Applicants must have adequate proficiency in the relevant languages. In writing to any organization, the applicant should make clear that the funding has not yet been decided . The applicant should ask if the organization would be willing to accept them if funding can be arranged by the University of Minnesota Human Rights Center. Individuals who receive fellowships should be integrated into the regular work of the host organization, so that the applicant learns how the organization functions and assists in their work. This program does not provide an institutional setting to pursue academic projects or papers.
Fellowships constitute a subsidy to the receiving organization.
Hence, the Human Rights Center will consider, inter alia , the nature of the work pursued by the proposed host organization. Past projects have focused on many aspects of human rights work, including providing direct assistance to survivors of human rights abuses and their families, documenting human rights abuses, assisting asylum applicants, lodging complaints with international bodies, providing medical care to refugees and torture survivors, and organizing public awareness campaigns, etc. The Human Rights Center will organize an optional orientation session for participants undertaking international placements before their departure. This preparatory training will address such issues as witnessing human rights abuses, interviewing survivors, adjusting to new living conditions and cultural situations, and issues related to re-entry. Because one goal of the program is to deepen the understanding of international human rights in US communities, applicants will be required to propose how they plan to bring their human rights experiences home, whether through teaching, volunteer projects, public speaking, slide shows, or other community activities.