We welcome all EarthRights Alumni from the Mekong to join our network.
Since 1999, over 600 graduates from the Mekong region have completed EarthRights training programs, including EarthRights School Myanmar, EarthRights School Mekong, EarthRights School, the Mekong Legal Advocacy Institute, and the Bertha Fellowship.
More than 300 alumni remain active, using their skills and networks to defend human and environmental rights in their communities across the region.
“Supportive learning environment – A welcoming and helpful environment for alumni to learn, connect and collaborate. Everyone is happy to support those in need”
– Pay, MLAI and ERS alumnus.
WHY AN ALUMNI NETWORK?
In a context of democratic backsliding and increasing human rights violations, EarthRights alumni who are active environmental and human rights defenders face risks such as policy restrictions, criminalization, and judicial harassment. In response, the network facilitates alumni in supporting one another, accessing current capacity-building opportunities to advance their initiatives for positive change, and engaging with in-country and regional resources and collaborations to address the challenges they encounter in their work.
“It inspired me to continue working with communities to protect human rights from harmful projects”
– Pisey, ERS alumna referring to the inspiration for community work.
CO-CREATION OF THE ALUMNI NETWORK
The network was built from the ground up through listening and co-create with EarthRights alumni across the Mekong region. Alumni played an active role in shaping the network, providing inputs on how it is organized, what it focuses on, and the approaches that keep alumni engaged, so it meets their needs and challenges.
The network connects alumni to strengthen their work, share insights and best practices, and collaborate on initiatives that advance environmental and human rights across the region. It does so through both secure digital engagement platforms and in-person activities, which facilitate communication, knowledge exchange, and allow alumni to build relationships, coordinate joint actions, and learn from one another.
Regional EarthRights alumni gathering, Chiang Mai 2024
Capacity Building
EarthRights provides continuous opportunities for participants as they become alumni, creating a space for training of tools, learning, and long-term growth. The Mitharsuu Center for Leadership and Justice serves as a hub where alumni can build skills, collaborate, and carry out their work in a safe and supportive environment.
EarthRights alumni have access to training tailored to their needs and risk assessments, covering areas such as digital security, online facilitation skills, advanced project cycle management, mental health and collective care, and training-of-trainers.
In addition, EarthRights alumni receive one-on-one mentoring and coaching from members of the training team to support ongoing professional development. Through this process, alumni apply, adapt, and transfer their existing knowledge and skills into daily practice, including organizational development, project design, donor engagement, proposal writing, learning process design, and facilitation.
All capacity-building activities are delivered online or in-person, providing flexible and accessible learning for all alumni.
EarthRights Alumni Engagement at the Regional and Country Level
EarthRights facilitates alumni through regional and country-level engagement, enabling them to support one another, share knowledge, and coordinate strategies to challenge powerful interests at local, national, and international levels.
EarthRights alumni representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam coordinate the network in their countries, connecting alumni, supporting collaboration, and keeping the network active and effective, while also representing alumni needs and interests for cross-country collaboration. A well-coordinated network at the country level encourages alumni to collaborate beyond their own country.
Through these connections, EarthRights alumni actively share knowledge, exchange best practices, and develop coordinated strategies addressing environmental and human rights issues across the Mekong region. Their collaboration extends beyond their own countries, allowing them to work closely with peers throughout the region. This ongoing collaboration strengthens interactions between EarthRights and alumni, promotes peer learning, and expands access to information, opportunities, and joint initiatives throughout the network.
“I not only learned net skills but also made new friends with participants from other countries, which has been an important part of my experience”
– Nay Khant, ERS alumnus referring to the opportunity to develop skills and network.
Interested in the alumni network for collaboration and support?
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