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
|
Translate this page:
Jess Tirado and The Jagaran Media Center (JMC)
Center for Global Affairs at New York University
Jessica Tirado will be working in Nepal this summer as a Peace Fellow with the Jagaran Media Center (JMC). The JMC is run by journalists from the Dalit (“untouchable,” lowest caste) community in Nepal, and works to spotlight ongoing human rights abuses against the Dalit using various forms of media. Members of the Dalit community, who make up roughly a fifth of Nepal’s population, face systematic abuses, extreme discrimination, and regular violations of their social, political, religious, and economic rights.
Jessica is a current graduate student at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs, specializing in international human rights and humanitarian assistance. Prior to enrolling in NYU, Jessica lived in northern Thailand and worked with a local NGO focused on human rights issues in Burma. In this capacity, she conducted research on the situation of children involved in armed conflict in Burma, helping to document six violations against children: killing/maiming, recruiting and using child soldiers; rape and sexual assault; abduction; attacks on schools and hospitals; and restriction of humanitarian assistance. When Cyclone Nargis hit Burma in May 2008, Jessica helped coordinate post-disaster relief efforts and secure emergency funding.
Before moving to Thailand, Jessica had volunteered in Rwanda working alongside survivors of the 1994 genocide, and had worked as a case manager/advocate on behalf of homeless people with mental illnesses in New York. After returning from Rwanda, Jessica began volunteering several evenings per week with the Darfur People’s Association of New York, assisting refugee families with resettlement matters and English tutoring. She also served as the Coordinator for Rock to Save Darfur’s major fundraising concert in 2008. In the summer of 2007, Jessica participated in NYU’s overseas study program at the United Nations Offices in Geneva.
Jessica earned her bachelor’s degree in sociology, human services, and political science at the State University of New York at New Paltz. As an undergraduate she interned with a number of non-profits and had the opportunity to work with abused and runaway youth in a temporary crisis shelter; assist individuals suffering from hunger and poverty in a local advocacy agency; and work in a state legislator’s office addressing constituent concerns and conducting legislative research. She also served as the Communications Chair with her campus chapter of the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance, and helped lead numerous events regarding global violence against women. Upon graduation in 2006, Jessica received her university’s Presidential Award for leadership and service.
Jessica is thrilled to be joining the JMC this summer to fight caste discrimination and abuses against the Dalit community. She is very passionate about working to empower marginalized populations, and is excited to be able to contribute to the JMC’s noteworthy work.
Email Jess
Read Jess's Blog
We are not accepting donations for individual fellows at this time, please click here to donate to AP's Fellowship program.