a romantic and even exhilarating concept, it is a daily
reality that is anything but exhilarating for many.
Last Thursday, over 100 UCLA students of all faiths and beliefs
joined the Muslim Student Association to raise awareness regarding
hunger and homelessness.
These students refrained from eating and drinking for an entire
day in order to ensure that someone else would not have to go
hungry.
The event, called the Fast-a-thon, was a humble attempt to shed
light on an issue to which many people have become
desensitized.
In Los Angeles County, over 80,000 people call the sidewalks
their home. Public officials have ignored the homeless in Los
Angeles for a long time. Fixing the problem seems to be a distant
concern.
But for many developers of the Downtown District, the homeless
population is now causing a bit of quandary.
Many city planners have their sights on Skid Row and the
surrounding areas, which they claim are ripe for development.
Thus, the phrase “cleaning up Skid Row” has become a
popular euphemism used to help make way for multimillion-dollar
projects.
As students privileged to be in an institute where social
justice and activism are heralded, why are we waiting for someone
to make the first move?
It’s understandable. With the school year starting to
unfold, many are overwhelmed by the new environment. Just figuring
out a schedule and setting aside time to study and socialize are
the main focuses for many students.
However, if we are not vigilant, the “Westwood
bubble” will engulf us all.
There are hundreds of ways to help the homeless of downtown Los
Angeles. Even in Westwood, there are a number of students that have
said “enough is enough.”
Project AMANAH (Association of Muslims Assisting the Needy and
the Homeless) is one of the community projects students can join to
take a stand against the dehumanization of the homeless.
This group is continuing to provide meals for the homeless on
Skid Row, as it has been doing for the past five years.
Revolution and change start at the grass roots level. It is our
duty to equip the homeless population with the right tools to bring
them back to society.
So the next time you go camping and sleep under the stars, ask
yourself: What can I do to ensure that others don’t have
to?
Elhindi is a fourth-year physiological science student. She
is the program development director for Project AMANAH.