Aaron Chy, BSc General, PharmD Candidate
Ever wondered what it’s like to be homeless?
Imagine what life would be like without the basic needs we take for granted every day. Imagine having no income, no phone, no access to a shower, and no roof over your head at night. This is the reality that individuals suffering from homelessness experience on a day-to-day basis.
5 Days for the Homeless
Originally founded in 2005 by three business students from the U-of-A, 5 Days for the Homeless was started in order to raise awareness and empathy for the homeless population. Since then, the movement has spread to universities across Canada and has raised over 1 million dollars in charitable funds to date.1
Every year, the campaign runs for five days, and students participate in a simulation with the following rules:1
- Students remain on campus for five days, from 5 pm Sunday to 5 pm Friday.
- Have no access to income, food or drinks. Food can only be received through direct donations, and all non-perishable food must be kept and used as a donation for a shelter.
- Sleep outside, barring inclement weather, with only a pillow and a sleeping bag. These items can be exchanged for an emergency meal.
- Have no access to showers, or facilities to which their student status would usually grant them access. Washrooms can only be accessed when campus buildings are open.
- Attend all classes, and fulfil all academic and extracurricular responsibilities.
- Avoid all personal communication media and networking websites with the exception of promoting the campaign, or for safety purposes.
- Write about or film their experiences. Participants’ experiences will be posted on an online blog available on www.5days.ca.
Giving back to the community
As part of its own mission to give back to the community, and help the wellbeing of all individuals, Orbis Health has the privilege of being a sponsor for this year’s campaign, which has already raised over $50,000 to date. The campaign runs until March 16, however, donations to the organization are welcome at any time.
You can help too! Visit https://5days.ca/schools/uofa/ to learn more about the movement and how you can contribute. 100% of the funds donated to all campaigns are passed on to local homeless organizations, and will be used to aid various humanitarian efforts year-round.
Questions or concerns? Feel free to reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook or at ask@orbishealth.ca at any time. We’d love to hear from you!
RESOURCES
- https://5days.ca/schools/uofa/
