A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to help community-based advocates produce, disseminate and use information, and so become more effective advocates for human rights and social justice

Feedback from 2007 Fellows

In 2007, AP sent out 30 Peace Fellows to 18 countries around the world. This page hosts some of their feedback about their fellowships.




"It was exhilarating, frustrating, inspiring, and tiring. And though it was oftentimes not what I had anticipated my time would look like, it became something even more powerful than I thought was possible." - Devin Greenleaf, JMC (Nepal)





"This first-hand experience has proved to me the importance of knowledge, information and partnership when empowering civil society. Swift change may oftentimes happen from the top down – but the real change happens from the bottom up." - Gail Morgado, Women in Black from Serbia



"Overall, this experience was far more educational than anything I could have done academically (or even professionally) and I am so thankful to AP for providing me with the opportunity to have this amazing experience." - Jeff Yarborough, COCAP (Nepal)



"This summer allowed me to get in touch with a major part of humanity: the disempowered and weak. There is something personally empowering that comes from witnessing such suffering. I am very grateful to have had this experience." - Jonathan Homer, Undugu Society (Kenya)






"I definitely feel more confident personally, and feel like all I’ve learned about development is so much more meaningful now..." - Nicole Farkouh, COCAP (Nepal)







"The fellowship was an infinitely valuable experience. I learned more about human rights advocacy and research, exactly as I was hoping, and I also gained experience working in a conflict zone. It helped me to develop the skills and understanding to work with community-based human rights organizations." - Madeline England, Home for Human Rights (Sri Lanka)



"Since working in Malaysia, I am more sensitive to the risks and challenges of operating in a developing country. In particular, I learned how lack of human resources, attitudes toward social justice work, weak legal enforcement, corruption, and human rights abuses inhibit growth, unfairly target one segment of society, and breed mediocrity." - Mariko Scavone, eHomemakers (Malaysia)







"...now in class, I try to break the Euro/America-centric positions that seem to dominate and ask what the Nepali view would be…this fellowship pushed me to understand a people, to think in their terms." - Tassos Coulaloglou, COCAP (Nepal)








"This experience helped me to realize that I really can work well with people who are very different from myself in challenging conditions. The skills and insight that I gained will stay with me for years to come and will be helpful both in terms of my career…and for my own personal development." - Jennifer Hollinger, CHASTE (Albania)



"I understand now how much a community-based organization can do with such a close, personal relationship with its members, and with just a little support from organizations like AP they can really spread their message." - Sara Zampierin, SKIP (Peru)





"The best part of my experience was the diversity of my day-to-day life. I was able to gain a variety of new skills while developing my flexibility. I also gained a great deal of experience working in a stressful environment with limited resources." - Zach Scott, Dale Farm (Britain)





"Though some parts of [my] travels ranged from uncomfortable to heartbreaking, the images I saw and the people I met are forever engrained into my mind and I will be able to share these experiences with others for the rest of my life." - Ted Samuel, JMC (Nepal)



"I think that perhaps it is my interest in and understanding of community level dynamics and activities that has developed the most while here. The significance of community level interactions and relationships as it pertains to the events that take place on a national level is an intriguing topic that this summer has given me new insight into." - Mark Koenig, COCAP (Nepal)