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Although Human Rights Day (December 10th) has passed, that doesn’t mean your efforts to shed light on the protection and promotion of universal rights has to fade.  If anything, let this month serve as a reminder of the unfortunate violations that still persist and the efforts made by activists, politicians, and officials around the world.  When living in a first world nation, it can be difficult to see how inequitable the world is and how unjust many governments are in treating their people.  Human Rights Month can serve as a catalyst for those not already involved in the fight to protect, advance, and advocate, for you to create change in order to improve the quality of life for those around the world.

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If you’re looking for ways to serve your community in commemoration of Human Rights Month, the below actions are a great place to start to let your passion bloom and impact those around you.

1) Sign a petition

Websites like change.org are constantly updating their causes, petitions to sign, and ways you can get involved with both national and global issues that call for change.  Although it may seem simple, signing petitions is one of the most fundamental and time-honored ways to express your stance, opposition, or investment in a particular issue.  In honor of Human Rights Month, sign a new petition each day that speaks to something you’re passionate about or enraged by.  Start creating change by signing for it and showing your support.  It may be a small way to contribute, but singing a petition alongside thousands of other people can ignite change.

2) Collect donations and volunteer for a local food pantry

Holding a food collection drive at your local community center, school, or place of work is an effective way to contribute to those who may not be able to afford to regularly feed themselves.  I know the local food pantry in the town I teach is always looking for extra hands and more food to take care of those who are struggling in our community.  No matter what circumstances lead to where they are now, community members are in need of help and every human deserves the right to eat.  Consider holding a food drive and being a part of the process of making sure those donations are given to those in need.

3) Volunteer at your local homeless shelter or transition house

Before I became a teacher, I worked at a homeless shelter in Boston and was dedicated to raising awareness, funds, and increasing volunteerism surrounding the pervasive issue of homelessness.  Boston has an extremely high rate of homelessness, especially for youth and families.  If this issue hasn’t affected your community, reach out to a community that is struggling with homelessness.  During my time working at a shelter, I met individuals who represented all sides of homelessness - mental illness, being in and out of foster care for years, never having stability in their lives, being let go from a job, having a criminal record, and drug use.  The more we learn about the many faces of homelessness and how easily an individual can become homeless, the more we personalize the issue and create compassion and understanding around it.

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Raising awareness, sparking dialogue, and taking action surrounding human rights shouldn't be limited to one month.

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4) Engage in meaningful discussions surrounding human rights

One of my favorite quotes is, ‘Only through communication can human life hold meaning.’And I believe this to be true. Communication is a catalyst for change.  It’s what binds us together and reminds us of our shared humanity.  How can we even begin to understand the various layers and violations of human rights across the globe if we don’t fully understand how vital conversations are in recognizing our humanness?  Sitting down with someone you may or may not know very well and opening up a meaningful dialogue surrounding human rights on a community-based, state, national, and global level can help us better understand how it relates to us and our lives.  

Through purposeful conversations, we can open opportunities, open our minds, and challenge our beliefs.  It’s through conversations (mainly between people who are very different from me) that I’ve learned about myself, others, and the world around me.  Although sparking a conversation about human rights may seem daunting, try starting from a place of shared understanding and allow the conversation to balloon.  Don’t be afraid to challenge each other and extract empathy, it’s through this sort of experience that we can grow as more effective contributors of society and compassionate beings.

Raising awareness, sparking meaningful dialogues, and taking action surrounding human rights doesn’t need, nor should it be limited to one month. Awareness months like this remind us that there’s so much room to give and so many areas that still need to be improved in society.  Let’s not forget how fortunate we are and how much more needs to change so that we can all live safely, equitably and justly. 

 

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