Create a More Just World by December 10, 2009 ~ Christine Letts

Create a More Just World by December 10, 2009 ~ Christine Letts
A fundraiser supporting INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES TO JUSTICE

For the first time in history, we have a roadmap for the prevention of torture as an investigative tool. Help make this dream a reality.

Karen was in my nonprofit management course at the Harvard Kennedy School in 1998. She designed IBJ as part of her coursework, and she became so memorable due to her dedication to seeing her idea come to life. Karen has stayed in touch over the years, and has become an exemplary social entrepreneur in her ability to leverage dedicated volunteers, donor support and the law to change practices for people who deserve proper representation throughout the world. She remains an inspiration to our students year after year.
~ Christine
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I am fundraising on behalf of my former student Karen Tse, the founder of the legal nonprofit, International Bridges to Justice (IBJ: www.ibj.org). Karen started IBJ after a pivotal experience in Cambodia where she met a 12 year old young boy. This boy had been detained, tortured by the police and denied access to counsel. Like so many prisoners around the world he languished in prison, without access to a lawyer or human rights worker to defend him or protect his rights. He also had no pending trial date to determine his guilt or innocence. However, since he was only an adolescent accused of stealing a bicycle rather than a political prisoner, the Cambodian government was open to the possibility of his release. Ironically, there was not an international or national body dedicated to giving grassroots legal aid support to this boy at the time.

Karen founded IBJ in the year 2000 to build systematic support for the hundreds of thousands of prisoners, just like this boy, in countries throughout the world who could significantly benefit from receiving legal assistance. Every day, Karen leads IBJ in an uphill battle against injustice. Her organization has expanded to 16 countries, with permanent staff in China, Cambodia, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe and India. Slowly, Karen’s dream is becoming a reality through the hard work of IBJ’s staff, volunteers and partners. IBJ is now facing greater demand for its services than ever, and its programs are no less ambitious. The organization needs additional resources to bring stability and continuity to its programs - a spark to ignite justice for vulnerable communities around the world.

I am a strong supporter of IBJ and am inviting you to join me in this movement. If we all do our part, we can make an important difference. Help Karen continue her courageous work by rallying in support of her uncompromising dedication to legal rights. Every dollar you give will make a critical difference.
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During this campaign, your donations will be matched by up to $125,000 through the generous funding of a private donor.

My goal is to raise $1000 between now and December 10, 2009, Human Rights Day, in order to support these Fellows and the changes they strive tirelessly to achieve.

Save lives and create a more just world by December 10 - contribute now!

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This fundraiser was created by:

Christine Letts

In support of the US registered nonprofit

INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES TO JUSTICE

$1,000 raised

Goal: $1,000

	$10 The percentage of criminal defendants in China who are still juveniles
	$62 The percentage of pretrial detainees in Burundi who are unable to afford any type of legal representation
	$113 The number of countries in the world that still find it necessary to practice torture
	$270 The total number of lawyers in the entire country of Rwanda
	$300 The percentage that prison occupancy levels have reached in Kenya
	$1,524 The number of female pretrial detainees in Rwanda's prisons
	$3,000 The estimated number of documented torture cases in Zimbabwe in the last 7 years
	$ Other

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Create a More Just World by December 10th - Tim Scheu