Why I Chose to Participate

Posted on 07/18/2011 @ 12:53 PM

Teens are Inspired by Their Peers

My decision to attend the Summit was really a no-brainer. I felt like it was a program almost designed for me. With a passion for the preservation of human rights and a pervasive disbelief at the existence of genocide, I was gripped with the excitement that this experience could really begin an incredible journey of gaining knowledge and maybe even finding a career path based in topics in which I am deeply interested.

Once there, I was rewarded with the rare sentiment that my expectations were exactly met: accompanied by a self-selected group of truly exceptional peers, I witnessed and contributed to dozens of highly significant, completely honest conversations, spanning topics pertaining to human rights and genocide expertly and seriously.

I very much respect the teens and presenters who attended the Summit and am glad that, armed now with more passion and much more knowledge than when I arrived in Washington, D.C., I will have a strong network of contacts if I ever seek to follow up this wonderful experience with an advocacy initiative.
- Laurel Cohen

This is the Place to Keep Up With Panim el Panim and Teen Issue Summits!!