At a time when so much about our world feels cheerless, it warms my heart to officially kick off AJWS’s 40th anniversary. For the last four decades, our community of conscience has worked hand in hand with thousands of awe-inspiring grassroots activists to create real, lasting change in the lives of millions of people around the globe. In the face of the current climate — or perhaps because of it — we must acknowledge and celebrate that accomplishment.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to observe the anniversary of a global human rights organization during these challenging times. Authoritarianism is on the rise at home and abroad, an air of uncertainty pervades the ecosystem in which our partners work, and inequality stubbornly persists.
And yet, so do we.
AJWS has persisted through global challenges: from oppressive dictatorial regimes to virulent homophobic government policies; from ruinous land development projects to catastrophic natural disasters. So, for me, marking four decades of social justice work isn’t just a milestone; it is a testament to our resolve to repair our broken world.
Consider a house, one built to last. It starts with a solid foundation. That is exactly what the AJWS community has achieved over the past four decades. We have built a human rights grantmaking model fortified by our shared values, our collective courage, and our deep, abiding commitment to equality and justice for all.
Guided by the tenets of Judaism, AJWS has always acted with the moral clarity that comes from listening to and supporting grassroots leaders. And time and again, we’ve seen that this approach doesn’t just work — it transforms lives and creates lasting change.
I am thinking in particular about Usha Choudhary, who co-founded Vikalp in India. This incredible organization helps thousands of adolescent girls resist the patriarchal norms that condemn them to early marriages. Usha herself was a child bride but convinced her parents to allow her to continue attending school. Today, she is providing thousands of Indian girls with the skills and the courage to take agency over their own futures.
I am also thinking about Sheila Lulu, a Program Officer at the National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) in Kenya. Sheila, along with her dedicated team, works every day to protect LGBTQI+ people in their community. Though queer Kenyans face new challenges from Trump’s isolationist foreign policy, I recently had the privilege of listening to her speak about how NGLHRC continues to work through the courts to make change. Her tenacity continues to inspire me.
And I am thinking about the environmental warriors in El Salvador where Unidad Ecológica Salvadoreña is challenging industrial sugarcane operators destroying the coastal mangroves that sustain local communities. Through their efforts, they have managed to slow the deforestation that is cutting off food and water supplies.
These are just some of the stories I will carry with me throughout the year as we celebrate four decades of uplifting grassroots voices around the globe. Together, we have built an AJWS that is strong and resilient, an organization fueled by the twin engines of trust and solidarity with social justice movements.
However, there is still so much to do — and we cannot do it without you. The AJWS community is the direct connection to improving the world and it grows stronger year after year. As we enter this new chapter, that connection has never been more essential.
Our grassroots run deep; in fact, our theme for our anniversary year is “Grassrooted Activism, Global Progress.” AJWS will continue to thrive not despite the challenges of the moment, but because we were built for them. And so, even as we take time to celebrate what we’ve built together, we do so with humility and with the knowledge that the clarion call to justice rings loudly and with urgency.
We are ready.
Robert Bank
President and CEO
American Jewish World Service
