At the invitation of the Bond Center for African Education at Teachers College, four participants in the Human Rights Advocates Program spoke to a standing room only crowd of more than 40 students, faculty and staff from TC and the wider Columbia community. Adv. Onesmo Olengurumwa (Tanzania), Christopher Rutledge (South Africa), Nyawira Wahito (Kenya), and Júlia Mota (Brazil) shared insights on how movements and organizations can be sustained and how grassroots demands can be transformed into concrete policy change, especially in challenging times. Their emphasis was on building resilient institutions, applying gender-sensitive approaches, and engaging strategically decision-makers. They highlighted the importance of placing youth, women, and girls at the center of advocacy efforts. They noted that sustainable movements depend on empowering grassroots human rights defenders and providing strong legal guidance. Allowing local actors to speak and lead their own demands was described as essential. They stressed that movements must not rely on a few individuals but be nurtured broadly across society. Ultimately, their message reinforced collective ownership, resilience, and strategic engagement in sustaining movements.
