Student Highlight

Why did you pursue human rights for your academic and professional path?

I knew when I was a child that I would one day advocate for the rights of children and was particularly drawn to the African continent.  After being involved in a grassroots effort to build two schools in Ghana, I committed to my dream and founded a non-profit organization that has been in operation for nine years. I took an unconventional path of devoting myself to the humanitarian work — learning by doing — before pursing my Master’s in Human Rights Studies at Columbia University.

Why did you select this program?

The Human Rights Studies program is a perfect fit for the work I am doing. My primary focus is on the human rights of women and children. However, some of my electives will be on indigenous studies, as that is also an interest and is very relevant to our work at Dream On International where issues of cultural relativity is a common concern.

How has this program supported you and enabled you to pursue your goals and interests?

I have truly enjoyed my classes thus far, as well as the exchange of ideas, opinions, and interests of my professors and fellow students. It has been very inspiring to return to the classroom after ten years in the field and to explore human rights through an academic lens. Sometimes, I face great obstacles and challenges in my work and feel as though I am swimming against a strong tide. Being back in the classroom has reminded me of all of the work that has been done to improve human rights, the founding principles and theories, and the amazing people who are rising up to advocate for victims of human rights violations.

Describe your work with Dream On and the current human rights projects you are pursuing.

Dream On focuses on the prevention and protection of children and women who have been victims of serious human rights violations with a concentration on sexual violence and human trafficking in West Africa. We also conduct investigations and help bring perpetrators/criminals to prosecution/justice. Through our rescue and rehabilitation efforts, we have discovered that there is a vital need for psychological services to assist victims in healing from the trauma they have experienced. A program that is ready to be implemented upon receipt of funding is training and certification for psychologists in Ghana in a specialized technique called Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR helps victims reprocess and resolve traumatic memories that cause a range of disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, insomnia, among others.

What makes the EMDR project particularly integral to your work with children in Ghana?

Dream On, the Ghana Police, the Department of Social Welfare (DSW), and other NGOs are working to rescue children, educate the public, and uphold laws with some significant handicaps in Ghana. First, as the focus on family care rather than institutional care has become a priority on the DSW agenda, resulting in the closure of children’s homes, there is a critical need for temporary post-rescue facilities in Ghana.  A rescue shelter would give children proper immediate medical and psychological care, protection, and nutrition while DSW works to reintegrate children with family or match them with a foster family. According to the Ministry of Health in Ghana there are only three government psychiatric hospitals in Ghana, 18 psychiatrists for the entire country, 19 psychologists, and 1068 mental health nurses. The Ghanaian government falls very short in being able to adequately treat the estimated 2.8 million people suffering with mental health illnesses. In addition, many families fall back on traditional methods of coping with mental health disorders. Those traditional methods are rooted in the belief that mental health disorders are caused by evil spirits. One traditional method is “prayer camps,” where residents stay for long periods of time until the priests determine that the children and adults are cured of evil spirits. People who are sent to prayer camps are further traumatized by being chained to trees or cement blocks, starved, and often beaten. Training psychologists in EMDR will not only help the children we rescue from human trafficking and sexual violence, but also will help many adults and children who are coping with a variety of mental health ailments.

What inspires you to work for the promotion of human rights?

My determination comes from a fundamental belief that everyone is entitled to human rights and a desire to right some of the wrongs. My inspiration comes from the courage and resilience of the children who point their faces to the light no matter how dark their pasts have been. Their lives have become intricately woven into the tapestry of my life, and their successes bring me great joy and inspiration.

What advice would you give to those who are interested in the Human Rights Studies M.A. Program?

Just do it. The flexibility of taking classes both within ISHR and other departments makes it possible for students to tailor the program to individual interests and maximize their experience. It’s a wonderful foundation for those interested in pursuing a career in the field of human rights. Beyond the classroom, my advice is to try to hold onto some of the idealism of the human rights instruments that are discussed in class, as it is likely that obstacles and setbacks will take place on the journey to advocating for the rights of others. As Margaret Mead says, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

How can people learn more about Dream On and how to support its programs?