Ayrton Daniel Zazo Girod, UNA-Argentina, The Film Competition on LGBT Rights
Ayrton chose to focus on the issues of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. His project aims to spread the Principles of Yogyarta as a legal source to protect LGBT people from discrimination and mistreatment in Argentina, and to raise awareness on human rights amongst the community.
With the support of UNA-Argentina, Ayrton will organize seminars and a film competition. By the end of the competition, the team will receive 5 short films addressing issues related to LGBT rights and based on the Yogyarta Principles. The films will be used to raise awareness on the existing Principles and LGBT rights.
Mirella Ballista Callera, Brazil, Project for Migrants (Projeto Migracao)
Mirella had the idea to focus on the integration of migrants in Brazil. Through Project Migracao, Mirella aims to improve the cultural integration of migrants in the community of Sao Paulo through the organization of a Cultural Festival. On the occasion of this festival, migrants will be invited to share their traditions through cultural activities such as dancing, painting, and cooking.
The project activities are implemented in two times:
- Academic approach: raising awareness on the integration of migrants amongst scholars and students through seminars;
- Direct approach with migrants: providing migrants with a weekly consulting service in Sao Paulo.
Mirella and her team have already organized a seminar at the University of Sao Paulo, with the presence of migrants, professors, and students of the School of Law.
Facebook page
John Wojcik, UNA-Canada, School Readiness Program in Hamilton
John chose to implement the School Readiness Program for newcomer, immigrant and refugee youth. Too often, new comers are being placed in grades based on their age instead of their academic abilities. To bridge this gap, UNA-Canada designed a project that provides one on one academic mentoring support weekly for youth. Specific emphasis is placed on improving reading and numeracy skills as a fundamental foundation for academic success.
The project's activities contribute to integrating youth in the Canadian community through three approaches:
- Ready children: success in school determined by behaviors and abilities;
- Ready schools: schools support a smooth transition for children, promote learning for all children and bridge the cultural divide between home and school;
- Ready parents: parental support and involvement in children's early learning and development.
By the end of the project, in April 2017, the program will enable a successful transition to school environment for at least 25 children. John works in partnership with Empowerment Squared, whose objective is to empower youth through academic success, which is a key indicator of future goals of the Hamilton community. Other partners include Industry Education Council, Immigrant Women Centre, and McMaster University students' associations.
Website & Facebook page
Viera Lopez, UNA-Dominican Republic, The Right To A Fair Trial
Viera chose to focus on the issue of access to justice and spread the idea of access to a fair trial for all citizens, regardless of their economic and social background. Viera's project is targeting 1 000 students from 13 to 25 years-old and aims to raise awareness on human rights issues through seminars and capacity-building trainings.
UNA-Dominican Republic (UNA-DR) focuses on raising awareness on article 69 of the 2010 Dominican Republic Constitution, stating that "every person, in the exercise of their legitimate rights and interests, has the right to obtain effective judicial guardianship, in respect of the due process". Lawyers and specialists joined the project and will support the program and participate in capacity-building seminars.
By February 2017, UNA-DR will have set up a legal query platform for youth having participated in trainings and seminars. At the end of the project, in April 2017, the target audience will be aware of how to report a violation of human rights in Dominican Republic.
Jennifer Lee, USA, Youth Alliance for Health as a Human Right (YAHHR)
Jennifer chose to tackle the issue of access to health care in the US, as a prerequisite to sustained health. She designed her project based on the Constitution of the World Health Organization, which states that health is "one of the fundamental rights of every human being". Health should thus be a public good rather than a private commodity. Through her project, Jennifer insists on the fact that greater attention must be given to advancing accessibility, acceptability, and affordability of health care.
YAHHR is working to move US health care policy towards human rights principles by engaging youth in the political process. The Alliance implements the project in two phases: (1) registering and pledging youth to vote, raising awareness of health care issues in the US; (2) empowering youth to vote for elected officials championing policies that push US health care policies towards human rights principles.
Jennifer's objective is to reach more than 3 000 youth who will be registered/pledged to vote and hold workshops. YAHHR has already implemented workshops in a few universities across the USA (Yale, Georgetown, and UC Berkeley).
The objectives are to:
- Inform youth about the principle of health as a human right;
- Give details of US health care policy;
- Provide information about actions individuals can take to push members of Congress to advance policies.
Website & Facebook page
Rina Patel, UNA-USA, Youth Engagement within UNA-USA
Rina is focusing on youth membership within UNA-USA. She wishes to increase and diversify youth engagement with UNA and WFUNA through encouraging wider participation in global events and implementation of human rights projects with Campus Chapters of UNA-USA. She will provide workshops on the SDGs and human rights mechanisms.
Rina, together with her team, will provide workshops on Project Cycle Management tools and SDGs. As an outcome of the trainings, small human rights projects will be implemented in 5 chapters of UNA-USA.
José Sirven, UNA-USA, Homelessness Among LGBT Youth
José chose to target the issue of homelessness among LGBT youth as a result of family rejection or abuse in the USA. The rate of LGBT youth homelessness in South Florida is estimated at 35%. José aims to prevent youth homelessness through sensitization on existing resources that can ensure youth protection and safety.
The project targets 15 schools. José and his team will reach high school students through an informational video to raise awareness on the risks of homelessness. An awareness campaign through social media has also been put in place.
Johnny Vang, UNA-USA, The Health on the Block
Through his project, Johnny aims to (1) contribute to eliminating health care disparities in the USA by increasing the amount of students from a modest background in the health care profession; and (2) provide free health care to low-socioeconomic families in North Carolina. Today, a majority of American citizens avoids visits to the doctor due to their financial restrains. The project allows low socio-economic families a chance to visit and meet with doctors and specialists and gain a free comprehensive summary of their health.
By spring 2017, at least 100 people from the undeserved, low socioeconomic and minority population will receive free health care check-up. Johnny also aims to sensitize youth on university opportunities to pursue a degree in medicine.
Partners include UNC Health Care, UNC School of Medicine, UNC Family Medicine Center, and North Carolina Health Care Access Program.
Facebook page & Website
