Oxfam is calling on students to support its fight against global poverty, as part of its new ‘I’m In’ campaign.

The organisation wants 1,000,000 people across the country to pledge their support to the fight against world injustice over the course of 100 days. Students are being called on to text, email or phone Oxfam to say ‘I’m In’. Once they have provided their name and contact details, the agency will then get in touch to ask for their support – they can either volunteer, campaign for change or, where possible, donate.

Recent research from Oxfam revealed that the events of 2005, including the tsunami aid effort, the South Asian Earthquake and Make Poverty History had a profound effect on the younger generation. Last year’s Make Poverty History campaign inspired almost two thirds of young people in Britain to join the fight against poverty and suffering in 2006. Recent research suggests that a third (37 per cent) of young people are planning to volunteer with a charity and 60 per cent intend to campaign, by signing a petition or voicing their support by email.

Oxfam, a founding member of the Make Poverty History movement, aims to build on the legacy of 2005. Last year saw record public support for the tsunami aid effort, with seven million people including students wearing white bands in support of the Make Poverty History campaign, and a quarter of a million people taking to the streets of Edinburgh to march for justice around the time of the G8 summit.

The organisation wants to increase its current supporter base by encouraging students to pledge their support to overcome worldwide poverty and suffering.

Adrian Lovett, Campaigns Director at Oxfam, says: “The student population is hugely important to Oxfam, as they are the generation who will be responsible for continuing our fight against global injustice. We would like people to support Oxfam in any way they can – whether by spending a couple of hours a week volunteering in their local Oxfam shop, or by campaigning for an Oxfam cause, such as lobbying the UK government to return the £1.7 billion that Nigeria is paying this year.”

Pav Akhtar, NUS Internationalism Convenor commented: “‘I’m In’ is a great campaign and we whole-heartedly support any activity that makes the world a fairer place. To help Oxfam reach its national target, we’d like to encourage the student population to get actively involved, and help Oxfam eliminate poverty and suffering”

Oxfam operates in more than 70 countries all over the world and its work spans three areas: saving lives through emergency response; long term development programmes; and campaigning for change that will make the world safer, fairer and more just for its poorest people.

To sign up to “I’m in”, visit www.oxfam.org.uk/imin phone 0845 20 20 123, or text “In” to 87099.

The Blogs on this site represent the individual views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the policies or practices of the National Union of Students.

All links in blogs will open in a new browser window.

The permanent URL for this specific blog entry is: http://www.officeronline.co.uk/blogs/pavakhtar/272044.aspx