Sarah’s fellowship took her to Amnesty International’s Government Relations Department in Washington, D.C., where she worked on Amnesty’s Restore Habeas initiative.  In addition to learning about habeas corpus and the treatment of detainees at Guantánamo, the Trinity sophomore updated information about human rights staffers in congressional offices, helped organize various delegation visits, and worked with Amnesty’s contacts at the ACLU.  An avid hip-hop enthusiast, Sarah also had the opportunity to assist at Amnesty’s Hip Hop for Habeas concert, where she was able to meet well-known artists backstage.  Working in Washington, Sarah enjoyed interacting with a broad range of interns and attending lectures, protests, and press conferences on Capitol Hill.  “Being able to be in the thick of things has been such a benefit,” says Sarah, who is planning to major in Political Science.  Founded in 1961, Amnesty is one of the world’s most prominent human rights organizations.

Focusing on the detainment of refugees in the United States was Beth’s main task at the Women’s Commission for Refugee Women and Children in Washington, D.C.  A Neuroscience major, the Trinity junior was immersed in a variety of projects over the summer, including examining refugee conditions worldwide and monitoring relevant legislation.  Beth also assisted with a petition to stop violence against women, helped plan an advocacy training day for students from Afghanistan and Bangladesh, and attended meetings at relevant organizations in Washington.  Most eye-opening for her, however, was the opportunity to interview children held at a detention facility in Virginia.  The Women’s Commission operates under the auspices of the International Rescue Committee, working globally to improve the condition of refugee women and children. 

Stacey’s stint at Watchlist in New York City gave the Trinity sophomore, planning to major in Human Rights, the opportunity to combine research and advocacy.  Whether assisting in preparations for a field mission to Congo, helping to disseminate a Watchlist report on the plight of Sudan’s children, conducting research into children and armed conflict in Sri Lanka, or attending presentations at the United Nations and elsewhere, Stacey learned first-hand about the importance of research:  the “amount of research is an extensive and critical process” and “the research is key to creating advocacy and humanitarian changes.”  She was also deeply impressed by “the persistent dedication of the staff members and UN representatives.  Despite the challenges, they keep searching for alternatives and solutions because of their commitment to human rights.”  Watchlist monitors and reports on rights violations against children, especially in situations of armed conflict.

Cara, an International Studies major and Human Rights Studies minor, was a fellow at the Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights.  Cara describes her first day on site:  “I was assigned to research living wage ordinances and work to pass such an ordinance with the help of the mayor.”  One of the most interesting aspects of her internship, Cara says, was interacting with a diverse group of people.  The Trinity junior attended a court hearing, met with the mayor in City Hall, and observed a community housing information meeting.  She describes the Center’s director and founder, Jaribu Hill, as “an inspirational, energetic leader. “  Hill, an attorney who has garnered international attention, is among the South’s leading human rights activists.  One of the summer’s highlights was attending the U.S. Social Forum in Atlanta, where interns like Cara represented the Center and participated in human rights workshops.

A fellow at the Mississippi Workers’ Center for Human Rights, Amanda Persad plans to major in Human Rights Studies at Trinity.  The Mississippi Center was founded in 1996; its goal is to provide education, advocacy and organizational support for low-wage workers and other victims of civil and human rights violations in the workplace.   Amanda, along with legal interns at the Center, worked with the local mayor’s office to pass a Living Wage Ordinance.  She particularly enjoyed the opportunity to engage in regular field work:  “We visited the gravesite of James Lee Chaney – a young black man who was drowned at the age of 21 by members of the Klu Klux Klan.  We were also able to participate in a protest and rally for Wal-Mart workers who are being paid very little and are unable to afford health care.“  The interns’ work at the rally was even featured on local news.  

Having studied human rights at Trinity, Patrick’s challenge was to translate this knowledge into educational materials for Amnesty International’s Human Rights Education (HRE) Program.  Based in New York City, the Public Policy and Law major tackled a variety of media and curricular issues:  preparing human rights materials to accompany a documentary film, working on a proposal to infuse HRE into a public primary school curriculum, helping to develop a traveling photo exhibition of “Genocide Mothers of Rwanda,” and attending a national education conference in Philadelphia.  Patrick also interacted with authors, directors, photographers, and leaders of human rights projects.  “Many days I have to pinch myself for having the opportunity to meet and discuss projects with human rights defenders from all walks of life.”  The experience illustrated vividly for him “the power of one voice to effect change.”