Through our work to improve human rights and global literacy, we often hear feedback from those we partner with and from those we are helping. Here are a few of their comments and stories.

 

Human Rights

"I have worked with Human Rights Data Analysis Group (HRDAG) at truth and reconciliation commissions in South Africa, Sierra Leone and East Timor … Dr. Ball and his team have provided remarkable insights into these conflicts. Were it not for the close examination of huge amounts of data by the statisticians and data processing experts of the HRDAG these insights would never have been revealed and understood."

Howard Varney
Former Chief Investigator, Truth & Reconciliation Commission for Sierra Leone Consultant, CAVR, Timor-Leste Consultant, Truth & Reconciliation Commission, South Africa

"We are counting on Benetech’s invaluable contribution for the technical component and information processing in the database’s development … that helps us to have a long-term vision of the future regarding perpetrators of violations and an understanding of the truth regarding [human rights] violations that occur in Colombia."

Mons. Héctor Fabio Henao
Director
Secretariado Nacional de Pastoral Social / Cáritas Colombiana

"Given the serious situation of systematic human rights violations in Colombia, the work that we are undertaking [using HRDAG] will be of vital importance in the search for and guarantee of human rights in the country."

Dr. Carlos A. Marín
The Colombian Commission of Jurists

"... [HRDAG] Analyzer is an important component of a larger effort to protect human rights; it does so by providing international and indigenous human rights advocacy organizations with the means of converting data into a hardnosed tool that can promote greater accountability."

Michael Maya
Acting Executive Director
ABA/CEELI

 

Literacy

"By submitting children's books to Bookshare.org we are encouraging learning, helping kids to succeed in school, helping kids to love reading, and ultimately increasing their intelligence."

Sarah Van Oosterwijck

“Now, at the dawn of a new millennium, Bookshare has opened the doors to the library of my dreams. Bookshare makes it possible for volunteers all over the United States to contribute scanned books, forming an ever-expanding library of electronic texts for blind and print-disabled readers.

"To everyone at Bookshare.org I send my heartfelt thanks. Thank you for believing in our dreams and making so much possible!"

Deborah Kent Stein

"Bookshare.org builds citizenship in two fundamental ways.  It transforms subscribers from passive beneficiaries into instant volunteers: anyone can help by submitting or proofreading books.  And Bookshare.org puts at the disposal of its subscribers the information they need to understand and succeed in their classes, their community, and their world.  Bookshare.org has made reading more possible and pleasurable for me, and has allowed me to use more of my time at college for learning, and less for the busy-work of tracking down and finding ways to access printed resources."

Chancey Fleet

"October 6, 2004, was a very exciting day for me because my membership for bookshare.org received final approval.  Since that day I have had a never-ending treasure trove of both pleasure reading and informative reading from which to choose for immediate download.  The name of the organization says it all — Bookshare.org, the place where volunteers scan and share!  Long live bookshare.org and the Benetech Initiative!!!"

Sue Stevens