Meet Maria, a 25-year-old student from Syria who has been living in the Netherlands for about four years. Currently in her third year of studying Safety and Security Management at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Maria’s interest in human rights comes from her own life experiences. Traveling extensively and living as a migrant in different countries has given her a deep understanding of the challenges migrants face.

Her involvement in the MDT Move 4 Human Rights program began during her human security minor, in collaboration with Human Security Collective. This partnership provided her with a platform to contribute to human rights through her studies. Reflecting on her experience, Maria shares:

"It was really nice because I never really had the opportunity to contribute to human rights through my studies. It didn’t feel like I was just doing this study for my school; it felt like I was doing something even more impactful."

One of Maria’s standout experiences in Move 4 Human Rights was her project focused on the employment struggles of Syrian refugees. She noticed that many refugees find it difficult to get jobs that match their qualifications from back home. To raise awareness about this issue, Maria created a short animation video to illustrate these challenges.

Maria’s time with Move 4 Human Rights has been eye-opening, helping her grow personally and academically. It taught her how to involve others in her research and turn academic knowledge into practical actions. Maria believes that participating in such programs gives students invaluable hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of human rights issues.