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.

Working Together to Save the Chixoy River: Reflections from Guatemala

The day began early. We left at dawn to pick up Eridania “Eri” Martinez, founder of AJWS grantee Puente de Paz, and we traveled to a remote area of Guatemala’s Ixcán region on the Chixoy River. Puente de Paz is a women-led organization that supports smaller community-based organizations like ACODET (Association of Communities for Development, Defense of Territory, and Natural Resource Rights).

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An Ebola survivor spreads light in Liberia: A Chanukah reflection

Something that has always amazed me about the members of our grantee organizations is their resilience and positive outlook despite unbelievable hardships—situations that people in places like the United States could only dream about. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is a case in point. The devastating disease put survivors through the wringer—physically and mentally. …

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Hopes for the Paris Climate Conference: Reflections from AJWS Grantees: Part II

From November 30th through December 11th, world leaders are convening at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference to take action against the dangerous consequences of climate change. We have been sharing reflections from AJWS grantees about how climate change affects their work. To learn more, read our introduction and first post from AJWS grantee GATT-RN in the DRC, and …

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#JewishPurpose: An Open Invitation to Participate

This piece was originally published in eJewish Philanthropy. Former AJWS President Ruth Messinger and Executive Vice President Robert Bank signed onto the letter below, along with 48 other Jewish social justice leaders. AJWS is joining the #JewishPurpose conversation on social media throughout Chanukah. Since the release of the Pew study in 2013, there has been …

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Hopes for the Paris Climate Conference: Reflections from AJWS Grantees

From November 30th through December 11th, world leaders are convening at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference to take action against the dangerous consequences of climate change. Their goal? To reach a global consensus on what’s needed to stem the tide of climate change and pledge concrete action to achieve it. Climate change disproportionately affects the …

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