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HRAP – Benefits
Measured in a variety of ways, the benefits of HRAP are immense. As noted, Advocates leave the program with greater knowledge of human rights, a more global perspective of their work, a concrete set of skills, and invaluable relationships that endure far beyond the four months they are in residence at Columbia University. After their participation in the program, Advocates are able to more effectively defend the rights of their respective communities, build the capacity of their organizations, and empower others to further advance the realization of human rights. In their own words…
General
“For me, [CSHR] is more than a place where I received knowledge about the history, concepts, and development of human rights, or a place to network with colleagues from different countries. It also gave me the confidence and direction to start Cambodia Women’s Crisis Center (CWCC) to help women and girls who suffer from gender-based violence. If I did not attend the Advocates Training Program, there would be no CWCC now.” – Chanthol Oung, Cambodia, 1995 HRAP Advocate
“The HRAP program is the kind of program that delivers a lifetime of benefits. Even 6 months out is too early to assess the impact the program will have. Already, I refer my colleagues to other participants in the program and we are in the process of expanding our work from a national to an international focus. This would not have been possible without the HRAP program.” – Zachary Norris, USA, 2007 HRAP Advocate
“The Human Rights Advocates program is such a unique program that every potential Human Rights Advocate will want the opportunity. The program has served as eye opener to many other things that I never could happen upon during work back home. The most important aspect of this program is the level to which I have able to expand my networks, I personally believe success as a Human Rights Advocate depends on whom you know and who knows you. This can enhance my work when I return to my country. I have also realized that the people I have been exposed are likely to be those I will meet in prominent position as world leaders, thus giving me the hope to affect changes now and the future.” – Peter Mulbah, Liberia, 2008 HRAP Advocate
“The Program was most important for me. In fact, it changed my professional life, giving me global standards by which to write about local issues in my daily news column and for frequent television interviews on ‘Futura Channel… After leaving Columbia, I won four journalism prizes, including recently for promoting public debate on the need for educational reforms. Even my critics say the article set the agenda for change, taking human rights into account.” – Gilberto Nascimento, Brazil, 1998 HRAP Advocate
“HRAP gave me a great opportunity to approach human rights globally, sharing local perspectives. It provided an oasis to think and to strengthen my commitment to the human rights cause. It gave me a permanent link with the human rights movement, and a source of inspiration to keep working hard.” – Felipe Michelini, Uruguay, 1990 HRAP Advocate
“[HRAP] gave me a chance to step back and see my work in a context that made the connections with other social justice movements stronger. By defining myself as a human rights activist, I was finally able to step out of the micro demands of local policy work here in the United States and see myself and my work as truly part of a web of resistance. [The experience] strengthened my commitment to forcing the U.S. to protect local human rights, recognizing that then people in other countries could use that as leverage for their own countries.” – Jennifer Flynn, USA, 2002 HRAP Advocate
Networking, Fundraising, and Advocacy
“For the last year, my experience in HRAP has been helping me to work more actively with better focus and strategy. I paid more attention on doing networking and building collaboration, which are very useful to strengthen the project we are running. I also have been working more confidently by knowing a larger picture of the situation, the root cause of problems, and moreover, knowing that what we are working on is also the world's concern so we are not alone in the fight for the right.” – Phan Thi Hai Yen, Vietnam, 2006 HRAP Advocate
“…Columbia University, its prestige, the quality of the selection process and the quality of candidates, were all factors that prompted donor support for our projects. Then, HRAP offers advocates the opportunity of meeting directly with funders, this is particularly interesting for advocates to ‘sell’ their project, given the fact that physical contact is crucial.” – Christian Mounzeo, Congo-Brazzaville, 2007 HRAP Advocate
“Regarding my organization, it was great to have the opportunity to promote our internship. We are now hosting an intern from SIPA…We are extremely pleased to have this collaboration and also to be able to share what we do with people from different parts of the world and with different life experiences. It is great.” – Monica Iris Jasis, Mexico, 2007 HRAP Advocate
“HRAP gave me the opportunity to negotiate with Catalyst for Peace Foundation base in US and conclude a very important project not only for Forum of Conscience but for Sierra Leone at a Country.” – John Caulker, Sierra Leone, 2007 HRAP Advocate
