Clubs represent a tremendous part of the BV West community, especially of the four cornerstones. It was difficult to run clubs last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With school being fully in-person this year, students are looking forward to participating in activities and clubs.

Future is Female was started during the second semester last year by current sophomore Sadiya Abid. The club’s president, Rylie Zhang, hopes that the club can promote feminism and women empowerment.

“Feminism is something I’m really big on and I think is very important for women to take part in government roles and speak out about inequality,” Zhang said.

This year, the club plans on having a theme for each month, with activities based on that theme.

“We’ll also have fundraisers and donations and different volunteering opportunities,” Zhang said.

Though the club is relatively new, it has already gained some popularity and many are excited to see what the club can achieve this year.

“We hope to spread female empowerment and make sure every person, not just women, knows about the gender inequalities that are going on right now and what we can do to help that and stop those things,” Zhang said.

Future is Female isn’t the only club that was started by a freshman. Another new club that has officially joined BV West is a chapter of Amnesty International, and this chapter was founded by freshman Kripa Gauba. Amnesty International focuses on fighting for human rights around the world. Gauba is excited for like-minded students to come together as a group to take action on important issues.

“I wanted to found this club because the subject of human rights is one that I am passionate about”, Gauba said. “We’re all humans, and we all want the same thing–a safe place to live on this planet we call home”.

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The club has three main programs that they’ll be focusing on this year, which are Activism X, Write for Rights, and National Week of Student Action.

“Activism X comes first, which is when our group plans an action to work towards one of Amnesty’s priority campaigns,” Gauba said. “The priority campaigns this year are freeing people from ICE detention and controlling gun violence”.

Write for Rights, a “letter-writing campaign”, will occur in the winter. National Week of Student Action, which is described as a “Human Rights Week”, will be in April.

Amnesty International has already gained over 30 participants, and Gauba is hopeful that this club will encourage students and remind them that they have a powerful voice.

“[We] have the ability to take action and make a change if [we] believe [we] can”, Gauba said. “We strive for the greater good, and it’s fulfilling to be part of a movement standing together for human rights across the world”.

Images via https://futuresfemale.com/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Amnesty_ International#/media /File:Amnesty_International_logo.svg