May 29, 2024

Stella and her commitment to Human Rights

Stella Louku is a Practicum Student at MARL
Summer 2024

Stella is a Kenyan citizen. She did her undergraduate degree in International Relations and Security Studies, and a minor in Business Administration and Management, at Daystar university. Currently she is studying a master’s degree in human rights at the university of Manitoba in Canada. After her undergraduate studies, she got involved in the community by going to schools to share productive talks like the effects of drug abuse and mental health related issues. Additionally, she had the opportunity to engage with elderly and prisoners. Finally, she has learned that different barriers like poverty, discrimination, policies, gender inequality, practices and punitive laws may hinder people from enjoying their human rights.


Human rights to me means rights entitled to every person from birth regardless of their race, origin, religion, gender, ability, and class. These rights are universal, indivisible, inalienable, interdependent, and interrelated. Moreover, human rights value human dignity. The states are obligated to respect, protect, and fulfill these rights to its citizens. 

My interest to human rights was stems from my personal life experiences as a street child living in city streets and slums before I was rescued for care and protection by Dr. Charles Mulli. While living in the streets, I lacked basic life needs that every child is entitled to survival and development such as food, shelter, clothing, and education besides being exposed to constant harassment from the police and adults. As a girl in the streets, I was always at the bottom of the chain. My rescue from the streets at seven years old to Mully Children Family (M.C.F) a children home in Kenya was a turning point and changed my life. I learned that as a child I have the right to be protected from violence, the right to parental love and care, and the right to good accommodation, education, and life. I now believe that no girl or child should have to go through the tribulations I went through due to poverty if many more people like me emerge to protect the rights of vulnerable persons and transform their lives. I am inspired by the work of Dr. Charles Mulli the CEO and founder of M.C.F to be an advocate for human rights. 

I got an opportunity to involve myself with the community after my undergraduate studies when I volunteered at M.C.F. I became part of the community development program. We used to go to the community schools and share productive talks like boys and girls talks, effects of drug abuse and mental health related issues. Additionally, we had the opportunity to engage with elderly and prisoners. I learned that different barriers like poverty, discrimination, policies, gender inequality, practices and punitive laws may hinder people from enjoying their human rights. 

I am interested doing my practicum with Manitoba Association of Rights and Liberties (MARL) because it deals with children rights and empower the youth in public school by creating workshops which enable them to learn about their rights and how they can positively impact their communities by solving problems that hinder people from enjoying their rights.  

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