Empowerment. Autonomy. Self-determination. Opportunity. For the Concordia University’s Human Rights Organization, these are just a few words to describe the impact this organization has and continues to make. With its ambitious and empowering outlooks on humans rights, it makes one wonder not only what the future will look like for this organization but more so, what profound mark it wants to make on the Concordia campus. One of the leaders of the organization, Victoria Quintana, wants to make clear that she believes the Human Rights Organization is not radically bound. Instead, it strives in the expansion of knowledge and use of humanistic approaches in unfortunate circumstances. Quintana sees the more empathetic approach as a necessity. She finds that participants of this organization will be able to find their voice and contribute to help overcome the violations on human rights. Besides having a good structure and an end goal, they can’t forget to have fun. As Quintana puts it, “we want our members to learn and have a sense of empowerment but to also have fun doing it. It’s not a class, it’s a club”.

The Human Rights Organization has a lot to look forward to during the course of this school year. They have found both creative and innovative ways to keep people engaged and awareness of human rights. One specific event this organization looks forward to is partnering with a human trafficking organization called Destiny Rescue. They plan on raising money by selling bracelets and giving the proceeds back to this non-for-profit organization. Amongst other things, the Human Rights Organization is also excited to have the opportunity to offer internship opportunities to participants and are not exclusive to any specific major or minor, all are welcome. Regardless of the major or minor field of study, all these areas can and will be used to help amplify the human rights organization, as well as give participants a beneficial outcome and gratification of helping others in the process. Nonetheless, the Human Rights Organization has an ample amount of things that will keep its members equipped the things yet to come. It looks like a very promising and effective year for this organization as it continues to progress towards its goals.

One goal of the club is real life knowledge gained and utilized in real life as well as in theory. Speaking of putting knowledge into action, this organization puts a strong emphasis on roleplaying. Roleplaying includes taking real life scenarios and asking participants how they would approach these situations. Through this exercise, participants will develop a different mind set in how they will approach things. Their empathetic approaches will be applied and tested in these exercises. club members will work together as they must look at the bigger picture of how their choices affect the wellbeing of those around them.