Making The Invisible Visible: The First Step

Image taken from The International Slavery Museum page

During this unit, we have learned about all the human rights each of us has since the moment we are born. We realized how lucky we were to be able to have all these rights. However, we also saw that in many cases, these rights are violated or not applied to everyone in the world. It is a sad thing to learn about, but we need it to know more about what our world is dealing with. Instead of focusing on the whole world though, we are only looking at the issues with rights in Malaysia. Within our class, we went more in depth for Domestic workers, and the rights they should have.

Domestic workers pay an essential role in our daily lives. Without them our house would be dirty, we wouldn't have food when we got home, and we would have dirty clothes. Even though domestic workers are so important, some of us do not consider them as worthy enough to treat right. In many cases, domestic workers are abused, paid a small amount of money, and taken their liberty away. Domestic workers really can't do anything about this, as they need to work to survive and feed their families in their hometowns. Even though this doesn't directly affect us, we need to realize that each of us are equal people with equal rights, and it would be horrible to ignore the fact that people just like us aren't being treated the way they should. As one of our human rights states, each of us are responsible for one another, so that all of us can be happy as a whole.

Now what we are trying to come up with, is a way of solving, or lowering the cases of abuse to domestic workers, so they rights stop being taken away. In order to solve the problem, we first need to know all the sides of this issue, which is what we are doing right now in humanities. We have been researching all around tons of websites and articles, to know what other people feel and have done about this problem. We have been surprised many times on how many people are hurting and taking advantage of domestic workers. Some people need to understand that domestic workers are suffering every time you hurt them. They are all like us. Even though my family and I have domestic workers at home, we realize they have rights to have free time and feel comfortable around us, which is what everyone else should do.

I feel like doing this unit is helping me to be more responsible because I can care more about other people, driving me to help everyone around me. We know that all of us can't do a massive change to this problem, but we can help a little, and trigger other people to help. Maybe in the future, abuse to domestic workers will end!

What is Worth Fighting For: Nick Vujicic

Fighting For A Successful Life!


Having a disability is never pleasant. The worst part of being disabled, is the fact that it’s not repairable most of the times, leaving people with a disability for the rest of their lives. Both, mental and physical disabilities can stop people from living a regular life, like playing sports or being able to succeed at school. This usually tends to alter the way people look at disabled people, by looking at their flaws and all the things they can’t do. The repetitive judgment that disabled people receive, affects them strongly in the way they see themselves. Most find themselves as useless and worthless people, leaving them with no hope for success in the future. Nick Vujicic was one of these individuals who fought hard all his early life, by being born without limbs. He had all types of trouble with daily activities and tasks. In the end he was able to achieve what seemed impossible and now is willing to help anybody else dealing with the same struggles.

Nick was born without limbs, which in this day and age would be classified as different or unnatural. Growing up in a world where you are very different from other children most likely results on being treated differently or being ridiculed. “Throughout his childhood, Nick dealt not only with the typical challenges of school and adolescence such as bullying and self-esteem issues; but also struggled with depression and loneliness.” In his head, he didn't belong anywhere, making his disability the cause of his depression. Because he was different from other children, he was bullied and seemed to think he had no purpose in life. “He sometimes questioned why he was different from everyone around him. “ He constantly questioned why he was the one born without arms and legs while the rest were normal. Nick obviously felt devastated with the fact of not being able to play the same games or do the same sports as the rest of his schoolmates. He even wondered what the purpose behind his life was, or if he even had a purpose. Despite all the suffering Nick went through, he realized his life was too short to think about all the things he can’t do, and to focus on the ones he can do. This way, he began leading his way into a brighter side of life knowing there was a great life ahead of him.

Life Without Limbs was a non-profit organization Nick founded in order to achieve his goal of helping people. In this place, disabled people from all ages and nationalities are more than welcomed to take part in it. People who go to this special place can receive assistance from all types of things, like specialized doctors or physiologists, depending of what their needs are. Nick has found this organization really helpful for hundreds of disabled people lacking will in life. He believes he has done a big change in the way people think about themselves. To create a bigger change, he also decided to help non-disabled people, creating his own motivational speaking company; Attitude Is Altitude. This organization pretty much consisted of him talking to people from all around the world and teaching them how to enjoy life more. “Since his first speaking engagement back when he was 19, Nick has traveled around the world, sharing his story with millions of people, speaking to a range of different groups such as students, teachers, youth, businessmen and women, entrepreneurs, and church congregations of all sizes.” Nick knew a lot of people thought their lives were pointless, so he knows the best thing to do was to support them and tell them to love life and themselves. He has shown that if he can enjoy life, then everyone else can too.

With all these efforts Nick is putting into place, he has been able to help thousands of people from all ages. Nick will never stop trying to help, as he knows from experience that it’s never easy to live a life with different circumstances. He has taught them that all of us have a purpose in life, and the way you are, physically or mentally, can't decide whether you live a happy life or not. Although he has helped disabled people, he is also able to help people with no problems accept themselves for who they are and stop worrying about all the tiny problems in life. As Nick said once, “No legs, no arms, no worries!”

World Changer - Francia Simons

"Education is the most powerful weapon which one can use to change the world."(BrainyQuote) Studying helps everyone learn and have a successful life. Most people in the Dominican Republic are not able to go to school if they are not registered with a name. Fortunately for them, Francia, who had lived part of her life without a name and no chance of education, worked hard and was able to receive a birth certificate. Francia is now willing to help anyone else who deals with the same problem. Along with helping children receive proper registration, she has given hope to many children by telling them not to give up on getting certified, as it can help you go to school.

