As part of the Klemm Fellowship, I participated in various sectors of Human Rights activism in Cordoba, Argentina, over winter break. This experience included volunteering at a dining hall, a government human rights office, and an after-school teaching program. I also took a language enhancement course to improve my Spanish language acquisition and learn about the Argentinian version of Spanish. While in Argentina, I had the opportunity to explore various parts of Cordoba and the country to be exposed to all aspects of Argentinian culture and life.
The professionals who guided me in this journey explained how they view human rights activism should be implemented, a perspective that differs from mainstream human rights activism. This presentation will focus on the humanitarian efforts of the organizations I worked with, what I reaped from the experience, and how it has developed my understanding of human rights as a concept and act. I will also discuss other aspects of the experience, such as living with a host family, cultural differences, and overall life as a foreigner and non-native Spanish speaker in Argentina.