Campus Life

Project Cahir students seek to help those struggling with poverty

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Project Cahir: Penn State Students United Against Poverty is in its second year as an organization at the University Park campus and is beginning its work to help elevate the effects of poverty many Penn State students face.

With approximately 50 percent of the people living in State College living below the poverty line, Project Cahir gives students an opportunity to engage in work that will change the poverty landscape in the Penn State and State College community.

The group was established in the name of Bill Cahir, a 1990 Penn State graduate killed in action in Afghanistan. He lived a life dedicated to civic engagement and duty. After his death, his family created this initiative to honor his commitment to civic duty through the students of Project Cahir.

The eight students of Project Cahir, also known as the Cahir Corps will begin their efforts to help their peers and bring attention to the issue of poverty in this community.

The Cahir Corps is working to first identify the issues students in poverty face by holding discussion groups and giving students a chance to express their thoughts and feelings on the issue. The Cahir Corps will take the feedback and use it to develop strategies and programs that will help struggling students.

The Cahir Corps also is researching how the organizations in the community help students. One of their goals is to compile a list of credible resources to make available for students that need help.

For more information about Project Cahir, attending a discussion group, or ways you can get involved with the fight against poverty, contact Emil L. Cunningham at emil@psu.edu.

Last Updated April 19, 2017

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