These young people, front-line human rights leaders hailing from eight different countries -- Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica, Kenya, Ukraine, Nepal and Bhutan -- were invited and sponsored by Global Youth Connect to participate in our first global Human Rights Learning Community. Participants availed themselves of the opportunity to strengthen their skills, share and learn from each other's experiences and renew their spirit.

With these new skills in hand and the encouragement they obtained through the Learning Community, they will return to their respective countries and share what they have learned with their peers and/or staff and drive forward their activities to build better communities, resolve conflicts and bring more opportunities to many of the world's poorest and marginalized people.

Working on pressing issues such as the rights of street children, and at-risk youth, the rights of indigenous peoples, the trafficking of women, women's rights, refugees and environmental injustice, these young people struggle for change on a daily basis.

Participation in this event enabled them to meet other young people who strive towards similar goals and through their work, face similar dangers. "I feel even more empowered to continue my work as an activist, in contributing to the development of our world," expressed Vandrea Thompson of Jamaica after participating in the Learning Community.

When asked to comment about an exercise entitled "Looking Inward", one of the emotional and psychological health exercises conducted during the Learning Community, Philip Omondi from Kenya agreed with the need for such analysis stating, "How can you talk about peace when you are not at peace with yourself?"