Activists Up Close: Meet Three People Changing What’s Possible for Their Communities

Welcome to Activists Up Close, our new video series inviting you inside the lives of human rights activists that AJWS supports around the world. Mercy, Misael and Pisey are all working every day to build a better future for their communities. Below, you’ll hear their inspiring stories told proudly in their own words.

The work you’ll witness in these videos is made possible everyday by your immense generosity and compassion — it’s work that’s fueled by the global AJWS community. As you watch Activists Up Close, we hope you feel the power of your global impact. It is nothing short of life-changing.

Box Girls Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya

Meet Mercy, a coach and mentor for adolescent girls at Box Girls Kenya. With support from AJWS, Box Girls runs a gym and community center in Nairobi where girls learn how to defend themselves, take control of their futures, and learn about their sexual health and rights and leadership skills.

Flor y Canto

Oaxaca, Mexico

Meet Misael, an Indigenous water rights activist from Oaxaca, Mexico. When the Mexican government restricted access to life-sustaining water for Indigenous communities, Misael’s organization Flor y Canto sprang into action — and won.

Rainbow Community Kampuchea (RoCK)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Meet Pisey — she grew up in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where LGBTQI+ people are alienated and pushed to the fringes of society. Today, with cultural acceptance of LGBTQI+ people on the rise, Pisey and her organization, AJWS grantee RoCK, are launching the “I Accept” campaign, a national drive to advance LGBTQI+ rights and legalize same-sex marriage.