Led by Prof. Andrew Leon Hanna, award-winning author of 25 Million Sparks: The Untold Story of Refugee Entrepreneurs (Cambridge University Press) and renowned entrepreneur, the course is designed for those who wish to write a long-form work or book that not only informs but also inspires action and transformation. In particular, we are looking for prospective authors from diverse backgrounds, nationalities and experiences who are keen on writing narrative non-fiction on a variety of human rights issues: from climate justice to gender equality; from peace mediation to juvenile justice, and beyond.
“The written word has the power to spark change and advance human rights in communities all around the world,” says Prof. Andrew Leon Hanna. “In this course, we’ll explore storytelling techniques that honour marginalised voices, challenge unjust narratives, and foster greater mutual understanding. By the end, participants will have a draft ready for publication or for use in a book proposal, as well as the tools to amplify their message.”
Students will learn from video lectures prepared by Prof. Hanna, read excerpts from impactful non-fiction works and participate in 6 live webinars where they will hear from top international authors and publishers who will share their firsthand experiences and invaluable writing tips. Confirmed guests so far include award-winning authors Casey Gerald and Jemma Neville and 2024 Publisher of the Year Joel Rickett. During the course, participants will submit a draft outline, a synopsis and a ~2,000-word work for personalised review and feedback by Prof. Hanna. These final written works will be published in the Global Campus of Human Rights Magazine and Open Knowledge Repository.
This course offers a transformative experience, as testified by Saugat Pokharel, a participant in the first cohort who went to on to get his work published – both online and in print – in a national outlet in Nepal: “I’m incredibly grateful to the dedicated team at the Global Campus of Human Rights for their unwavering support and for the detailed editing that went into making this journey possible!”
At the Global Campus of Human Rights, we are proud of each and all who attended the first edition and can’t wait to welcome the second cohort. “It’s wonderful to see course participants learn how to emphasize what truly matters,” says Dr. Angela Melchiorre, E-Learning Manager at the Global Campus of Human Rights. “Witnessing their learning journey and the progress in their writing gives us hope that human rights and justice are still very much valued as the keys to a world based on dignity and humanity.”
The course will run fully online between 12 May – 20 July 2025, mostly in asynchronous mode but with weekly live webinars.
For more information on the programme and how to apply, visit the course webpage.