Write for rights 2016 at Lutheran Academy

It seems that our school has started a new Advent tradition. In December we learn about people who are persecuted or in jail because they have stood up for human or civil rights. A year ago, in 2015, we wrote letters on behalf of a family who was taken by the Syrian government forces and was never seen again, then for an Uzbek journalist who spent 16 years in prison, and finally a man who spent many years in solitary confinement. We were surprised to hear that many of these people have been released. They were all on the list of Amnesty International and people all around the world wrote for them. That gave us courage to do it again this year and with even more enthusiasm.

This year we took a look at different cases: People who have unjustly been removed from their lands, a Chinese professor who was arrested because he spoke out for one of the Chinese minority groups, an Indonesian teacher who fought with a flag for an independence of his province, children in Malawi who have Albinism and are in danger because their body parts can be used for magic, and some other important cases.

It works like this: first we learn about the stories and situations of different people from the materials and videos by Amnesty International. Then we discuss the situations and try to make clear the context of the case, especially concerning the countries and political regimes. We discuss the human rights of people are and that it does not matter where you live.

Then students can chose one or even more cases for which they wants to write. This year it was mostly for the children in Malawi and people who have been displaced . Some children can also write a personal letter to the person or organization to express our support. Students then copy by hand a formal appeal to a political authority. We send these letters one by one, so students have to bring an envelope and 1€ for a postage. Then, we let it go into hands of politicians and God’s as well.

We were so happy to hear that a lot of these people were set free and we are blessed to be free to help them with our small effort in the special time of Advent. The words of Isaiah from 58th chapter give more light into it:

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;

We are glad that through this project students can learn about human rights and the fight for them. The joy of setting someone free who has been unfairly treated drives us to be part of this initiative. The thoughts and memories of those who are who were never freed will make us do it again next year.

by Ľuboš Froľo
teacher at the Lutheran Elementary School in Martin