More than 200 activists from over 30 countries across the Middle East and Africa are continuing their learning journey at the AMEL Institute this summer. Just past the midpoint of the six-week online program, trainees have already gained practical know-how for defending and advocating for human rights as well as practicing safety and self-care as activists. Lessons on history/prevention of genocides, including Holocaust education, further round out the first half of the program. While the program’s impact is much deeper than mere numbers can reflect, key stats thus far include:
220 Minutes of Video Lectures paired with 3 quizzes
315 Minutes of Live, Interactive Discussions
1,314 Forum Posts and Messages
Moving beyond the numbers, the training program is having a profound impact on participants, who are gaining essential knowledge and skills in critical topics. For example, in the words of a participant from Tunisia:
Insightful lectures and moving discussions! What I have learned through these inspiring videos is that human history is tainted by atrocities, mass murder and intimation. A history full of human destruction advocated by stereotypes of master race, genocide and forced ethnic cleansing. Ideologically-motivated violence that begins and ends with people's ideas. It's our duty as young change-makers and human rights advocates to condemn such criminal acts, to educate ourselves about the hidden reasons for genocide and most importantly to teach new generations kindness, justice and courage to promote human dignity and tolerance.
During the second half of the program, trainees will learn about conflict transformation, nonviolent movement building, democratic development/transitions, gender mainstreaming and communication tools and techniques. Lessons are taught by seasoned activists and top global experts such as Prof. Larry Diamond of Stanford University. Live and ongoing discussions among participants further enrich the program with the exchange of experiences and lessons learned among activists doing similar work in different places across the Middle East and Africa.