By, Elaina Montagnino
In just the first eight hours as a Program Intern at MADRE, I have learned so much about the organization.I researched our global partners to learn how they work together with MADRE to advance individual and collective human rights around the world. I learned about the challenges faced by displaced Afro-Colombian women and children due to long-standing armed conflict, and how MADRE and its partners LIMPAL and Taller de Vida provide humanitarian aid and educate such people on their consitutional rights. I also learned how the Women Workers’ Committee meets urgent needs of marginalized neighborhoods in Guatemala, providing dental care and women’s reproductive healthcare for the community.My first task was to help complete our partner KOFAVIV’s training manual on Utilizing Humanitarian Mechanisms to Address Gender-Based Violence in Haiti. The manual promotes a human rights-based approach (as opposed to a needs-based approach) to humanitarian aid and development to ensure that the fundamental rights of every human being are recognized and protected. Furthermore it calls for civic participation of the community through mobiliziation and advocacy at the local, national, and international levels. This gave me a good insight into the tools and strategies that KOFAVIV uses to promote women’s rights and to help women participate effectively in society.
On my second day, I researched our Nicaraguan partner Wangki Tangni‘s Women Waterkeepers. I learned that indigenous peoples live on the North Atlantic coast of Nicaragua without health or sanitation infrastructure- a result of government neglect and marginaization. Despite the fact that access to clean water and sanitation was declared a funamental human right by the United Nations General Assembly in October 2010, many people still have no access to clean water, which exposes them to fatal, waterborne diseases. This assignment showed me how clean water, education, and community involvement can help ensure resources are shared equitably and sustainaby.
This is my fourth year studying International Relations and Latin American Studies at Seton Hall University. It was truly rewarding to see how the knowledge I had gained from my coursework correlates directly to the human rights issues addressed by MADRE, in turn applying my education skills to my tasks in the workplace. Between the hands-on knowledge gained from the tasks on Haiti and Nicaragua, as well as the exposure to the successes of the organization as a whole, I couldn’t be more pleased with the rewarding experience I’m already having here at MADRE.
The effort from people like Elaina get us to fight for the rights of every human being to be respected, recognized and protected.
To do so much at such a young age is one of your most compelling and marvelous attributes, Elaina. So many of us can read about these unfortunate and very real humanitarian issues around the world, or watch them on the news, but you, have had the opportunity to see firsthand the deplorable conditions that numerous people are forced to live. Your passion and dedication to progressive change is what you bring to an institution like MADRE, who can help you to spread your cause and have a voice. This world needs more people like you, who like the United Nations and these humanitarian groups feel it is imperative for ALL people to have these vital needs met. I know that you will live up to your full potential with your internship, and so many of us look forward to seeing what great accomplishments you’ll achieve. Much success to you at MADRE and wishing you the best, always.
Is amazing..and very motivating to see such a young person like Elaina involve in an organizations like MADRE, people who has lived or come from south, and centro america, really could relate to this issues… But it is really people like Elaina… The ones who really could make the diference.
Congratulations Elaina you are doing an amazing Job.
It sounds like you have found what you are truly passionate about, and it’s really exciting to see how enthusiastic you are about helping people all over the world through MADRE. I think it’s a blessing that you have had so many experiences abroad which give you further insight as an intern. Your passion is truly admirable, and I know that you will be a success at MADRE.
It’s incredible what associations like MADRE do for making the human rights really universal. It’s remarcable, as well, that they have young people like Elaina, willing to be aware of different realities. This really gives an example of how we could impact the world and others if we really want to. Congratulations, Elaina.