Swahili and Human Rights Review

This morning we took a 2 hour Swahili course. Our new teacher’s name is Dr. Martin and he is great! VERY caring, kind, and an excellent teacher. I love it when language teachers (especially) are active and creative. Martin was just that – we sang the “Jambo Bwana” song and were able to also learn a bit more about Kenyan culture.

After a lunch break, we launched into a nice human rights and international law review. It was really helpful to have a review of the fundamental human rights treaties, declarations, history and context as related to international law. This will mesh nicely with next week’s topic, which will cover human rights as related to national Kenyan law.

It is impressive to review the strides human rights practitioners have made in the past century. Much has been accomplished, yet much work remains.

We had a brief program meeting after our coursework, which was very helpful for all of us. All of the students were able to debrief and share their experiences thus far. It seems the contrast tour has been the most impactful in terms of learning and experience for most of the group. It is helpful to be able to share our experiences, struggles, learning, etc. with one another, and we are fortunate to have such phenomenal program staff who provide the perfect level and type of support.

I keep thinking of a passage I quoted in my capstone project as perhaps the best way to describe the program so far. Westley, Zimmerman and Patton (2006) who discuss the power of social movements in a recent book entitled Getting to Maybe: How the World is Changed. Westley et al. describe a pre-existing energy and engagement, stating that once those seeking social change tap into this energy, they often experience a torrent of support. “There are forces in the natural order of things that are the real source of transformation. That is the other side of power,” (128). This “flow,” as it is often called in sports, was what Bob Geldof experienced when he was organizing the Live Aid development fundraising organization. Flow refers to a kind of heightened awareness and achievement, and also at times the ease with which social entrepreneurs achieve their goals, or by which social change or social movements occur, which Westley et. al. attribute to tapping into an energy and power beyond themselves (129).

I know that our professor and the program staff have worked very hard to facilitate this program, but I have to also believe that this program is successfully tapping into some of the social change energy flow cited by Westley et al, and has thus come together especially well. In fact, that is the best way I can describe the energy surrounding this program. I feel a constant tension within that can only signify a deep learning, a shifting of my internal landscape.