FIELD AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

UPPER MIDWEST INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

The Upper Midwest International Human Rights Fellowship Program encourages individuals from the Upper Midwest of the United States to pursue a lifetime of human rights work -- either as professionals or as knowledgeable volunteers -- by providing them with opportunities for practical experience. A fellowship placement offers both training for the individual and assistance to the organization.

The Center has awarded internship/fellowship grants to 170 University of Minnesota students and 50 community members to work with human rights organizations in more than 50 countries. Grants ranged between $500 - $4,000 for a total of more than $440,000 to support the 220 internship/fellowship awards.

The Human Rights Center encourages residents of the Upper Midwest-including students, teachers, lawyers, community leaders, and other professionals-to undertake practical experience in human rights organizations. The Human Rights Center awards approximately 20 grants each year. Grants are intended to cover travel and living expenses incurred during the approximately ten-week fellowship experience.

The application and guidelines for the Human Rights Fellowship Program are available by contacting the Human Rights Center or at: http://www.hrusa.org/field/internships/index.shtm.

The 2006 Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellows and
the Human Rights Center Co-Directors

"I was not only able to learn a great deal about a country and a people in the process of struggling to attain a democracy, but I was able to see first-hand what their situation clearly is . . .. People are beginning to realize that the key to instigating change and establishing a true democracy [is] . . . through education and the personal responsibility of individuals. Being a part of promoting that message to teachers within the Czech Republic was a very fulfilling experience."

Ann Marie Schultz, Fellow
BohemiaCorps, Czech Republic

U.S. TRAINING-OF-TRAINERS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION

The Human Rights Resource Center, in collaboration with the Stanley Foundation, is host to an annual U.S. Training-of-Trainers for Human Rights Education Institute. Upon completion of the Institute, the 25 participants selected for this advanced human rights training workshop are expected to conduct human rights training in their home communities. In addition, each participant is part of the national training corps of the Human Rights Resource Center.

The application and guidelines for the Training-of-Trainers Institute is available by contacting the Human Rights Resource Center or at: http://hrusa.org/field/default.shtm