Student Spotlight: Paul Oliva

Photo above: Paul Oliva and fellow volunteers at Halloween week at Food Fort.  

"Not only did we connect with the immigrant communities in Lincoln over something as simple as a meal, but also made pumpkin decorations, hosted a costume contest for the kids, and above all, indulged in some candy! Interning at Food Fort provides a truly amazing and unique opportunity to grow Lincoln's communities and develop its youth through thoughtful action, education, and outreach." 

Paul Oliva, a Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs minor, volunteered at Food Fort – an organization committed to supporting refugee, immigrant, and lower-income communities through food distribution initiatives. He helped with the food distribution process while also engaging with kids, helping them establish goals, and planning weekly activities.

Paul contributed to enhancing the Tree Top Education trailer student database by implementing new features. The idea of this initiative is to provide one of the kids in the program, upon high school graduation, to receive a scholarship covering college, housing, food, books, and more. The goal is to uplift kids from poverty through education.

Food Fort contributes to promoting human rights in the Lincoln community, Paul says, by addressing immediate needs through food distribution and fostering a sense of community, particularly among younger kids.

“There is a massive emphasis on the importance of the education trailer," Paul said, "in more so being an environment for the kids to be themselves without any prejudice, to have a sense of community, and to have assistance in their educational endeavors when they need it.”

By actively serving in immigrant and impoverished neighborhoods, Food Fort strives to alleviate systemic pressures on these communities, addressing the causes of challenges faced by the community. Paul hopes to volunteer with Food Fort in the future and highlights his aspiration to build a career in helping people improve their living conditions.