Who: Oxfam America at ONU
What: An open membership organization striving to provide lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice
Oxfam America at ONU is a new organization on campus that aims to create lasting solutions to poverty, hunger and injustice on the local level.
Senior marketing and communications student Margo Roseum led efforts to get the group officially approved as a campus organization during the previous academic year. This was after realizing there is more to education than the classroom.
Roseum said, “The gap that [Oxfam America at ONU] is filling is that students don’t take a lot of classes that are about human rights or staying updated. It’s filling an education gap but in a social context.
Oxfam America at ONU plans to educate the campus community about the Oxfam Grow Method, which emphasizes saving food, consuming seasonal fruits and vegetables, eating less meat, supporting local farmers and cooking smarter.
The club is an open membership organization, which means students can be involved as much or as little as they wish. According to Roseum, Oxfam America at ONU currently boasts 40 to 50 prospective members.
Roseum is seeking dedicated individuals who are willing to, “Walk the walk more than just talk the talk.” She hopes students who attend the first few meetings will become “key players” in shaping the organization’s future.
Oxfam America, the parent organization of Oxfam America at ONU, is one of 17 members of the international Oxfam confederation. This confederation works in over 90 countries to develop a just world without poverty.
Charity Navigator, a watchdog resource for charitable giving, rated Oxfam America an overall charitability score of 90.29 out of 100 in 2013. Oxfam America also received 86.6 out of 100 points for financial performance and 97.0 out of 100 points for accountability and transparency. Charity Navigator also awarded Oxfam America four out of four stars, the highest overall rating possible