Gisele: GYC Human Rights Conference in NYC

I am now in my 3rd year at Akilah, we are studying really hard because we are about to graduate in August. I am taking 5 classes and my favorite one is Entrepreneurship.

I have been given an opportunity to attend a human rights workshop in New York City, this summer June 22-July 14. This is an exciting opportunity because last January, I participated in a human rights workshop here in Rwanda with Global Youth Connect (www.globalyouthconnect.org) where I visited police station, refugee camps and volunteered with a youth association for promotion of human rights (AJEPRODHO). All these taught me how to become a human right activist.

I really want to go to this conference (NYC) because I want to get more knowledge in human rights; I would like to meet other young activists, to share and learn from each other’s experiences, to volunteer with an organization in New York City to get more skills of advocacy and freedom of expression. All skills and knowledge that I will get from the workshop, I will bring them back to Rwanda to help my community develop themselves and fight for their rights because there are still many that face negative consequences of genocide, they need people to advocate for them.

I really need your support to make all this happen. Global Youth Connect has given me a $500 scholarship and I have saved $600 from my job and savings, but I still need to raise $4,600. I emailed about 70 people that I met in the USA in 2010 and I hope if 50 people donate $100 per person, I will be able to raise the funds I need and make this life experience into reality.

Costs:

Program fee= $3,000

Airfare= $2,300

Visa= $170

Other= $200

Total = $5,700

Funds

GYC scholarship = $500

My savings = $600

Fundraising = $4,600

Thank you so much, I’d appreciate any kind of support and I will keep in touch to give you updates of the program while in New York City.