Breaking the mold of human rights education, the cartoon-based project will develop a targeted activist toolkit and grade-appropriate curriculum, as well as graphic history books, comics, animation, podcasts, and online platforms for engagement and activation.
In 2021, a global online survey was conducted with Amnesty International and shared with more than 200 human rights and social justice organizations globally. The survey results were then fed into an in-depth Yale led focus group program.
Fordham’s IIHA is now supporting the finalization and launch of the project with a special research initiative looking at social change agents in both complex emergencies and natural disasters.
“Never has the need for global cooperation between human rights, climate change, and social activists and artists been greater. Our research is uncovering what activists and artists need in order to better connect with and learn from each other.”
Christian Clark is a Visiting Research Fellow at Fordham’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) and former Chief of Public Advocacy and Campaigns at UN OCHA. Christian heads The Graphix Project, which seeks to allow human rights and social activists, high school students, and other youth demographics globally to connect, plan and learn from each other.
Christian Clark is a cartoonist (Washington Post, Financial Times, Toronto Star, Guardian, etc.) and two-time Emmy Award-winning writer (Sesame Street) who has written and/or illustrated three graphic histories including the 2017 UNtold: The Real Story of the United Nations in Peace and War. Christian has extensive international advocacy and human rights experience working for the BBC and the United Nations in North America, Asia, Africa and the Balkans. He led the Meena project for some years, a groundbreaking UNICEF effort to advance girls’ rights using animation for social change in Asia.
He is the founder of the Graphix Project (GP) which will serve as a cartoon-based human rights support initiative. The GP will allow human rights and social activists, high school students and others — from #BLM in the U.S. to the climate justice campaign globally — to connect with, plan and learn from each other and experts through the project’s interactive online platform. The project will promote active change by using a range of mediums and products including activist toolkits, grade appropriate curriculum, graphic histories and novels, comics, animation and podcasts. The project concept has been tested through Masters level course work at both CUNY (2019) and Columbia University (2020), as well as through a multilingual (English, French and Spanish) online survey, developed with Amnesty International, shared with 200 human rights entities worldwide. The results will be fed into a Yale-supported global focus group initiative to answer a central question: “Are cartoons/graphics seen as a serious and appropriate medium for engaging activists across cultures?”
Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University
Holly Curtis is an accomplished education leader, currently serving as the Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University. In this role, she fosters partnerships between academia and industry, driving innovative collaborations and advancing strategic goals. Prior to this, Holly was the Chief of Staff at Ascend Public Charter Schools, where she oversaw strategic planning for one of New York’s largest charter networks, and she also led MBA Admissions at NYU Stern School of Business.
With a strong background in strategic leadership, education management, program development, and recruitment, Holly’s career began in international development with Pencils of Promise in Laos. Her work there shaped her expertise in strategic planning and talent development.
Holly holds an MBA from NYU Stern and a BA in International Political Economy from Fordham University. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity and inclusion, and is a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). She is also an alumna of NYU’s Global Inclusive Leadership Management Institute.
Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow and Global Program Director
Martine van der Does is a Dutch national and humanitarian expert with over 15 years of international experience. With a background in architecture she started her career working on humanitarian shelter at Delft University of Technology but soon moved to the field with Médécins sans Frontières (MSF) as a Construction Logistician. In 2010 Martine joined the Netherlands Foreign service where she worked in the Africa Department, Stabilisation and Humanitarian Aid Department and served as a Diplomat in Afghanistan and Jordan. In 2018 joined the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Myanmar where she worked in remote areas on protection and water and habitat issues. Until recently Martine was the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Netherlands Government in Amman, Jordan.
Martine is academically involved as a lecturer at Delft University in the Netherlands and Fordham University in New York. In the past years she also ran the prestigious International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA) as a Course Director in Geneva. Martine holds a Master of Science Degree in Architecture from Delft University of Technology and a Masters of Arts Degree in International Humanitarian Action from Fordham University. In her time off she is an active cyclist, runner, and enjoys ultraraces.
She accepted a position as Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow at the IIHA in 2024.
Seriously considering the IDHA and want to learn more? Book an appointment with Martine on the left.
Martine hosts Corporate Humanity, a podcast produced by Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs.
Master of Science in Architecture (MSc) and Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action (MIHA) and IDHA 24
With the IIHA since: 2008
Current courses: IDHA and non-academic courses
In my free time I enjoy: Traveling, mountains, playing guitar and endurance sports such as long (distance) running, cycling, skiing and swimming.
“In a world you can be anything, be kind to yourself and the people you work for and with. ”