Manè’s Reflections: ‘What I’ll take away from spending a week with HART’

Manè Misakyan recently joined HART for a week of work experience. Reflecting on her time with the team, Manè shares the lessons and important truths that she will be taking with her into the new school year – and beyond:

After a transformative week of work experience with HART, I’ve become more aware of global inequality, and the urgent need for justice and fairness. This experience opened my eyes to the unfortunate realities faced by marginalised communities in different parts of the world; whose struggle for basic human rights and justice shouldn’t be alienated and ignored. It’s important to recognise our shared humanity and take steps to help them, because caring about justice is a responsibility – not just a moral choice.

Growing up in London’s vibrant and diverse environment, I was fortunate to have never witnessed much injustice or inequality. It was a sheltered experience, shielded from the harsh realities faced by so many individuals around the world living in constant fear, destitution and oppression. However, as I grew older and became aware of the stark contrast between my life and the lives of those countries faced with serious humanitarian crises, I became more frustrated: Why was equitability so highly valued by my community, while blatant injustice in foreign countries was viewed with apathy and indifference? It was merely discussed, yet never advocated for.

I couldn’t fathom why I had the privilege of a comfortable life while others lived in endless uncertainty about their future, safety and stability. It all seemed unfair. I routinely read about humanitarian issues and political instability in developing countries, but I rarely saw evidence of tangible steps being taken by the West to help resolve these conflicts. I began to understand that while millions of individuals involuntarily faced persecution, food insecurity, and poverty worldwide, most people viewed this with indifference.

During my invaluable work experience at HART, I was tasked with researching three regions facing severe humanitarian crises: South Sudan, Nigeria, and Nagorno Karabakh. In Nagorno Karabakh, an impending genocide lingers due to a blockade. Nigeria faces real threats to security and persecution of its Christian population, while South Sudan grapples with severe food insecurity and political instability. What struck me most profoundly was the stark contrast between the enormity of these crises and the limited, if any, media attention they received. Although I live in a world so thoroughly connected by the internet, I wasn’t aware of almost any ongoing crises in countries with which HART collaborates before this week.

Furthermore, during my time at HART, I was introduced to the concept of ‘aid fatigue.’ This phenomenon occurs when aid given to a region diminishes over time, as it often fails to address the underlying causes of the crisis, and there is seemingly no change in the circumstances of those receiving it. This explained to me why a substantial portion of the U.K.’s GNI (0.5%) was allocated to foreign aid, yet the impact on improving conditions in recipient countries seemed so limited. Foreign aid, while well-intentioned, often creates dependence rather than sustainable self-sufficiency. During this time, I also learned about HART’s effective approach: they actively worked with members of affected communities, providing in areas that locals identified as a top priority, instead of allocating resources aimlessly.

After that week of work experience, I’ve also come to appreciate the significance of raising awareness. The more people who are informed about an issue, the greater the potential for positive change. Within my circle of friends, I see an opportunity to educate them about human rights issues. By starting thoughtful discussions and debates, I can help them think more critically and independently, creating unbiased opinions. I’m committed to introducing them to the often-overlooked human rights concerns around the globe. Additionally, I’ll emphasise the importance of staying informed through reliable and trustworthy news sources. As Baroness Cox flawlessly phrased it, ‘We cannot do everything, but we must not do nothing.’ I now see how important it is to contribute to this cause, even if done on a smaller scale through educating friends about human rights.

– Manè Misakyan