ACTIVIST Portfolio
The Foundation’s ACTIVIST portfolio honors Elie Wiesel’s human rights work. As he said, “Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitives become irrelevant. Whenever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe.” In 2022, EWF’s ACTIVIST grants will focus on programs to restore the rights and dignity of the Uyghur population.
World Uyghur Congress, Jewish World Watch, and Uyghur Human Rights Project
Location
WUC: Munich, GER
JWW: Encino, CA
UHRP: Washington, DC
Mission
WUC: About – World Uyghur Congress
JWW: About Us – Jewish World Watch
UHRP: About – Uyghur Human Rights Project
Program Name
2023 NYC Uyghur Conference
Grant Award
$250K
WUC, UHRP, and JWW will host a Conference of Uyghur activists and allies to consider the international response to the Uyghur genocide. To be held this winter in New York, the Conference will aim to foster collaboration between these stakeholders, energize current efforts of Uyghur activism, and discuss new ways to activate the Jewish community and engage other citizens of conscience.
Ana Care and Education
Location
Fairfax, VA
Mission
Program Name
Ana Care and Education Uyghur Programs
Grant Award
$50K
Ana Care aims to preserve the Uyghur language, history, and culture through interactive programming for Uyghur families in the diaspora. They provide school-based learning for students and adults that helps shape relationships, builds community, and continues to connect them to their ancestry.
Grant Advisory Board
Natan Sharansky: Soviet dissident, Israeli politician, & Human rights activist
Mark Hetfield: President and CEO of Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
Nadine Epstein: Editor-in-Chief and CEO of Moment magazine
Gulhumar Haitiwaji: Activist, Daughter of camp survivor Gulbahar Haitiwaji
*All selections made were then reviewed by EWF Board of Directors