Engaged Opportunity Grants
Practicing North-South Solidarity
Creating a transnational training institute for capital defense lawyers
The Makwanyane Institute is the preeminent international training program for capital defense lawyers in Africa. Created by the Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide, the program equips human rights lawyers with training, mentorship and a transnational advocacy community, supporting them as they save lives and reform legal practice in their jurisdictions.
This grant supports a regional convening of Makwanyane alumni in order to transfer the stewardship of the institute to a permanent Africa-based partner. The convening connects lawyers from across English and French-speaking countries to launch a global training hub for defenders. For the Cornell students who help plan, participate and learn from these discussions, it offers a chance to practice and critique the reality of global movement-building across North-South divides.
Topics: Access, Equity and Justice; Education; Law, Government and Policy
The Team
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Sandra Babcock, Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide
Law School
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Delphine Lourtau, Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide
Law School
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Laura Ann Douglas, Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide
Law School
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Randi Kepecs, Cornell Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide
Law School
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Hailey Shapiro
College of Arts and Sciences
- Community partner: Hope Behind Bars Africa Initiative
- Community partner: Ngakaagae & Co Law Firm
Engaged Opportunity Grants
Supporting a wide range of community-engaged learning projects, from student leadership programs and partnership building to events and conference travel. Open to all faculty and staff.