Kenya — Next Stop in our World Tour

The YHRI World Tour moved on from Congo to Nairobi to Kenya. We were met by the YHRI national representative for Uganda, the YHRI rep for East Congo and the Executive Director of the Nairobi Scientology Mission, Esther Macharia.

One of our first visits in Nairobi was with the executives of the African Girl and Boy Scouts, which is the biggest youth movement in Africa, with a total of 38,000 scouts across the African continent.

They declared that the PSAs are exactly what they need and want to incorporate the YHRI activities into their program before the upcoming Jamboree this August!

We met with the UN-Habitat’s Ananthakrishnan in Nairobi and introduced them to our materials.

The African Girl and Boy Scouts, which is the biggest youth movement in Africa.

Mary visited an orphanaxge in Nairobi, Kenya and educated the children on their rights.

On to the Congo

We arrived in dusty poverty-stricken beautiful Congo. The Ministry of Human Rights gave us a diplomatic escort through the airport (Hey, it’s good to be on the side of the good guys! No fussing with customs and baggage claims!). They also provided the Ministry van with a driver to transport us to our hotel. Congolese friend Yeka Futy, flew from Paris to meet us and host our visit. Also from Paris was Michiline who acted as translator and all around angel. The people of Congo have dealt with horrific abuses as a country from dictatorships, economic tampering and war, but their pride and persistence is evident. They now have a democratic government and they are re-building their country. Part of that rehabilitation now includes the Youth for Human Rights materials and programs.

We visited top government ministers who instantly embraced YHRI. The Minister of Human Rights watched our PSAs and you wouldn’t believe his smiles! The Minister of Education immediately started to plan how this can be implemented. The Director of the Cabinet for the Minister of Social Affairs and National Solidarity could hardly contain herself, she loved the program so much.

 

 

 

More on South Africa

We held two national meetings in the capital city of Pretoria. The first was with the national chapter of UNIFEM, the United Nations International Fund for Women.

Mary met with Ms. Kamogelo Lekubu-Wilderson, the Regional Director. She was shown the PSAs and remarked that she has seen PSA #2 (Don’t discriminate) on national television. She said that she now plans propose to her the head of the office to incorporate the PSAs into their educational programs.

We met with two officials from the Department of education. Both of them had also seen Human Right #2 PSA (Don’t Discriminate) on national television and one stated that the PSAs might fit well within his program on race relations called “Hands-up for Democracy”.

We held an event at the Church of Scientology
of Johannesburg, which has been very much involved in promoting our program. The event opened with a group of young Zulu dancers who performed outside and then led the guests into the auditorium, past a series of banners depicting each of the 30 human rights.

The President for the Church welcomed the guests. Speakers included Anastacia Nyoka, Gauteng of the Department of Education and Sasha Rajah who is in charge of Values and Human Rights Education for the western Johannesburg region. Captain Amos Dladla, who is over the Social Crime Prevention program in the Thembisa Black community received an award from the World Tour for his actions to implement human rights in his region. We awarded Sarah Moraka, who heads up social services in Soweto, with the title of “Human Rights Ambassador for South Africa.” The event also included a human rights panel forum headed by local leaders and YHRI representatives with lively participation from the packed audience of 200 people.

Next Stop Africa – Starting with South Africa

The next World Tour stop was Johannesburg, South Africa. The team arrived in the wee hours of the morning, were transported to the home of their hosts, freshened up and were off and running. First stop, the Summerhill School where students participated in a hands-on human rights project focused on “Building a better world with human rights.” Later, the President of YHRI, Mary Shuttleworth met with high-level government officials in the Department of Education and a UN organization in Pretoria.

The next day saw a magnificent event for YHRI hosted by the Church of Scientology of Johannesburg with public officials, human rights advocates, Zulu dancers, beautiful and moving representations of human rights issues in poetry and drama, photographers and of course Mary Shuttleworth. The normally spacious African-themed chapel in the historic Church complex was packed—standing room only. Outstanding young people who’ve worked diligently to educate others about their human rights were appointed Youth Ambassadors of YHRI-Johannesburg. YHRI is proud of these young effective and courageous youth who work passionately to help others learn their human rights.

 

 

YHRI World Tour in Jakarta Indonesia — Summary of Activities

The YHRI World Tour team first arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia where they met with ally Mr. Hamid Awaludin, Minister of Law and Human Rights for Indonesia and his wife, Cely at their home.

 They spoke about the recent approval by the Director General of Correction to deliver human rights lessons to young offenders and told the World Tour team that they strongly support our campaign. The following day Mary Shuttleworth, President of YHRI, gave a “showpiece” human rights lesson to 100 young offenders at the Tanerang Boys Prison. The wife of the Director General of Correction and other dignitaries were also present to show their support. 

The tour introduced our program to Prof. Toho Mutohir, Secretary to the State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sport and his deputies. He made the point that Indonesia has just ratified the two UN Covenants on Rights which now creates human rights law in Indonesia, now being the perfect time for such a visit to his country. 

