Human Rights Education
Article 26
November 2007
Dear Educator Activist,
 Karen Robinson, Director Human Rights Education Program, Khaled Hosseini, Author of The Kite Runner and Sheetal Daswani, The Kite Runner curriculum writer at the Global Premier of the movie. |
Voice from the Field
I want to thank the Human Rights Education Program at Amnesty International USA for this comprehensive guide to The Kite Runner film. I think they have done a terrific service to the students, and I am grateful to them for bringing to light the nuances and many complexities of Afghan society and Afghan life via this guide.
Even though Afghanistan plays a pivotal role in U.S. foreign policy and so much time, manpower, and money has been invested into making it a functional state, Afghanistan remains largely an enigmatic and misunderstood society to many people in the west. I still frequently encounter people who believe that Afghans are ethnic Arabs, or that Afghans as a people are anti-west, or that the Taliban accurately represent a majority of the Afghan people. One of the most rewarding aspects of the success of The Kite Runner to me has been in dispelling some of these pre-conceived notions, and in seeing that the book has helped spark interest in Afghanistan among readers. One of the most vocal groups of readers has been high school and college students. I have visited many college and high school campuses to discuss the novel and still regularly receive letters in batches of thirty or more from students who read The Kite Runner in class. I am always impressed by how sophisticated students at that age are, and by their ability to grasp subtext and context. Many of them write to tell me that The Kite Runner is their favorite book and that they eagerly look forward to seeing the film. I think this guide is a wonderful way of turning the experience of merely watching a film into an opportunity to learn about a vastly different culture. As both an author and an Afghan, I appreciate the care that the Human Rights Education Program at Amnesty International USA has taken in devising this guide to the film. I am thrilled that this film will help students understand better issues such as ethnic relations, regionalism, and fundamentalism. Additionally, as an envoy to the UN Refugee Agency, I am very pleased to find within a section on the plights of the Afghan displaced and refugees.
I thank the Human Rights Education Program at Amnesty International USA for using the release of The Kite Runner film as an opportunity to build bridges and engage students in meaningful discussions about issues that, given the realities of today's world, affect us all. You have my deepest thanks.
- Khaled Hosseini
Small Acts, Big Impact
Your World. Your Words. Young people share their stories about HIV & AIDS - CHECK IT OUT!
Action Alert
All over the world, girls face violence as they pursue their education. Some suffer long-term harm to their mental and physical health. Many more go to school in fear. The result is that countless girls are kept out of school, drop out or do not participate fully. Their human rights - to freedom from violence, to equality and to education - are violated.
We have an opportunity to so something about this. We can take action here in the USA on ground-breaking new federal legislation, the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA). Introduced in the Senate by Sens. Biden and Lugar, IVAWA directs the US government to create a comprehensive, 5-year strategy to reduce violence in 10-20 diverse countries identified as having severe levels of violence against women. To achieve this goal, the act authorizes more than $1 billion over five years in US aid to support international programs that prevent violence. Specifically, the money will support health programs and survivor services, encourage legal accountability and a change of public attitudes, promote access to economic opportunity projects and education, and better address violence against women in humanitarian situation.
Violence against women and girls has a profound impact on the health and development of countries worldwide. Violence breeds poverty. It impedes economic development because it can prevent girls from going to school, or stop women from holding jobs or inheriting property, or shut down access to critical health care for themselves and their children. We cannot truly empower women to become active in civic life unless they are personally free from fear and violence. I VAWA includes programs that enhance girls' access to education and focus on preventing violence that is an obstacle to their ability to get an education.
To learn more about IVAWA and to take action to support this bill and to obtain co-sponsors in the Senate, visit AIUSA's website, www.amnestyusa.org/women. AIUSA will continue this action until the bill passes both the Senate and House, so keep returning to this site for further actions. Thank you for taking immediate action towards empowerment of girls by freeing them from fear and violence in schools.
Resources
Film Companion Curriculum Guides: The Kite Runner & Born into Brothels We now have hard copies of both The Kite Runner & the Born into Brothels film companion curriculum guides! To order a copy of either, simply email mrobinson@aiusa.org with your mailing address. Both guides are also available online in PDF format at www.amnestyusa.org/education.
Service Learning Manual & US History Guide
The Service Learning Manual provides educators and service-learning practitioners with lesson plans and projects for advancing a human rights based approach to Service-Learning. Developed in collaboration with Human Rights Education Associates, this manual is appropriate for middle school through college-aged students.
The US History Curriculum Guide was created to help address human rights themes within standards-based U.S. History classes grades: 6-12. The Guide includes plans, readings and background information for educators as well as hand-outs for students.
Both of these materials are only available in hard copy. To obtain a copy, please visit our online store at www.amnestyusa.org/store.
Check this out
New Website: "Be The Change: Upstanders for Human Rights"
Explore Facing History and Ourselves' new interactive website, "Be the Change: Upstanders for Human Rights"
The website profiles the stories of five extraordinary men and women who have made a positive difference in the world. Designed for middle and high school students, and created with the help of student interviewers, "Be the Change" looks at the influences, inspirations and motivations that led the five upstanders to take action on behalf of others. By taking the journey through the website, students connect with a growing global network of their peers who care about creating a more just world.
We Need to Hear From You
How are we doing?
The Human Rights Education program would like to know what you think about the resources we produce, how you use them and the impact of bringing human rights education into your learning environment.
During the month of December we will conduct phone interviews with educators that have used one or more of our resources. The first 100 interviewees will receive a 2008 Amnesty International Wall Calendar. If you are interested in participating, email us at education@aiusa.org.
Networking in Philadelphia
If you live in or near Philadelphia, we would like to hear from you. The HRE program is interested in organizing a HRE Networking meeting for the Philadelphia area and we would like you to join us! Please drop us a note at krobinson@aiusa.org and provide the following information:
1) Your availability - are week nights generally better or weekends?
2) The population you work with and where - are you school based or community based?
3) Suggested locations
