A Voice For the Voiceless

MISSION

The Advocacy Project seeks to produce social change by helping marginalized communities to become advocates for social justice and claim their rights

Summer Interns Start Blogging from 14 Countries, June 6, 2006

******
AdvocacyNet
Intern Update, Volume 4#1, June 6, 2006
******

The Advocacy Project's 18 summer interns have started to post blogs on the AP website about their summer asignments. The interns will be working with community-based partner organizations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Italy, Guatemala, Nigeria, Fiji, Palestinian Territories, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and India. Excerpts from the first blogs follow.  Read more on the 2006 internship program.

Highlights:

• Staring Death in the Face in Nigeria
• Arriving in Kabul in the Wake of Riots
• Mixed Reactions at a Maoist Rally in Nepal
• Going Against the Traffic in Jerusalem
• Surviving the Heat in Delhi
• Paternalism Flourishes on a First-Class Flight to Kabul
• Approaching the Finishing Line in Bosnia
• Cows Rule in Nepal
• The Long and Winding Roads of Guatemala
• Intimidation by the Traffic Police of Lagos

Staring Death in the Face in Nigeria

Jessica Sewall (Georgetown University) is working for women’s rights in Nigeria with the Women's Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON).

“Today I sat in the back of a car going 60 mph that swerved around a young dead girl sprawled in a traffic lane. How long she had been there I do not know; how long she will be there for I do not know…”

Arriving in Kabul in the Wake of Riots

Alison Long (American University) is working for girl’s education with the Oruj Learning Center in Afghanistan.

  “I arrived in Kabul only one day after the riots, which were ignited by an incident involving a U.S. military convoy driving into a crowd of Afghans.”

Mixed Reactions at a Maoist Rally in Nepal

Nicole Cordeau (Georgetown University) is working for Nepal’s Dalit (lowest caste) with the Jagaran Media Center.

“After less than 24 hours in the country, Stacey and I joined our new colleagues at the Jagaran Media Center and donned blue human rights monitor vests at a historical rally down at Kathmandu’s exhibition grounds.”

Going Against the Traffic in Jerusalem

Sarah Sachs (Columbia University) is working for cooperation between Palestinians and Israelis with the Alternative Information Center (AIC) in Beit Sahour/Jerusalem.

“At 6 p.m., I was walking against traffic. The peddlers, the touts, the pious and the penniless were all moving together, a giant, pulsing creature pushing its way out of Damascus Gate in the ritual dance of the daily commute.”

Surviving the Heat in Delhi

Donna Laverdiere (Duke University) is working for street children with Butterflies in Delhi.

“This city is like another world. Everything is a struggle. Walking in the heat, transportation by auto rickshaw, grocery shopping in the crowded, sweltering markets, washing my clothes by hand.”

Paternalism Flourishes on a First-Class Flight to Kabul

Erica Isaac (NYU) is working for womens’ rights in Afghanistan with the Afghan Women's Network.

“The culture of paternalism is alive and well. What about me – other than the fact that I am woman – makes me in need of my father's protection?”

Approaching the Finishing Line in Bosnia

Yvette Barnes (Georgetown University) is working for women refugees and survivors in Bosnia with Bosfam.

“As an intern with Bosfam I have only ten weeks to make an impact. The limited amount of time that I have here in Bosnia makes me feel as though I am running a race, trying to get to the finish line and hopefully win.”

Cows Rule in Nepal

Stacey Spivey (Georgetown University) is working for lower caste Dalit with the Jagaran Media Center.

“At one point, we drove within inches of a cow and our driver reached out the window and touched it with his hand, and then I couldn’t see exactly what he did, but it looked like he kissed his hand, and then touched his forehead and chest.”

The Long and Winding Roads of Guatemala

Charles Wright (Georgetown University) is working for indigenous survivors of a 1982 massacre with Adivima.

“One would presume that traveling this road would necessitate precaution. Apparently, the driver of our old school bus tossed that to the wind, powering us at speeds that would make Spock, Scotty, and the rest of the crew proud.”

Laura Cardinal (Columbia University) is working for victims of human trafficking with the Women's Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON).

“The police jumped in front and then into our car, demanding that we pull over and then that we give them money. Though I don’t think they meant us any harm they certainly meant to intimidate us by surrounding our car with five policemen and shouting over the top of us every time we tried to speak.”