2026 Beyond Borders Workshop: Youth Resilience Against the CCP
HRF’s 2026 Beyond Borders Workshop equipped young people with practical skills and knowledge to protect their communities and build collective resilience against transnational repression. Through interactive sessions, participants explored digital security, the role of AI in repression and activism, the psychological impacts of transnational repression, and strategies for artistic and cultural resilience. The program also introduced participants to the legal landscape of transnational repression, helping them strengthen protections and accountability mechanisms.
Testimonials
I now know I am not alone. That sense of voidness being separated from your native land, the thought of never being able to return home again, to breathe the air, to touch the soil, and to reunite with family is really, really painful. And it’s so hard to explain to people who [have] never experienced this, how painful this is. And then there is the pressure, frustration, burden, and fear. Knowing that we are not alone and we are in this fight together, that there are people who also experience these difficult yet unique feelings, is very powerful.
This week has been most inspiring. I came without any specific expectation[s] but [it] certainly . . .exceeded every aspect of my expectation[s]. Frankly there has not been a lot of opportunities for us to connect with each other. We perhaps know roughly the history and challenges of different ethnic groups respectively, but the human connection is missing. This week therefore has been so valuable that we can finally connect with each other in a deep and personal manner, allowing us to connect emotionally, learn constructively, and to share our support and love for one another.
These types of gatherings with other Uyghurs and broader communities have changed my life. I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I hadn’t been invited to a similar program when I was younger. It helps to motivate me, inspire me, and to see the potential impacts of my [presence] in these movements. What I do is bigger than just me.
It’s rare to find a space where we can tackle such heavy topics like protection and resistance while still finding room for laughter and (watching everyone) dancing. I’m truly grateful for the clarity and care everyone brought to the table. It wasn’t just a workshop, it felt like building a community of “collective intelligence” that I’m honored to be a part of.
20/10 . . . Completely astonished for a human rights gathering to be like this . . . Glad to know many new friends across communities and share insights with each other.
In this workshop, we got to hear each other, and felt like we all relate to one another. Very beautiful “I have a supportive understanding community” feeling.
