Home About Services Campaigns Advocates Fellows Blogs Resources

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 "Speaking with locals and living in a country is the best way to learn about the real lives of citizens, not just the stories in the mainstream media. I will be more critical of what I read as a result of this experience. I also feel even more grateful for my education, and I feel a stronger responsibility to assist others who do not have resources or access to opportunities in their communities." Maria Skouras (New York University) volunteered in 2011 as a Peace Fellow for eHomemakers in Malaysia. For more 2011 feedback click here.

Translate this page:

Partner Campaigns > Advocacy Quilting > The DOSTA! Roma Q... > The Process

The Process

	Finding the Artists The Advocacy Project visited the Roma quilters at their homes in Strasbourg to review the plan. At left, facing left: Irene Weidmann from the Council of Europe's directorate of culture. Facing right: AP Peace Fellow Kerry McBroom shows the women one of the Ahadi Quilts made by survivors of sexual violence in the DRC.

	The Quilt Comes to Life Hard work and dedication went into the making of the quilt. The participants had hoped to make their panels at home, but decided that the process would raise fewer questions and allow for more collegiality if done at the Council of Europe.

	Telling Stories in Art The quilters met at the Council of Europe to The team then worked with the project team to translate their ideas into embroidery, and sew their panels.  Claudia Bercuta (left), a single mother, hopes that her panel will encourage young Roma boys like her son, Ellis, to respect women.

	Creating Community Producing their panels proved therapeutic and brought the women together.  Floreda Neda (left) says that quilting enabled her to escape her "fatiguing, depressing and dehumanizing" daily activities as a beggar.

	Practicing Skilled Art Quilting has helped the women learn a new skill.  Ecaterina Neda (left) says that the quilting project has given her an important professional experience and more confidence.

	Promoting Advocacy Eleni Tsetsekou (2nd left) from the office of the Council's Special Representative on Roma issues managed the project and hosted a reception to display the finished quilt. The artists were introduced to the Council's Deputy Secretary-General.

Back