When it comes to human rights – we are all in this together. Despite the seemingly insurmountable challenges ahead, our collective efforts can make a massive difference for people suffering from injustice and discrimination worldwide. Here are five ways to collaborate with human rights organizations:
Be a partner.
Being a partner is an essential and rewarding role. To be a partner, you must:
- Be aligned with the mission of the organization.
- Have something to offer, that will help them achieve their goals.
- Be willing to share your expertise, and resources with the human rights organization for them to be more effective at what they do.
Organizations that fight human trafficking often need volunteers, resources, and funding. This is an opportunity for you to help them achieve their goals by donating your time or money.
If you can meet these criteria, it’s time to reach out! Human rights organizations are always looking for new partnerships to continue doing meaningful work worldwide – but only if those partners are genuinely dedicated (and willing) individuals who care about making change happen.
Donate or raise funds.
One of the simplest ways you can help is by donating money, whether it’s for a specific cause or an organization’s general fund. You can also organize a fundraising event, such as hosting a party at your home and asking guests to make donations instead of gifts. Or perhaps you could organize a bake sale or car wash–you get the idea!
You can volunteer your time in many ways: from serving on boards and committees to helping at events or programs run by human rights organizations (HROs). Volunteering can be great for gaining valuable experience and serving you well in future careers!
If this sounds like something up your alley but isn’t sure where exactly to start looking, read our article on how best to determine where/how much time would be spent volunteering within HROs vs. other organizations such as non-profits.
Share your services, skills, and resources.
There are many ways to lend your services. For example, you can volunteer at an HRO’s events or programs to help with logistics, such as planning and organizing events. You may also be able to contribute by providing skills that are valuable for human rights work but not necessarily needed by other organizations (e.g., graphic design).
Use your network to share knowledge and expertise.
If you’re a member of a network, organization, or community that works on human rights issues, consider sharing your knowledge and expertise with others in the group. For example:
- If you’re an experienced photographer who has worked in refugee camps before, offer to take photos at an event for a local nonprofit that provides services for refugees.
- If you have graphic design or web development skills, offer to create flyers for the same organization’s next fundraiser–and mention how much money they’ll be able to raise with more attendees if they promote their event online!
Get involved in volunteer opportunities.
If you’re passionate about human rights, there are many ways to get involved in volunteer work to improve the world. For example: If you live near a local refugee resettlement agency, consider volunteering as an interpreter for new families who need help communicating with doctors and social workers.
If your city has an organization whose mission is to fight for LGBT rights or women’s rights, consider attending their next meeting and offering to help with tasks like making phone calls and organizing events.