Human Rights Watch['s High School Program] is an enormous service for teachers. What HRW does, that I can't find in any other program, is provide direct contact with speakers and activists, and the coordination of this is invaluable to teachers who don't have the time or resources to do so. The speakers we had have really gotten the kids involved in the issue. It engaged them to learn more and seek other information.
- Teacher, Saint Luke's Academy, Manhattan

"The films we've watched in class deal with the importance of understanding different perspectives and the importance of having empathy towards all people. This concept is very important to our lives. If youth paid more attention to human rights, we could solve many of the hardest problems in the world without violence."
- 7th grade student, St. Luke's Academy, Manhattan

"I think it's very valuable to talk about human rights in school because many people in our school aren't treated the way they should be."
- 10th grade student, Farmingdale High School, Long Island, NY

"Our 9th grade social studies curriculum is driven by the common theme of human rights. Showing this film - The Boys of Baraka - with the subjects that our students identified with so closely - helped us to draw a strong connection between human rights and the personal experiences of our students. Our goal in all academic classes is to make the subject matter relevant to student's lives, and Boys of Baraka was a perfect vehicle to do that."
- Teacher, Urban Assembly Media High School, New York, NY

"(When we watched" It Aint Love") Kids reacted to hard topics with laughter until we raised the issue (of Domestic Violence and Relationship Abuse.)- sometimes they don't know how to deal appropriately because it hits too close to home"
- Teacher, Fannie Lou Hamer HS, New York, NY

The film has changed the way I think about the issue of youth activism. "Before I though that no one was interested generally. Now I think it's great that youths like me take pride in their community and fight for their rights. I was impressed that so many (youth) actually care."- Reflecting on "Whose Streets? Our Streets!: The True Face of Youth Activism."
- Continuing education student, John Adams High School

After watching the film "Scout's Honor":
"Even though (things) have gotten better (for LGBT people) from before, people still are discriminating. This movie showed that large organizations can discriminate too."
- 7th Grade student, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn NY

"The most important message (in the film) is that discrimination still happens today and that a boy as young as 12 (like Steven Cozza) can make such a difference. It's important to learn about human rights in school because its important to understand that being gay is okay, and to be able to discuss our opinions in a place where we won't be judged."
- 7th Grade student, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn NY

"I think it's important for us to talk about human rights in school because sometimes youth aren't able to speak about how they feel or think at home, and they need somewhere save to be able to do that."
- 7th Grade student, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn NY

(After seeing filmmaker Beverly Peterson's presentation on her film Invisible Revolution) "In my opinion, the most important message in the speaker's presentation is that there are 2 sides to every story. You can be on one side but you have to (be) open and listen to others and their reasons…"
- 9th Grade student, Baccalaureate School for Global Education