Spotlight on Marc Cooper
An activist affiliated with global Outreach to save Darfur.

by Sana Venjara

Mark Cooper is a typical teenager. He goes to school and works part time, however, he also has a passion for advocacy. “I am just a kid, but that’s the thing, kids can [make a difference],” says Cooper, 17, a senior at Tottenville High School in Staten Island, New York.

In his sophomore year of high school, Cooper created the advocacy club Global Outreach. Cooper felt inspired by a lesson regarding genocide in Darfur taught by his global history teacher, and now club advisor, Kelly Cotarelo.

“Once you know something is going on, it is your duty as a human to express it and make other people aware,” says Mrs. Cotarelo. “As a teacher of global history, I felt I had an obligation to my students.”

Global Outreach was started to spread awareness about the genocide in Darfur, and for the past two years it has been doing just that. This past summer, Tottenville High School was one of the top ten schools in the country to raise money for Dollars for Darfur, a competition sponsored by the Save Darfur coalition to increase advocacy and help stop the genocide. Global Outreach raised $5,820 in one day and ranked eighth in the competition. With Tottenville placing in the top ten schools, Mrs. Cotarelo and two select students, one being Cooper, won a free advocacy trip to Washington D.C.

“During the trip, I was able to protest in front of Sudanese Embassy, hear a survivor speak and talk to my local congressman, Vito Fossela,” recounts Cooper. “I was able to get my voice heard, and let him know that Darfur should be a top priority. It was great to actually get my voice out there.”

Darfur, a region of western Sudan, has received international attention since 2004 when government troops and militia groups, known as Janjaweed, tried to crush rebels who complained that black residents in Darfur are neglected by the Muslim central government. Since then, the Janjaweed, who are backed by the government, have carried out widespread killings of civilians. At least 200,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, and more than 2.5 million people are believed to have fled their homes while trying to escape rapes, murders and the destruction of their villages.

“Darfur has definitely opened my eyes to the responsibility I have; it’s a responsibility everyone has,” says Cooper. “I have become more aware and passionate about other things going on around the world.”

Friends recognize Cooper’s dedication to the cause. “Passion plays a huge role for Mark,” says Anna Chernov, 17. “People can really see that he genuinely cares, and he makes people want to join [Global Outreach].” Michelle Cuozzo, 17, adds “He’s even got me reading the New York Times and looking into international affairs.”

“I am always [researching], trying to find new information about Darfur,” says Mark. “Just recently I became a member of the National Youth Advisory Board for Save Darfur. [Save Darfur] runs ideas past us to get a student’s perspective, which I believe is extremely instrumental in the fight to save Darfur.”

Three years have passed since Cooper became actively involved in the fight for Darfur. Though he feels he has made somewhat of a difference, there is still much more work to be done. “When I see this [genocide] go on for so long, I feel that I have to do more,” says Cooper. “If [politicians] aren’t doing anything, then I have to persuade them to do so, especially in a country like America— a country for people.”

Yet, Cooper admits to being shocked at the success of his club. “When I started this club, I didn’t think people would be so passionately involved in the cause,” he says. “Just seeing them gives me strength, and it renews my passion for the cause.”

Global Outreach is currently in the process of organizing Dodge for Darfur, a student-faculty dodgeball game, along with other fundraising projects. “We’re hoping to raise even more money than last year,” says Cooper.

Proud that he got a head start on something he plans on doing for the rest of his life, Cooper continues to stress that “all people [no matter their age] have the capability to do great things in the world.”

The crisis in Darfur has opened Cooper’s eyes to hidden wrongs occurring in the world, and he pledges to continue spreading the word. “It takes the world to get involved to stop something like this,” says the altruistic teen. “And I will do whatever I can to make that happen.”