They met with Dr. Simon Patrice Morin, a Papuan New Guinea Member of the Indonesian Parliament who has written a book to educate young people on values.  He stated that he would like to get the booklet translated in the local New Guinea language.  The teams also visited 70 children at the Panti Sosial Anak Hairun Nssa Orphanage and did human rights activities with them.

The wife of the Minister of Law and Human Rights,Ms. Cely Hamid Awaludin announced this week that she has founded YHRI in Indonesia in order to get human rights taught in the schools, the prisons and to youth through out the nation.  Ms. Awaludin and other YHRI presented the World Team members with polo shirts embroidered with the YHR Indonesia logo and laid out her plans to implement our program.

The team also visited the Indo Pos Television Studio to hear a performance by Iwan Fals, a popular singer named by Time Magazine as one of Asia’s contemporary heros of 2002.  Iwan acknowledged YHRI and the World Tour team during the live show. Following this he was met with as he has a great interest in social issues. He wants to know more about YHRI the team to his home prior to them leaving. At this meeting he will be invited to become a YHRI Ambassador for Indonesia. 

Prior to leaving Indonesia, the World Tour team and the newly formed YHRI Indonesia group, delivered two showcase human rights education seminars. These were a resounding success, with attendees including 135 bureaucrats, politicians, academics, educators and diplomatic staff. 

The seminar moderator was Muslim Imam B Praodjo, Director of People to People Aid. He promoted the World Tour and was very vocal on the need to get the YHR program implemented in Indonesia.  At the conclusion of the seminar, the Minister of Law and Human Rights Mr Hamid stated that there is general agreement for the government to adopt the YHR program nationally and the next step is to plan out how this should be done!

The Beautiful Children of Indonesia

The World Tour Team left Indonesia in a blaze of human rights advancement! As the event hosted by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of Indonesia came to a close, the team were whisked off to the airport for the next stop on the World Tour. It was difficult to exit for the President of Youth for Human Rights International, Mary Shuttleworth, as the demand from event attendees to support and work with YHRI toward human rights education for all Indonesian children was unrelenting. And that was just what she came for: to create a surge of activity and partnerships toward the common purpose of human rights education. Fait accompli!

The team, consisting of videographer Jett Evans, photographer and administrative assistant Michele Kirkland and Mary Shuttleworth arrived on the 7th to a diplomatic escort directly through airport stations. That night a dinner in their honor introduced the President of YHRI to dignitaries and her YHRI-Indonesia team.

Day after day: meetings with government ministers, events, teaching human rights at a boys prison, bringing inspiration to children in an orphanage, working with the incredible YHRI-Indonesia team, last minute race to a TV studio—the excitement didn’t stop!

More Images from Indonesia, as the Youth For Human Rights World Tour Prepares to Leave for the Next Stop

Youth for Human Rights Int’l President, Mary Shuttleworth at a Jakarta orphanage, teaching the children their rights and how to demand them.

 

 

The World Tour was honored to meet with Mr. Hamid Awaludin, Minister of Law and Human Rights of Indonesia.

First Stop — Indonesia

Well Hello Everyone,

We’ve just finished our first day of the World Tour in Indonesia! It was a long flight from Los Angeles: 18 or 19 hours of flying plus a few more hours at stop-overs. We were picked up by a government official who escorted us right through customs and security without having to stop.

Mary Shuttleworth, the President of Youth for Human Rights International, was so happy to meet the enthusiastic members of the Indonesian chapter of YHRI. They’ve been working hard organizing a seminar, meetings and a conference with teachers and other VIP’s who want to learn more about human rights and hear Mary speak.

After a delightful dinner of Indonesian food with the members of YHRI Indonsia, we were graciously received at the home of the Minister of Law and Human Rights who, after speaking with Mary and about nine of the members of YHRI-Indonesia, declared that young people should be taught their human rights using YHRI materials within the educational system as early as possible. After much exchange of ideas, the Minister stated, “Human Rights is not a legal thing, it is an attitude!” We couldn’t agree more!

Youth for Human Rights International — on the Road Again

For the fourth year in a row, Youth for Human Rights International is about to launch on an around-the-world odyssey to promote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Keep an eye on this blog for the latest news, photos and videos

 

Here’s where we’ll be when…

 

Sat May 5 – Depart Los Angeles,CA
Tue May 8 – Jakarta,Indonesia
Sat May 12 – Johannesburg,South Africa
Tue May 15 – Kinshasa,Congo
Thu May 17 – Nairobi,Kenya
Mon May 21 – Madrid,Spain
Wed May 23 – Casablanca, Morocco
Sat May 26 – Milano,Italy
Mon May 28 – Berlin, Germany
Wed May 30 – London, England
Fri Jun 1 – San Juan,Puerto Rico
Sun Jun 3 – Tampa, FL USA
Tue Jun 5 – New York, NY USA
Wed Jun 6 – Buffalo, NY USA
Fri Jun 8 – San Francisco, CA USA
Sat Jun 9 – Stevens Creek, CA USA
Sun Jun 10 – Mountain View, CA USA
Mon Jun 11 – Los Gatos, CA USA
Tue Jun 12 – Return to Los Angeles,CA

Join us in the adventure!