Yoana Rodriguez is a lawyer from Guatemala whose main interest lies with human rights, specifically with indigenous communities and women’s rights. Rodriguez volunteers regularly at The Advocates for Human Rights on their National Asylum Help Line, or Linea de Ayuda Nacional de Asilo. Since The Advocates is limited to working with only those in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, the National Line serves to connect callers in other states to the appropriate legal services. As the slogan says, “We help you find legal services where you live.” Rodriguez first heard about the volunteer opportunity through a conversation with a friend, who directed her to one of The Advocates’ informational sessions on asylum. Rodriguez knew that legal advice is often economically inaccessible, and wanted to join The Advocates to help provide the vital service.

Most callers are originally from Latin America, and have varying English and Spanish-speaking abilities, so much of Rodriguez’s volunteering requires her to navigate language barriers, which can sometimes present challenges. Some of those who call The National Line are originally from Guatemala, but even for Rodriguez it can be difficult to understand them since Guatemala has 25 officially recognized languages. In one instance, an indigenous man called, and Rodriguez worked hard to be patient, speaking slowly and repeating the information multiple times in order to ensure he would have the correct information. In all calls, Rodriguez tries to provide the necessary information as clearly as possible, because she has had people call back for clarification. At The Advocates, Rodriguez also occasionally translates documents between English and Spanish, and acts as an interpreter.

Rodriguez says she can empathize with callers, as she understands the violence and practices in Latin America. As she explains, “I understand the efforts of those who are calling the National Line because I am also Hispanic, and I am also trying to integrate into this culture and this society. Nothing has surprised me; I have lived some of the reasons that these people leave for the US.” Rodriguez believes that a big challenge for callers is that they don’t understand English and that everything in the US is new for them, so volunteers should visualize themselves in a similar situation: of not knowing anyone, not speaking the language, and not having anyone to ask for help. “Even if I cannot solve everything for them,” Rodriguez says, “I can help with this small thing that could make a big difference in their lives.”

At the forefront of the world’s human rights movement, The Advocates for Human Rights, a 501(c)(3) organization, creates and maintains lasting, comprehensive, and holistic change on a local, national, and global scale. Volunteers, partners, supporters, board members, and staff implement international human rights standards to promote civil society and reinforce the rule of law.