Building a Better World: American Jewish World Service
Learn how AJWS is supporting people around the world who are fighting to improve the lives of millions. No matter where we live, what we do, or who we are, we can all repair the world.
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AJWS Staff
Resisting Destruction with Activism: Women in Burma Stand Up Against a Dam
“I can still remember people crying when they had to leave their village,” recalls Ja Hkawn, a serious woman who has an air of sadness about her. The emotions sparked by this forced departure are difficult for her to erase. Ja Hkawn is from Tang Hpre village in northern Burma, near the confluence of two …
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AJWS Bay Area: What’s Happening
Since I was a child, my favorite Jewish festival has always been Tu Bish’vat—the new year for trees. Long before I heard about climate change and inconvenient truths, I had absorbed that humans needed trees for our survival. Today, the need for tree festivals is even more urgent.
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AJWS Bay Area: What’s Happening
The U.S. election is now a month behind us, and while little is clear, my colleagues and I believe the role of the NGO community—especially those who work for human rights—will become even more critical than ever.
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AJWS Los Angeles: What’s Happening
In a moment overshadowed by fear and hate, I am grateful to be part of American Jewish World Service, a community fully committed to the dignity and rights of every person everywhere.
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Let’s Talk About Sex: Overcoming Barriers to Discussing Sexuality and Empowering Adolescent Girls
It can be difficult to offer sexuality education to adolescents anywhere—but it’s especially difficult in deeply conservative communities around the world, where sexuality remains a taboo topic.
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What I am Learning about Climate Justice from Activists in Burma, Guatemala and Mexico
Earlier this year, we heard that our long-time grantee Berta Cáceres, an indigenous Honduran environmental activist, was gunned down and killed in her home, simply because she organized her community to protest a multi-million project to build dozens of hydroelectric dams that will destroy the local eco-system and put their survival at risk. At devastating moments like this, the many obstacles to pursuing climate justice feel overwhelming.
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AJWS Los Angeles: What’s Happening
Even though we may not see the leaves change here in Southern California, we know fall is a time for transition. As you may have heard, after eight accomplished years at AJWS, Allison Lee has started a new role as the Vice President of External Affairs at Bet Tzedek.
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AJWS Bay Area: What’s Happening
“What can I do to help beyond the annual gift I make to AJWS?” This is a question I often field from Bay Area donors. There are numerous responses, including advocacy and ambassadorship. But, in my opinion, the best answer is “travel on an AJWS Study Tour.”
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AJWS Chicago: What’s Happening
These days, it often feels like we live in a broken and breaking world. Devastating stories continue to top the headlines: terrorism, racism, war, violence and economic injustice. And we know that there are countless other brutalities that never even make it into the news.
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