UCLA student, Vanessa Alfaro, piloted a new education plan which advances a cultural mandate voiced by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard - "Human Rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream."
September 19, 2005 (Press Release) --
UCLA Philosophy Major Advances Human Rights and Her Career Path
As part of her internship begun late in July, 22-year-old pre-law student,
Vanessa Alfaro, piloted a new education plan which advances a cultural
mandate voiced by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard – “Human Rights must be made a
fact, not an idealistic dream.” The pilot was done for Youth for Human
Rights International, headquartered in Hollywood.
According to YHRI’s founder and President, Mary Shuttleworth, the reason
there is so little progress in making human rights a fact, even fifty years
after the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights was first
drafted, is that the document is not taught in most of the countries who
claim to endorse it. For the last five years she has traveled the globe to
build a network of YHRI chapters in dozens of countries, as well as worked
through media as diverse as internet-based art and essay contests, art
festivals, youth summits, newsprint and now a brilliant award-winning music
video to create the multi-media education package. Shuttleworth says that
with the UNITED curriculum, YHRI hopes to build a virtual “army of youth
advocates” who truly understand the importance of human rights and demand
that all nations of the world do uphold them.
Alfaro says now that she is on the other side of the project she too can
conclude that human rights education must be part of every child’s education
process. After going through the lessons, the
students actually knew that they had rights; and that it was important to
uphold them; and they were very proud of this new understanding.” She went
on to say that the material seemed to “break through socio-economic
barriers” and helped youth to “envision a world of equality without
discrimination.” “Knowing their human rights in some cases encouraged them
to change personally,” she said, “and many saw that they must uphold these
rights to have them. It also strengthened their personal beliefs.”
Unique to the education curriculum piloted by Alfaro is a multiple
award-winning rap music video called UNITED, which tells the simple story of
how a young boy bullied off the basketball court in his neighborhood
launches a worldwide rally for human rights to take it back peacefully.
Alfaro quickly found that UNITED with its hip hop beat and rap, was
instantly embraced at YMCA of West San Gabriel Valley where she lives. But
even so, the only way she could get the staff to take the project on was to
recruit her younger sister to volunteer to run the classes. She has since
set up projects at John Adams Middle School in Los Angeles as well as at the
Echo Park Boys and Girls Club.
Alfaro encourages other students to offer their services to the Foundation.
“It was a valuable experience and I know it will enhance my study of law to
have taken such an in-depth look at what human rights are and how important
they are,” she added. Any student also interested in administering a UNITED
pilot can contact the pilot coordinator, Michele Kirkland, at Youth for
Human Rights International, 323 663-5797 or email: youthhumanrights@aol.com.
As part of her internship begun late in July, 22-year-old pre-law student,
Vanessa Alfaro, piloted a new education plan which advances a cultural
mandate voiced by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard – “Human Rights must be made a
fact, not an idealistic dream.” The pilot was done for Youth for Human
Rights International, headquartered in Hollywood.
According to YHRI’s founder and President, Mary Shuttleworth, the reason
there is so little progress in making human rights a fact, even fifty years
after the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights was first
drafted, is that the document is not taught in most of the countries who
claim to endorse it. For the last five years she has traveled the globe to
build a network of YHRI chapters in dozens of countries, as well as worked
through media as diverse as internet-based art and essay contests, art
festivals, youth summits, newsprint and now a brilliant award-winning music
video to create the multi-media education package. Shuttleworth says that
with the UNITED curriculum, YHRI hopes to build a virtual “army of youth
advocates” who truly understand the importance of human rights and demand
that all nations of the world do uphold them.
Alfaro says now that she is on the other side of the project she too can
conclude that human rights education must be part of every child’s education
process. After going through the lessons, the
students actually knew that they had rights; and that it was important to
uphold them; and they were very proud of this new understanding.” She went
on to say that the material seemed to “break through socio-economic
barriers” and helped youth to “envision a world of equality without
discrimination.” “Knowing their human rights in some cases encouraged them
to change personally,” she said, “and many saw that they must uphold these
rights to have them. It also strengthened their personal beliefs.”
Unique to the education curriculum piloted by Alfaro is a multiple
award-winning rap music video called UNITED, which tells the simple story of
how a young boy bullied off the basketball court in his neighborhood
launches a worldwide rally for human rights to take it back peacefully.
Alfaro quickly found that UNITED with its hip hop beat and rap, was
instantly embraced at YMCA of West San Gabriel Valley where she lives. But
even so, the only way she could get the staff to take the project on was to
recruit her younger sister to volunteer to run the classes. She has since
set up projects at John Adams Middle School in Los Angeles as well as at the
Echo Park Boys and Girls Club.
Alfaro encourages other students to offer their services to the Foundation.
“It was a valuable experience and I know it will enhance my study of law to
have taken such an in-depth look at what human rights are and how important
they are,” she added. Any student also interested in administering a UNITED
pilot can contact the pilot coordinator, Michele Kirkland, at Youth for
Human Rights International, 323 663-5797 or email: youthhumanrights@aol.com.
Email
Print
SPAM
