PHILIPPINES
AHRC’s Semestral Break Internship Program Empowers Law Students and Grassroot Communities
Participants of the 2025 SBIP posing a photo.
© AHRCThe Ateneo Human Rights Center (AHRC) in partnership with Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Philippines kicked off the new year with its flagship and pioneer program, the Yugto: Semestral Break Internship Program 2025.
This year's theme, "Advancing Access to Justice in Grassroot Communities: From Law Student Formation to Community Engagement," focused on empowering vulnerable communities through legal education and advocacy. The program has been a key initiative of AHRC, which aims to train and support future human rights lawyers.
From January 18 to 27, 2025, 14 law students participated in the program, which is designed to help them shift from theoretical learning to community involvement. The goal was to provide these students with the knowledge and experience needed to serve vulnerable groups, offering both legal empowerment and practical skills.
Snap during the Basic Orientation Seminar at Quezon City
© AHRCThe program consists of three main components: basic orientation, internship, and evaluation and planning. The participants began with an orientation at Quezon City, followed by internships in Jamindan, Capiz then finally the evaluation sessions in Roxas City. Through these experiences, the law students were exposed to real-world human rights issues to allow them to engage directly with the communities they were assigned to.
Throughout the program, the students explored a range of topics relevant to human rights and community advocacy, such as Human Rights and National Situationer, Alternative Lawyering, and ASEAN and International Human Rights Mechanisms. Other sessions covered Indigenous Peoples' Rights, Business and Human Rights, Gender Rights, and Local Governance at the Grassroots, among others.
A photo during the internship in Capiz.
The internship component gave the students the opportunity to witness firsthand the challenges faced by vulnerable communities to enhance their legal skills and understanding of human rights advocacy. Many participants shared that they gained a greater appreciation for the lived experiences of these communities and the importance of love, even in the face of adversity:
“What stayed with me the most from this experience is the realization that human rights work is not just about legal frameworks or theoretical discussions. It is about understanding the lived experiences of those who suffer under systemic injustices. It is about seeing firsthand how policies, historical land disputes, and military presence shape the daily lives of people who only want to live in peace and dignity."
"Human rights work is not just about resisting oppression—it is also about celebrating and uplifting the people who continue to fight for their dignity. It is about telling their stories, not just of struggle, but of love, of family, and of a culture so deeply rooted in the land that no military occupation could ever erase it.”
The program's evaluation session also provided valuable feedback on how to move forward and improve the participants' future work.
Through this initiative, AHRC through the support of FNF Philippines continues its mission of developing human rights lawyers who can support and empower communities in need.