Trip with the Human Rights Brigade

The Human Rights Brigade plans global brigade trips to Panama for many different reasons that are all rooted in benefiting human rights.  In the words of the Human Rights Brigade council members, “The mission of the Human Rights Brigades is to empower rural communities in Panama to overcome the obstacles that often impede the fundamental human right of access to justice through legal counsel and educational workshops.”  On this trip I will be able to empower community members with legal knowledge and help bridge the gap between cultural practices and legal procedure.  The specific areas of law that will be focused on during this trip are family law, business rights, women’s rights, and criminal cases.  This brigade specifically will allow over 10 people or families to receive free legal assessments and help on their cases in addition to general growth of knowledge throughout the communities.  I have a love for mission work, I have been to the Navajo Nation in Arizona and Puerto Rico, and they have been some of the most eye-opening and influential experiences I have ever had.  Due to the time consumption and financial requirements of attending college and working, I haven’t been able to do mission work since I began my undergraduate time.  I see this as one of the most beneficial opportunities I have come across during my time at KU; not only will I be able take part in long-overdue mission work, but I get to do that with hands-on legal work.  Please consider making a donation on my behalf to allow me to have this experience and help others while doing what I love, any donation helps.  These donations will be used to help pay for the trip package and the flight to and from Panama.  I will post about the trip via Facebook so you can see and learn about my experience. Thank you for your time in reading this, it is very much appreciated.

Why Panama?
Some reasons that Panama was decided as the location for these brigades include: the typical family lives on less than $2 a day, the average level of education is approximately 5th grade, 80% of individuals have no secure land title for their property, there are typically no lawyers within a 120-mile radius, community members have no access to legal services, and the communities in remote areas of Panama have little to no awareness of legal rights or concepts.