Volunteering at RFK

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, European Branch.

Caddy Adzuba Furaha is a young journalist in the midst of what appears to be an endless civil war in her nation, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and has been ceaselessly operation in the field information on Women's Rights. Nicknamed the "Voice of Voices". Not withstanding the numerous death intimidations, Caddy keeps carrying out her commitment as a reporter, aware that this tool of hers will keep her going in her civil struggle. 

Yay for helping others! Lorenzo de Medici offers students many great opportunities to be involved in the community of Florence. There are a wide variety of organizations Lorenzo de Medici connects students with who are interested in volunteering. Studying abroad can be a bit self- consumed with all the traveling, school and meeting new friends. It can be difficult to see outside of your own world which you have created for yourself. A way to break the study abroad bubble is to reach out to the community in areas that are in need of help. In any season of life, whether it is the grind of college and work, or studying abroad and vacation, we are called to serve others. The service never ends! 

Earlier in the semester my roommates volunteered at a preschool just around the corner from our apartment. Despite preschoolers charm, I prefer to work with primarily adults. I had a meeting with Luca, the school volunteer coordinator to see what projects or organizations best suit my interests, abilities and talents. It turned out and organization called the Robert F. Kennedy Center (RFK) European branch was in need of a couple volunteers to host guests at their Freedom Fighters Art Gallery. RFK center originates in Washington D.C and was created to continue the fight for human rights and celebrate our victories so far. This opportunity is especially exciting because I am passionate about art and human rights. Since Passion conference 2013 my eyes have been open to the world wide depravity of human rights, and I count myself an activist specifically to end human trafficking. I am thrilled to be a part of a prestigious organization like RFK  and to continue the fight for human rights while abroad, even if I am just greeting people as they come into an art gallery. 

I have volunteered at the gallery four hours a week for the past eight weeks. (excluding spring break). My position is slightly mundane, but I can do it with joy knowing the gallery would not be able to open resulting in less people being enlightened about the human rights issue. 

The exhibit below captured the spirit and beauty of women throughout history who have fought for human rights. The artist Marcello Reboani titles the exhibition Ladies for Human Rights, and uses choice recycled materials that reflect each character uniquely. These are just a few of the works, there were many other inspiring activists. Captions are taken from the exhibition booklet. 

Toni, Luca the coordinator and I on my first day at the gallery

Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary Hollywood star, has always dedicated herself to important humanitarian causes as the Zionist cause- she actively got involved, further to her conversion to Judaism that took place in 1959- when industriously raising funds for the Jewish International Fund as well as backing the rights for Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. She was also a founding member of AMFAR American Foundation for AIDS Research. 

Leymah Gbowee is a Liberian pacifist, an icon of the non-violent movement that in 2003 stopped the civil war in Liberia, sanctioned by the Global Peace-Pact Ghana-Accra. In 2001 she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her undertaking in order to guarantee the African's women rights and being able to promote peace in her country, for a long time subjected to a dictatorial regime.

Rita Levi Montalcini was a neurologis, president of the ITalian Multiple Sclerosis Society, and was appointed FAO's Ambassador for her constant contribution to the global hunger relief campaigns. She was Honored in 1986 with the Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discovery of the Nerve Growth Factor.

Princess Diana has put her privileged social status and her charisma to good use of helping people in need all over the world. She constantly committed herself to fighting AIDS, worked towards banning the production and use of landmines in the UK and USA, and cooperated with Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama in their joint use of mass media to support human rights advocacy. 

Annie Lennox, the Scottish singer has been actively committing herself to charity funds and having recourse to art as a tool for fighting AIDS. In 1999 the artist donated the intakes of a whole tour to two international humanitarian organizations called Amnesty International and Greenpeace. 

Norma Cruz is an activist who commits herself to preserve human rights and denounce violence against women. She founded and runs Survivor's foundation, a Guatemalan ONG which backs women civil rights and supports them with social and legal protection.

 You can check out the RFK center here:  http://rfkcenter.org/