JR ready to begin work

My name is JR Dowd and I am a junior at Uconn, studying political science and human rights.  I am on track to graduate in 2014, and once completed my idea now is to perhaps head into human rights law, although this is not a definite.  My internship during the trip will be working at Black Sash, helping them in whichever way I can to deal with human rights issues in the city.  When we arrived in Cape Town, my initial reaction was one of awe, I think I spent the first few days with my eyes popping out of my head.  I had never seen a place this beautiful before, each view was different and wonderful.  I have had a week to fully digest this place, the good and the bad, and my initial reaction and my reaction now are different.  When we got off of the plane I couldn’t have imagined the need in this city, but after having been to places like the District Six museum, Robben Island, and yesterday visiting several of the different townships surrounding the Cape, my reaction has become one of someone who wants to help. I think we all see the need in this place and are excited to get working on our internships and our advocacy project.

JR jumping rope with kids at Elonwabeni Child and Family Centre