In this forum, many submissions have discussed the traumatic events that human rights activists witness or experience and the mental health struggles that can result. Yet very few people are speaking out about the benefits they derive from their activism—a sense of purpose, a strong identity, a common goal, a community. In some cases, human rights work can lead to stress and trauma. But in other cases, such as mine, it has been profoundly therapeutic.
As a teenager, I was supposed to spend time with friends, playing football and gossiping about girls. Instead, I often found myself behind a World War I bunker in my hometown of Pogradec, Albania, hiding from my peers, my family, and the world.
Over time, however, I slowly gained a better understanding of who I was, emerging from behind the bunker, until finally I recognized myself.
