The First Teen Summer Symposium on Human Rights
2015 was our inaugural year. Our theme, “The Power of One,” focused on the power of choices and each person’s potential to stand up for human rights. We welcomed 57 teens from 7 area school districts to learn about national and international human rights topics. Here are the highlights:
- We were joined by Eugenie Mukeshimana, Rwandan Genocide survivor and Founder and Executive Director of Genocide Survivors Support Network, and Carl Wilkens, the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda after the genocide began.
We met local and international leaders in human rights:
- Albany Law School’s Anti-human trafficking project discussed the school’s efforts to end human trafficking
- Raina Briggs- Abrahams, youth activist, shared an update on LGBT+ rights and tips starting a GSA
- Karen Flewelling, Author Drilling for Hope: One Woman’s Work to Provide Clean Water, shared her experiences bringing clean water to remote communities.
- Mark Bertrand, founder of The Giving Circle, shared the role of NGOs in addressing needs around the world.
- We learned about Fair Trade from Aaron Bifaro and how our schools can become fair trade schools
To learn how our 2015 class is giving back, visit our “Why attend” page.