A Voice For the Voiceless
The Advocacy Project helps marginalized communities to tell their story, claim their rights and produce social change. We recruit graduate students to volunteer as Peace Fellows with partners.
The Impact of Service
|
.jpg)
Translate this page:
Fellow feedback 2010
“What a summer this has been!”
2010 Peace Fellows reflect on their experience
Karie Cross (Child labor in Nepal): "I feel as if I should never be afraid of
anything ever again. I have gained confidence, cultural
sensitivity, networking skills, technical skills and self-sufficiency. I see myself as someone who can really make a difference. All I have to do is have the strength to try something new."
Adrienne Henck (Child labor in Nepal): " I know that (this) experience is going to have a lasting impact on my academic and professional career. I loved Nepal and plan to return as soon as possible. I definitely have a newfound appreciation for how much we have in America."
Sylvie Bisangwa (Survivors of sexual violence in the Congo): "I learned
that I can follow something through even though at times it seems impossible."
Karin Orr (Relatives of the disappeared in Peru): "I felt a strong sense of solidarity with the relatives of the disappeared. I absolutely loved the (fellowship) and realized that my peak moments were being in the field with the people and feeling empowered by their strong belief in hope. I love making videos!"
Annika Allman (Businesswomen in Uganda): "I will be more sensitive about the way I think and speak about Africa and Africans. Second, I will be more connected to the world. This has boosted my confidence tremendously. The openness and appreciation (of my hosts) helped me change the way I see myself, my value and my capabilities."
Tereza Bottman (Roma in Czech Republic): "I fell in love with human rights journalism. The fellowship was an incredible experience. I learned a lot, became more confident about my ability to interview people and present issues in an in-depth and informed way. I think I will be more confident when working in/with communities of color as a white person."
Kate Bollinger (Survivors of uterine prolapse in Nepal): "I don’t think I’ve seen the level of poverty that I saw in the field. It made me feel extremely privileged. It was great to get experience working in a local organization abroad – something I’d never done before. Also, the skills I gained in the process (interviews, editing, web site development, etc) will be great to carry into future work. I will cook daal bhat more often!"
Josanna Lewin (Businesswomen in Ghana): "It has been a summer of learning, sharing and laughing with some incredible women. They are beautiful women and it is these women, these mothers, these sisters, these leaders, who are the future of Africa. This was a truly incredible summer and I’ve had such a positive experience. I’ve fallen in love with Ghana!"
Zarin Hamid (Women in Afghanistan: "Working in Afghanistan, with AWN, with amazing Afghan women activists, has made me all the more sure I want to be doing this. I realize that these women face the greatest of challenges often in their personal lives and in their public lives as strong voices emanating from a very fragile civil society. I feel humbled and honored to have learned from them for a small amount of time."
Abisola Adekoya (Businesswomen in Nigeria): "What a summer this has been! This experience has given me the opportunity to reconnect with my roots (and) greatly exceeded my expectations in so many ways. I have never worked in such a challenging environment, so I’m incredibly proud of myself for completing all of my work plan."
Brooke Blanchard (Street children in Kenya): "After working in the slums, I see myself as unbelievably fortunate. It was very trying at times, so I think I’m proud of getting through the most difficult aspects."
Dina Buck (Pygmies in Uganda): "Thank you Advocacy Project, for this life-changing opportunity. This summer has been a gift. I have better appreciation for the challenges, and the triumphs, of organizations in the developing world. How they have so little to work with, and yet they still can achieve great things. Doing this fellowship has affirmed for me that I want to do human rights work, and has opened up central Africa to me. I now plan to return and, eventually, live in the region when my studies are over."
Kerry McBroom (Human rights in Sri Lanka): "I think I did everything that a human rights activist can possibly do - from writing legal briefs/reports to interviewing victims in the field to working with donors. The fellowship made me more confident and showed me that I have a lot more to learn. I know that everything I learned this summer will inform my approach to academic projects, future professional endeavors, and my day-to-day activities."
Laila Zulkaphil (Survivors of the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia): "I have been greatly inspired by the amazing women of Bosfam. Despite all the pain and hardship they have been through, they are able to stay strong, cheerful, and optimistic. They never give up; they never lose hope. (But I also realize) that everyone is a victim in a war-torn country. Therefore, we need to help the whole nation to recover from a war. As a result of this fellowship, I will avoid favoring a certain group based on ethnic or religious identity."
Simon Klantschi (landmine survivors in Vietnam): "To work with disabled people (is to) see that (they) are just like you and me or much better. They are among the most capable people I have met in my whole life. I grew as a person, got more confidence when I saw that my work and my ideas were appreciated and applied. Sometime it needed patience because of misunderstandings and cultural differences, but I learned how to be cool with that. I was the guy from outside."
Joya Taft-Dick (Cameroon businesswomen): "Being around my colleagues and CBWN’s members was truly inspiring. The fellowship reminded me that I can operate very independently, that I am truly adaptable, and that I am happiest ‘in the field.’ I leave Cameroon with some rediscovered 'joie de vivre.’"
Peju Solarin (Iranian detainees of Azerbaijani ethnicity): "I am more patient, yielding, and have a deeper acknowledgement of my people skills."
Dara Lipton (Businesswomen in Kenya): "This fellowship has helped me to understand many of the academic and theoretical concepts that I learned in school in a more realistic and practical setting. This has given me increased confidence and a level of comfort in development discussions that I didn’t previously have."
Christy Gillmore (above center with Fellow Louis Rezac) (Slum dwellers in Nairobi): "I had never lived in a big city in my life, and this experience opened my eyes to the immense inequalities that are growing due to globalization and rural-urban migration. I feel that I gained invaluable skills and confidence. I feel like I have gained writing and editing skills. I know that I want to focus on human rights now that I have experience of working in the field."
Back