News

The Advocates just wrapped up another successful season of house parties. From September through November, supporters gathered in person, or virtually, in order to learn more about our work and celebrate human rights!

During our Women's Rights House Party in September, Rose Park, Director of the Women's Human Rights Program, and long time volunteer Alena Levina spoke about the importance of The Advocates' work empowering our international partners to defend the rights of women and girls around the world. Partnerships with women's human rights defenders are a cornerstone of The Advocates' work. Our partners identify what needs to change to ensure women live with safety, dignity, and equality and how we can work together to make that change happen.

Next, at our Migrant Rights House Party in October, Theresa Dykoschak (Interim Director, Refugee & Immigrant Program) and Zack Albun (Legal Director) spoke about the huge achievements of The Advocates' migrant rights work. Last year, we provided immigration legal help in more than 3,900 matters, and more than 1,200 people received pro se materials, resources, or other information. More than 760 of our volunteers have represented clients in the last year, and another 350 volunteers assisted with research. We have organized or participated in more than 17 pro se clinics in the last six months so people could preserve their right to seek asylum.

Finally, early in November we held a virtual house party in recognition of 25 years of our Sankhu Palubari Community School in Nepal. Since it began in 1999 with 20 kindergarteners in one classroom, the school has offered life changing opportunities for low-income students. SPCS has provided more than 1000 graduates with high quality education as an alternative to child labor, opening doors to careers in civil service, medicine, engineering, business and law. During the event, The Advocates' staff and volunteers who recently returned from Nepal shared stories from their trip, as well as photos and videos of student performances at the SPCS 25th Anniversary celebration. SPCS principal Anoop Poudel even joined from Nepal to answer questions about the school!  You can watch some highlights from the event here. 

Thanks to all the hosts who opened up their homes to us, as well as our cohosts, staff, volunteers, donors, and everyone else who attended and made these house parties possible!

Make sure to stay up to date for next Spring's house parties by subscribing to our newsletter and following our event page.