Francia, an unofficially registered girl, fought to achieve her nationality, and by doing so, she is now able to study and become successful. Francia, with the fact of not being officially registered, suffered with the fact that she was not allowed to go to school. Her willingness to be successful helped her become who she is today.  “..she carried out extensive research and showed great perseverance in pursuing her own registration.” (2010FranciaSimon)Since Francia did not receive an official registration, it caused her many problems with school. She knew that this problem would impede her from graduating and studying a career. Although she was young, Francia knew that school was her biggest priority, and she was not going to give up until she gained access to education. She researched information for months trying to find a way to become registered. “She succeeded and gained lasting access to secondary education.”(Winner2012KidsRights) After much hard work, Francia made her dream come true. She is now be able to graduate, get a job and make money for herself. Being able to study allows her to become a successful person in life. After all her work paid off, Francia probably realized by that all children should also be able to achieve what she achieved; therefore, she began helping other children in her same position.

Francia, has already helped over 130 children in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti, to gain a nationality so that they can receive adequate education and have an opportunity to study a career and get a job.(Winner2010KidsRights) Francia, who is now starting secondary school, wanted the rest of the children she knew to be able to study like her, which is why she began advising and helping families to go to school. Francia has been using the knowledge and strength she acquired during the complicated registration process to help other children without birth certificates to obtain state recognition.(VideoFranciaSimon) Wile taking care of herself, she has also been able to help a lot more children to get registered into school. This shows how much Francia is willing to give to others in need. Apart from getting official registration, children also need additional support to keep going through life against other problems.

Francia increases the children’s own self-esteem and gives them hope. Francia gives hope and advice to others to keep their hopes high that someday they will become successful and have a life with joy. Francia learned from her past experiences in order to help other children in the Dominican Republic who were in the same position as her. By the help Francia has given to these children, she is making a change. Francia has helped over 100 children in many different countries to be able to have education. She realizes that if she has the privilege of studying, then everyone else should too. Francia’s choices reflect on what the world is today. A small effort could turn into a big achievement. Everyone should help each other, no matter what it is, because that is what makes us human.

This Is The Part Of Me

I’m from the 20^th century 

From Barbies and dolls

 I am from SpongeBob and Dora

My Childhood heroes.

My idols, Jessie J and Muse

Inspire me to believe what I’m meant to do.

I’m from hot and dry weather

And noisy streets

Not always nice to visit,

but beautiful to me

A small house, at north of the town

Makes up my home that I love the most.

I am from my parents, handworkers indeed

They work all week and always support me.

My loving friends are always there,

 to notice what’s the best for me.

I come from amazing delicious food,

Burritos, tortillas, and tacos too!

A Mediterranean family that fled through the world

Looking for peace and no more terror.

All of this means a lot to me, as it fills my life with joy and bliss.

I will always live and cherish all these things

To help me live through the rest of my years.

Understanding - Power

To maintain control, you must have power.

I deeply agree with this statement, for many reasons. Let's say, a man wants to have control over people. The first thing he would do, is try to be noticed, and to be understood. After he is noticed, and many believe and agree with him, he is most likely trusted by those people, which means he can now have power over them.  If a person is not known or noticed by others, they will not follow his rules. No one would care about his opinions. He wouldn't be taken as an important person to follow. 

Take for example, Hitler's rise to power and control. As the story tells, Adolf's will to have control was really big, and he used many opportunities in order to achieve this. Of course it wasn't easy for him. He first had to know what the people of Germany wanted, and once he had all planned out, it was time to get people's attention. Using propaganda, making speeches, creating marches, were all used to make people gain trust and admiration towards him. Once he did this, it was easy to control and take over the people who agreed with him, which was a big quantity. 

Now lets take a look at the Medieval Times. During this period of time, the kings were the most powerful ones in England, and it was because they had complete power over the rest. To do this, the king must first understand the needs of his kingdom, and try to make it as just as possible for everyone. In some ways, he still wasn't so fair to some of the people, for example, the people at the bottom, the peasants. That led into rebellions, which meant that the king wasn't keeping control of everyone. He had to make sure he had the power, so he could stop them from rebelling against him.

The Feudal System - Extension task!

Father Francois, you are my honored guest. Please allow me to explain the Feudal system to you before you ask any questions of me. I am but a simple farmer. The Feudal system is a system of give and take. The lord would give off his land to a vassal for his support in return. If the vassals keep his oath, he could keep the land, if not, it would be returned back to the Lord. Vassals could follow the same system and become the Lord to his Vassals. The king still owned all the land.

1066: Who had the best claim?

Harold Godwinson, along with Duke William of Normandy and Harald Hardrada, all wanted to be the next king of England, after King Edward fell sick. They all had a huge claim to the throne, but for me, the one who deserved it the most, or had the strongest claim, was Harold Godwinson. King Edward had chosen him to be the next ruler. Reasons of why he did this, were that Harold was a noble, with a powerful army, and also that he was the only English man running up for the throne; Duke Will and Harald were foreigners, and had nothing to do with England. Also, Harold and Edward, both had a strong bond or connection, since King Edward had married Harold's sister. But even with all this, it wasn't enough to make him the King of England.