Campaigners’ Reflections in Regional Campaigners Skillshare and Collaboration

Last June 28-29,  Erwiana Sulistyaningsih and Trina Jarilla of the International Migrants Alliance, Asia Pacific participated in a Regional Campaigners Skillshare and Collaboration Event Erwiana is a migrant rights advocate who campaigns for migrant workers and their families. She is also part of a non-government organization, the Beranda Perempuan in Indonesia. Trina on the other hand is a young migrant rights advocate who is also a member of the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrants. She is a campaigner based in the Philippines who promotes youth and labor rights. With the common goal of a more peaceful, caring, free, equal, just, and sustainable world,  IMA Asia Pacific representatives and a hundred diverse activists and campaigners from different civil society organizations strived to increase their coordination and collaboration. 

The following are their reflections:

Erwi:

As a victim who later became a survivor and also a campaigner for grassroots migrant groups, I am delighted and honored to be asked to represent the International Migrant Alliance (IMA) for the Asia Pacific region to attend a skillshare campaign hosted by Amnesty International's regional office in Asia-Pacific.

I am happy because Amnesty not only carries out advocacy and campaign work but also raises voices directly from vulnerable groups such as migrant workers and refugees to become part of a campaign that can be voiced together.

For me, this event organized by Amnesty by inviting stakeholders and human rights defenders from various issues deserves to be appreciated. This creates a new spirit and adds new friends and networks in terms of human rights defenders who also recognize the existence of grassroots groups to be part of a stronger human rights struggle.

Trina:

As a young starting advocate for youth and migrant rights, this event was incredibly enriching for me. I learned a great deal about the importance of taking care of my mental health, as well as how to be more sensitive in campaigning with vulnerable groups. I also connected with fellow advocates and learned from their experiences.

We know that campaign work is not the easiest task. It can be emotionally draining, and it can be difficult to maintain a balance. I understand more now that it is essential to have organizational mechanisms in place to support everyone's well-being. And that it's important to acknowledge your emotions and take time for yourself to rest and recharge. I also learned skills in campaigning with vulnerable groups. These groups may have experienced trauma or marginalization, and it's essential to be aware of their needs and to approach them with care. It's also crucial to have a referral pathway in place so that you can connect them with the resources they need and an exit system to avoid dependency.

I was particularly impressed by the way the event was facilitated. The organizers were open to feedback and were willing to adjust the agenda and topics based on everyone's decisions. This showed me the importance of being consultative and transparent when organizing events.

Overall, I had a positive experience at this event. I learned a great deal about the importance of mental health for youth and migrant rights advocates, and I connected with fellow advocates who are passionate about making a difference. I'm confident that this experience will help me to be a more effective advocate in the future. I am now more inspired to learn more and continue the challenging and fulfilling work of being an advocate.