Tram Nguyen Student, Human Rights Activist American University Washington DC "Working for all human rights, one individual at a time, is not only Amnesty's tradition, it is our innovation and our source of success."

AI’s work is successful due to its unique nature as a grassroots movement, its structure of shared leadership, and its well-defined focus on the individual face of human suffering. This is what AI stands for: Grassroots activism, shared leadership, and the significance of the individual person to the entire world community.

As a student and activist in human rights, I joined Amnesty because I felt the organization had a unique approach that was both idealistic and effective. We have numerous approaches, but our focus is always on the individual— be it the individual victim of injustice, or the individual working for justice. And, this I think is one of the main tenets of human rights—that each and every individual matters. That is why a letter written by an individual on behalf of another individual—regardless of their place in the world and in society—will work to help the situation. Amnesty’s individual casework method is ideal because it is based on this human-to-human connection, and in turn this method is effective because it benefits from the essential human rights point that ultimately, each and every individual matters.

This ideal is important to me as a youth activist. It was the reason why I joined Amnesty in high school, and it is now the reason why I have joined Internal Reform Now! to run for Board. As a youth board member, I hope to represent the youth energy in Amnesty to make sure the organization continues to be a dynamic force in human rights advocacy by pursuing the AI ideal of individual-based human rights advocacy.

As AI expands its mission, we on the REFORM slate are committed to focusing on individual victims of human rights abuses, to strengthening AIUSA’s grassroots activism, to maintaining AI’s reputation for impartiality and to promoting responsible, open and accountable Board decision-making. With your support, we will restore the trust of AIUSA members in the Board.

I welcome your questions.Email: , Ph: 301-951-0209

Amnesty Experience and Activities

• Member, Standing Committee on Membership Development (Western region), 2004: created two-year financial/work plan for Regional Planning Group
• Staff intern, AIUSA National Field Program, Summer 2003: part of organizing team for AIUSA’s Youth Activist Kollege and the 2004 Activist Toolkit
• Staff intern, AIUSA Western Regional Office in San Francisco, January to June 2003: organized citywide campaigns; coordinated joint projects with other national and international groups; facilitated communication between student groups, local groups and the Regional Office
• Group Coordinator, University of California at Berkeley Group, 2000-2004: responsible for fundraising; served as AI spokesperson on campus
• Member, Santa Clara High School Group, 1998-2000
  

Other Relevent Experience

• Master of Arts student in Peace, Ethics, and Global Affairs, American University, Washington, DC, 2004-present
• Teaching Assistant, University of California at Berkeley, classes in human rights, philosophy, and peace theory, 2002 and 2004