AJWS Blog
The AJWS community has a lot to say about what's happening in the world. Read our insights about the struggle for justice and human rights around the globe — and meet the activists on the frontlines of the fight to build a better world.
Inside Guatemala’s grassroots movement to protect “the most vital liquid”
The first thing you notice in Esperancita del Rio — a tiny farming village in northern Guatemala’s lush Alta Verapaz region — is the quiet. The gentle bubbling of the nearby San Roman river, the whinnying of a family of horses… and that’s about it. But every 15 minutes, a massive truck roars down the …
A Lifelong Advocate for Human Rights Takes the Helm: Welcoming Tawanda Mutasah
Long before it became his life’s work, the fight for human rights had already taken root in Tawanda Mutasah — a lesson first given by his mother, who taught him, “Every person matters. Take them all seriously.” Drawing on language from Genesis 1:27 — “God created humankind in the Divine image” — his mother’s plain-spoken …
Stories of Hope: March 2026
On the AJWS storytelling team, we like to keep the spotlight on our grantee-partners. Staying true to our model of supporting grassroots leaders who know what needs to change, we share stories of problems and solutions that inspire us and coalesce into movements that make enduring human rights progress. But every once in a while, …
Designing democracy: This artist creates the look of Thailand’s pro-democracy movement
Good design stays with you, from viral social media infographics to bumper stickers. Pro-democracy activists in Thailand — fighting to establish essential freedoms — put this fact into practice. No one has done as much to create the look of this movement’s look as Patcha “Phar” Chaimongkolsub; the Bangkok graphic designer has catapulted her talent …
Rising up to reclaim our power: A Purim reflection from Senegal
Hello to AJWS’s community in the United States — My name is Sokhna Djitte. I’m a 22-year-old student and a slam poet from Senegal — I recently performed as a finalist in a national competition held by Y’en a Marre, an AJWS partner organization. I’m writing to tell you how AJWS has profoundly impacted my …