Raea Lovett (NYU Silver) | ACATHI | Barcelona, Spain The first time I conducted substantial research was in my sophomore year of high school. I had no clue what I was doing but I was passionate. I dove head first into researching sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts which are better known as “conversion therapy.” Being trans and from Houston, Texas my advocacy became not only a research project but a necessity. My project back then however focused mainly on the US. My Yiayia (grandmother) was born in Egypt and forcibly displaced even stateless at one point. She continues to ha ..read more

Cameron Avisa Patel (NYU College of Arts and Sciences)| Sylvia Rivera Law Project | New York, USA This summer, I will be working at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project. Most of my work will involve helping transgender people access medical care, legal services, and information about their rights. This work is part of SRLP’s broader human rights mission to ensure that all people receive medical care and are safe from state violence. Much of the latter is rooted in a human rights critique of the prison system—as a result, SRLP does a lot of work with currently and formerly incarcerated people. At SRLP ..read more

Isabella Victoria Wolfe (NYU Gallatin) | The Language Conservancy | Indiana, USA My name is Isabella Victoria Wolfe and I was born and raised in Sacramento, California. I am a rising junior at Gallatin, the School of Individualized Study. My concentration is in Literature, Law, and Linguistics. And I am so thrilled to be starting my fellowship with the Language Conservancy in June. For some background information, The Language Conservancy (TLC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing the world’s endangered languages, restoring them to stability and health, and safeguarding ..read more

Renzo Esposito (NYU Gallatin) | Dialogo Diverso | Quito, Ecuador In just a few days, I will embark on an exciting journey to Ecuador, a country I have never visited before. As a queer individual, the more I delved into its rich culture, history, and the warmth of its people during my semester studies, the more intrigued I became. This summer, I am fortunate enough to immerse myself fully in this vibrant environment through a project close to my heart. During my 10-week stay, I’ll be working with Dialogo Diverso, an organization deeply committed to advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, tackling democra ..read more

Cameron Roberts (NYU Liberal Studies) | Refugee Law Clinic | London, United Kingdom  I will work with the Refugee Law Clinic (RLC) in London this summer. The RLC is an initiative within the School of Advanced Studies and the Refugee Law Initiative at the University of London. It is one of London’s first specialized law clinics to provide legal services to asylum seekers. With two permanent staff attorneys and more volunteer attorneys working pro-bono, the clinic assists asylum seekers in applying for fresh claims. This is a growing population in the United Kingdom as many asylum seekers f ..read more

As I begin preparing for the summer, I am reflecting on why I chose to do my Fellowship in Morgantown, West Virginia. West Virginia is a place with a history that is both tragic and hopeful at the same time. I first thought of West Virginia in the context of human rights after reading the report by Philip Alston (the former special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights) on poverty in the US. One of the locations that Alston visited during his fact-finding trip was Charleston, West Virginia. Reading Alston’s report was the first time that I began to think about poverty and economic ine ..read more

Yassmine Hussein (NYU Gallatin) |Cairo 52| Cairo, Egypt As my journey of learning and experiences comes to an end with Cairo52 for the summer, I recognize the depth of learning and understanding I have accomplished as a result of my time. Interning with an organization that is local to the topic of interest I had was invaluable, not only did I have a chance to work alongside individuals who have dedicated years of their lives to creating a more equitable legal and social environment for sex workers, but also individuals who understand the relevance of this work as they are inhabitants of the c ..read more

Laura Maria Rojas (NYU Gallatin) | Oxfam-Mexico| Mexico City, Mexico The last two weeks have been hectic as I concluded my internship at Oxfam-Mexico. I have also felt a wave of nostalgia as I say goodbye to Mexico. Undoubtedly, a positive sign, indicating this was a worthwhile period. In a few months, Mexico felt like home. Reflecting on my fellowship, I have identified learnings and insights at a personal and professional level. The internship abroad was a challenge for me to step outside my comfort zone. I had to quickly become familiar with another culture – and especially anothe ..read more

Alice Ni (NYU Gallatin) | Nubian Rights Forum | Nairobi, Kenya  The most significant insight that I gained from my experience at work this week was the logistical and administrative aspects of human rights NGOs from learning more about the history of the Nubian Rights Forum, the timeline of implementation of their programs, and their relationship with Namati, a young NGO headquartered in Washington DC. Since my last blog post, I’ve spent more time in meetings, both virtually and in person, with potential partners and also our donor organization, Namati. I have been primarily working under ..read more

Santana Kavanaugh (NYU Gallatin) |National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers| NYC, United States Hello Everyone, I would like to use this post to acknowledge the gratitude that I have for The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. What I appreciated most at NACDL was their effort to always acknowledge the racial aspects of the injustices within the criminal justice system. I know from past experiences at nonprofit organizations that language is indeed political. For example, in 2020 when I worked for an organization in Kentucky that registered “underrepresented” Kentuckians to ..read more