“I really appreciated HRAP because of the program’s flexibility and networking opportunities. My mentor was very helpful to me throughout my stay at Columbia University. She traveled a lot but she responded to all my emails and gave me advice. She was very kind to me.” – Roger Luhiriri, Democratic Republic of Congo, 2008 HRAP Advocate
“Sangama got grants released after my meetings during my HRAP visit…HRAP helped us in connecting with people at various funders based in the USA personally, which makes a lot of difference when raising funds.” – Elavarthi Manohar, India, 2007 HRAP Advocate
“One of the greatest assets of HRAP is its ability to bring together for four months human rights activist working on different interest areas. I really appreciated the work of all my colleagues and the ability for us all to accommodate colleague’s views even when culturally this is something we would never have had the courage to talk about.” –Nzene Durrel Halleson, Cameroon, 2007 HRAP Advocate
Skills-Building
“I learned how to write a project proposal which will go a long way in my work as senior staff. The skills I acquired in public speaking, preparing and engaging in meetings, organizing my work week and the new contacts I met are also valuable in terms of my effectiveness…The Trauma and Stress Management session will always stay with me as it is a matter of personal and political empowerment to be able to take charge of stressful conditions and turn it around.” – Francelyn Begonia, Philippines, 2002 HRAP Advocate
“I’ve learned advocacy strategies, fundraising skills including proposal writing and letter of inquiry writing, how to network with NGOs and foundations, interviewing skills through the Human Rights Watch workshop series and video advocacy through the WITNESS training.” – Anbu Sengo Arasi, India, 2008 HRAP Advocate
“I learned lot of new things from the facilitator such as webpage design, input of data, and the quality of what to be posted. Particularly smaller or financially weak organizations like mine who depend on volunteers to design website always end up with difficulty.” – J. S. Cammue, Liberia, 2005 HRAP Advocate
“Because this kind of experience gave more self-confidence about my skills speaking in public in other languages, and this opened for me and my organization the possibility to participate with our own voice about our job.” – Alejandra Ancheita Pagaza, Mexico, 2005 HRAP Advocate
“I learned the necessary skills to represent my organization’s conception of human rights…[now I feel] more responsibility than I had before…” – Michelle Gueraldi, Brazil, 1995 HRAP Advocate
“What HRAP offers us is so vital, so valuable, and so inspiring that I wish many more human rights leaders like us out there can have access to it. These tools, skills and knowledge are so much needed out there for the protection, promotion and realization of human rights.” – Mawuli Dake, Ghana, 2005 HRAP Advocate
Knowledge
“The advocates training program was as much inside the classroom as it was outside…for me personally the learning goes on and on… As a woman I grew wings after 40, and to fold them after a decade would be as hard as it was unfolding them.” – Maya Sharma, India, 1999 HRAP Advocate
“This program has broadened my scope of opportunities and expanded my potential…Experiences in HRAP have helped me to understand the real dimensions of poverty in developing countries and how this impacts on a whole range of rights of people in developing countries. The academic courses have also helped me better understand the links between the roles of global economic institutions and poverty in developing countries.” – Agnes Sia Tamba, Sierra Leone, 2006 HRAP Advocate
“…The activities, workshops, and meetings with key NGOs gave me a broader and more thorough perspective of different issues facing the developing world. HRAP gave me invaluable life experience by allowing me to live in, learn and become familiar with another culture which brought me great friendship.” – Sunthraporn Kestkaeo, Thailand, 2007 HRAP Advocate
“All this time in HRAP was a valuable opportunity to analyze the mission, vision, objectives, strategies, activities, structure and administration of my organization, the future and the responsibility and challenges that I have in future years.” – Priscila Rodriguez Bribiesca, Mexico, 2007 HRAP Advocate
“Health Policy and Management helped me to understand globalization and its effects on the most poor and socially excluded populations. It also exposed me to the injustices and human rights abuses in some countries. Professor Muennig is extremely great and dynamic.” – Alejandro Rivera, Mexico, 2008 HRAP Advocate
“Columbia gave me a prestigious credential that has opened many doors, and the knowledge and confidence to use human rights as a tool for change.” – Nan Htay Htay Win, Burma, 2001 HRAP
“I have gained a good understanding of the academic perspective about several issues related to my work in Ecuador. This is a big contribution on my efforts of creating links between the Global South and the Global North.” – Paulina Garzón, Ecuador, 2005 HRAP Advocate
“For me personally, it has changed my mind, my understanding of human rights…” – Oksana Drebezova, Belarus, 2001 HRAP Advocate
