Quality education in India: A dream worth fighting for
Grassroots journalist Neeraj Gurjar reports on a workshop where 60 local girls gathered to network and share their experiences and challenges with accessing an education.
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AJWS Staff
Living our values in the New Year
A High Holiday message from Senator Jacky Rosen As a proud Jewish woman and the granddaughter of Jewish immigrants, I grew up hearing stories that not only filled me with wonder but instilled in me the values of hard work, fairness and community. I have so many fond memories of sharing laughter, love and life …
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Stories of Hope: Good news in the fights for human rights
For so many of the activists that AJWS supports around the world, protecting the human rights of their communities can mean long, complex struggles requiring endurance and courage. These activists need to stay inspired and motivated amidst mounting challenges. Giving up is not an option — there is simply too much at stake. As Mexican …
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Shuttering a Major Corporate Project in Mexico, ProDESC Scores a Victory for Indigenous Communities
After a five-year struggle, AJWS grantee Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Project (ProDESC) secured a major win in June when federal energy authorities in Mexico announced they had definitively cancelled a massive energy project slated to be built on the lands of an Indigenous community. The project — “Gunaa Sicarú” — was awarded to a …
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A 13-year legal battle culminates in an historic victory for the Ogiek People
“Our food is in the forest. Our medicine is in the forest. The forest takes care of us, and we protect it. The forest is our home.” Wilson Memusi, an elder of the Ogiek community in the Rift valley of Kenya, is describing his community’s deep connection to the Mau Forest—the land his ancestors have …
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India’s Supreme Court Issues New Guidelines for Sex Workers’ Rights
On May 19th, India’s Supreme Court made a historic step towards advancing the rights of sex workers and ensuring their protection under the law: It issued a set of directives that acknowledges sex work as a dignified profession and mandates freedom from violence for those who practice it. These new guidelines have the potential to …
Read More Your Boost of Inspiration: AJWS’s Stories of Hope
Here in the United States, it can feel like there is a new attack on our human rights every week — a new headline to make us doubt the strength of our own democracy. As we write this, Americans’ autonomy over their own bodies and reproductive choices is no longer guaranteed. Our ability to safely …
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Impact Update: Supporting Communities in India during COVID’s Delta Surge
In May 2021, AJWS launched a crisis campaign in response to the profound humanitarian tragedy in India when COVID’s Delta variant collapsed its fragile healthcare system and claimed countless lives. Thanks to an outpouring of generosity from our donors, AJWS responded quickly to support over 80 local organizations and activists to meet the mounting needs …
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We Want Respect & Rights, Not Sympathy and Charity: Celebrating International Women’s Day in India
Pooja Gurjar is a young woman from Rajasthan. She was married off at the age of 16 years and sent to her marital home. At her insistence, she returned to live in her parents’ house and is has continued her education. She recently completed MJAS’ Grassroots Journalism course and wants to build her career in …
Read More Fall stories of hope & resilience that light up the world
If 2021 has taught us anything, it may be that glimmers of light will always shine through the darkness. And when we help that light grow, it illuminates the world in ways we never expected. With Chanukah around the corner, we see these lights shining. They are the activists and advocates we support in 18 …
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