Humanity in Action

Where is democracy actually shaped today? Not only in parliaments, classrooms, or public debates. Increasingly — in feeds, algorithms, and digital infrastructures that shape how we think, relate, and act. Applications are now open for the Warsaw Fellowship 2026. So the question is no longer just what democracy is, but how it is practiced in a world shaped by technology. How can democratic values and human rights be protected in environments driven by algorithms and disinformation? How can narratives strengthen social cohesion instead of deepening divisions? What does it take to navigate complexity, resist manipulation, and act responsibly online? These are some of the questions behind the #Warsaw Fellowship 2026, led by Humanity in Action Poland. This is not a program for observers. It is for people ready to engage with complexity — and with perspectives that don’t always align. The Fellowship brings together participants from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, and the USA — with different experiences, disciplines, and perspectives — creating a space to exchange, learn, and develop action projects responding to real human rights challenges. Participants will: — learn and work together across contexts — engage with practitioners, experts and community leaders — develop their own civic leadership projects — join a global network of 3200+ alumni Program includes: • Online Kick-off • 10 fully funded days in Warsaw • Online group sessions on Action Projects • Mentoring support (on demand) 🌍 Open to applicants from Bosnia & Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Ukraine, and the USA. The Call for Applications is now open. 🔗 More information and application link in @humanityinaction.pl bio.

Are you based in (or passing through) Brussels this month? Join our in-person Senior Fellow gathering! 📥 More info is in your inboxes!

Stuck on your Action Project? Become a Mentee⭐ This year, we are launching our Mentorship Program to help our 2026 Fellows with their Action Projects. However, this opportunity does not apply to this year’s Fellows only. Are you a Fellow yourself who is currently stuck on your Action Project and needs an extra push? Or someone who would like to pick up on your unfinished Action Project? Then this Mentorship is for you as well! You will meet with your Mentor a couple of times in person or online, depending on you and your Mentor’s preferences. Your Mentor will become a partner that you can exchange ideas with and seek advice from regarding your Action Project ✍ Sounds interesting? Fill out the form through the link in bio so that we can match you with a Mentor. 🔗https://forms.gle/gxXL3vhw13Kv51Yi9

Do you want to help a Fellow bring their Action Project to life? Become a Mentor for a Fellow 🌱 This year, we are launching our Mentorship Program; a way for Senior Fellows to share their experiences with this year’s Fellows regarding their Action Projects. You will meet with your Fellow a couple of times in person or online, depending on you and your Fellow’s preferences, and you will become a partner that they can exchange ideas with and seek advice from. Sounds interesting? 🔗Fill out the form through the link in bio so that we can match you with a Fellow.

Join us in Copenhagen for a very special screening of For Sama, marking a new step: Syrian survivors have filed a criminal complaint in Denmark, calling for accountability for the airstrikes that tore through civilian life - including the bombing of Al-Quds Hospital, in Aleppo. Following the screening, a panel discussion will focus on the legal case, covering themes of universal jurisdiction and the role of survivor testimony in advancing justice. Speakers include our co-founder and CEO Dr. Hamza Alkateab, Mohanad Sharabati (Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression), and Eddie Omar Rosenberg Khawaja (Lawyer). Read more and reserve your seat at our link in bio.

Thank you to everyone who showed up and joined us for this conversation. In a conversation with Tim Whyte, Secretary General of Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, and Judith Goldstein, Founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Humanity in Action, they explored the state of American democracy, the strained relationship between the US and Europe, and the role of civil society in rebuilding trust across the Atlantic. Thank you for a lovely afternoon, we look forward to seeing you at future events✨

Last month, Humanity in Action organized a discussion with some of our Senior Fellows working across feminist research, technology and human rights, and gender equity. Thank you to Saijai Liangpunsakul, Anna Bednarczyk, and Mariana Karkoutly for sharing about your experience & expertise! What advice would the three panelists give to anyone trying to practice feminist leadership in their own fields, even if they don’t explicitly work on gender? 👉 Swipe to find out.

Taking place already next Thursday, April 16 at 12pm ET | 6 pm CET! Join us for a conversation with Senior Fellow Cesy Leonard on the power of creative civic engagement and how individuals and communities can move from political apathy toward democratic participation. More information & registration link are now in your inboxes!

As Humanity in Action, Inc. approaches our 30th anniversary in 2027, we want to hear from our Senior Fellows. Your insights will help guide our upcoming programming, community gatherings, and how we mark this important milestone across the network. Contribute via the email now in your inbox!

Since concluding her Humanity in Action Fellowship, Senior Fellow Lisa Trebs’ Project has become a broader initiative. "Initiative k_einheit" provides political education and fosters exchanges between East and West Germans, across generations, as well as on a European level. The project has recently been named a national winner of the European Charlemagne Youth Prize! Learn more ➡️

Meet Judith Goldstein in Copenhagen, this Friday ✨ If you are in Copenhagen on Friday, don't miss this opportunity to meet Judith Goldstein, Founder and Executive Director Emeritus of Humanity in Action. In a conversation with Tim Whyte, Secretary General of Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke, they will explore the state of American democracy, the strained relationship between the US and Europe, and the role of civil society in rebuilding trust across the Atlantic. 🗓 April 10 | 4 - 5.30 PM 📍 Mellemfolkeligt Samvirke - ActionAid Denmark, Fælledvej 12, 2200 Copenhagen N (NOTE: Entrance via Ravnsborggade 11 due to construction) Bring a friend, grab a beer or a soda, and join us in the conversation. 🔗 Register via link in bio

On March 21, Ukraine House in Denmark hosted a full day of discussions on youth as a driving force of democracy in Ukraine and Denmark. The event, featuring both an expert and a youth panel, was developed within @humanityinactiondk Fellowship by Ukrainian fellows Valeriia Prylypko and Anastasiia Horliukova. Key takeaways from the Expert Panel with Nataliia Popovych, Julie Arnfred Bojesen, Steven Jensen, and Vera Skvirskaja: - Over the past 40 years, Ukrainian youth have been central to democratic movements, from the Revolution on Granite to the Revolution of Dignity and today’s war, where they remain on the frontline, both figuratively and literally. In Denmark, youth continue to play an active role in civic and political life, holding democratic systems accountable. - Initiatives like Next Stop Soviet (1988), which brought around 5,000 young Danes to Ukraine, highlight how grassroots movements have long shaped democratic development in both countries. - Programs like Humanity in Action act as important youth hubs, bringing together diverse perspectives. As noted, no democracy is ever fully stable which makes such spaces essential. - Strengthening connections between Ukrainian and Danish youth remains key, especially as democratic values face growing challenges. Key takeaways from the Youth Panel with Elizabeth Plakidina, Daria Boiko, Frederik Pilemand Hansen, and Johannes Holm Erfurth: - Ukraine has demonstrated how fast and effective grassroots mobilization can be, building strong support networks beyond traditional institutional frameworks. - International experiences help young people see democracy from new perspectives. For Danish youth, engaging with peers from Ukraine brings a deeper understanding of resilience and civic responsibility. - Democracy is not only about elections, it is a daily practice reflected in how we engage with our communities and take responsibility for society. We thank all speakers and participants who joined these conversations, and we hope to continue these democracy dialogues between Ukrainian and Danish youth! Photos: @photostory_dk