The US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR) on Saturday, organized an Alumni reunion for USIDHR graduates from the Washington, District of Columbia/Maryland/Virginia (DMV) area for a morning of reconnection, learning, and celebration. USIDHR boasts of 17,500 consultants trained from 136 countries and 2700 cities, reflecting a global network of human rights consultants.
The event kicked off with a warm welcome from USIDHR Founder, Isabelle Vladoiu. She expressed her excitement for seeing the Alumni and their continued dedication to promoting human rights.
Isabelle Vladoiu delved into the training commencing with the diverse career paths available in human rights education. She noted areas like SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and peace building, along with more specialized fields like children’s rights, human trafficking, and business and human rights.
She stressed the importance of approaching human rights work with an entrepreneurial mindset. She encouraged the Alumni to see financial success not as an end in itself, but as a means to empower them to help more people. Isabelle provided the example of the Edu for Every Child program, where a seemingly small cost per child can have a significant impact. Edu for Every Child is a program dedicated to providing resources and materials to children from low-income families so they can attend school.
Credit: USIDHR
Furthermore, Vladoiu offered guidance for Alumni seeking careers as human rights consultants. She recommended utilizing LinkedIn to network and build connections. During the session, an Alumnus gave credence to her statement as he shared a success story of how he landed impressive clients after his USIDHR training on LinkedIn.
Isabelle informed the audience that human rights consultants can choose between starting their own consulting businesses or working with non-profit organizations. She also opined that the human rights consultant designation is a relatively new creation credited to her, and pointed to the importance of building visibility through awards and media engagement using press releases.
Throughout the event, Vladoiu emphasized the importance of integrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights into daily professional activities. She specifically highlighted the use of the “United for Human Rights” materials, a cornerstone in the advocacy and education efforts championed by the institute.
Credit: USIDHR
In addition, Vladoiu addressed the challenges faced by human rights consultants. She recommended aligning with national and international standards, developing a corporate social responsibility policy, and showcasing achievements through documented work and client testimonials.
USIDHR’s Founder offered additional tips for building a successful career in human rights. She suggested creating podcasts, hosting shows, and engaging with the media to increase visibility.
The reunion also included a facility tour and a practical case study session, where Alumni applied their knowledge to a real-world scenario.
The day concluded with a graduation ceremony, where Alumni members received their certificates of participation.
