The Scituate High School history hallway has never been so popular on Tuesday afternoons. The new addition to after school activities, Amnesty International Club, drew in a wide range of students eager to contribute to human rights issues in its first appearance at SHS.
Amnesty International is one of the most prominent international organizations that works to promote human rights and fight injustice. Its members investigate and create activism for various humanitarian projects. Among its many outlets, the organization is affiliated with many high schools worldwide, who work to help with human rights projects in their own localities as well as issues worldwide. According to advisor and world history teacher Mr. McNeil, Scituate High School is currently in the process of registering with the organization through its regional office in Boston.
An official part of the organization, the Amnesty International Club at SHS has duties to discuss and aide in issues presented by Amnesty International. In addition, however, the club offers opportunities for students to discuss and investigate individual matters to actively contribute to. This club, according to McNeil, aims to be primarily student-run, with students deciding on the focus that the club takes.
Members of Amnesty International Club, in addition to attending weekly Tuesday after school meetings, also have the opportunity to participate in two to three planned conferences. The main goal for the club’s members is to make others aware of the issues at hand, whether its through lobbying, writing letters, or directly confronting the issue. Currently, the club is in the process of determining the problems they wish to address and whether or not they want to focus on one central issue in detail or several others in less detail.
The idea for the introduction of Amnesty International to the high school came with the opportunity for a new club in the history department. As a large theme in many courses in the history department includes human rights, the club would provide the perfect opportunity for students “to act on these human rights issues they learn about in class,” said McNeil.
With the Model United Nations club at Scituate High receiving increased enrollment, the department was hopeful for a similar turnout to another history-run program. The expectations for the club’s success have been met; after only a few meetings there has already been a good turnout, Despite its recent birth, Amnesty International Club is already filled with enthusiastic students who seem committed, energetic and ready to become activists.
Although it strives to be as flexible as possible to encompass a wide range of students, the club is one that students must be committed to. Membership is still available and students are encouraged to attend the Tuesday meetings. If people wish to get involved with Amnesty International yet cannot commit themselves to becoming members there are still ways to get involved as there will be several Amnesty International Club run events to raise money available for people to attend and contribute to.
For more information amount the club or Amnesty International, students can talk to Mr. McNeil in room 232 or visit the organization’s website at www.amnestyusa.org.