(LONG VERSION):

I am Valentina Bianco Hormaechea, a 25-year-old woman who was born in Salta, northern Argentina. By the age of sixteen, I discovered my true vocation: the study of our World; and my great mission in this life: peace advocacy. I am a Fulbright scholar and a P.E.O Peace scholarship recipient, pursuing my higher education in the United States at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, where I also work as a Graduate Assistant. I am a second-year student enrolled in the master’s degree in Terrorism Studies and Nonproliferation of Weapons. I am a human rights activist and I am convinced that we cannot think of “security” without first thinking of human rights respect and compliance. During 2019 I was an intern at the United Nations in New York, conducting research for the Operation and Crisis Center (UNOCC). My area of expertise is the Middle East, particularly the war in Syria, the conflict in Palestine, and Iraq. Previously in Argentina, I studied International Relations and graduated with honors from the Catholic University of Córdoba. I also obtained a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. Since 2013 I volunteered for 7 years in OAJNU (Argentinean Youth Organization for the United Nations) where I performed multiple roles. This organization is comprised of 600 youngsters who work for empowering other young people through educational projects. My last and more important position was National Secretary of Human Rights Advocacy and member of the Executive Committee where I coordinated a 14-people team to design and implement Youth Rights advocacy campaigns in topics affecting the Argentinean youth: the criminalization of poverty, gender inequality, lack of education access, and racial discrimination. I also worked independently in the field with indigenous communities from my hometown to advocate for their inclusion in mainstream society. Under the sponsorship of OAJNU, I attended mediation courses in Mexico and Peru and became part of an Erasmus+ youth network. In 2019, I received an award from the main newspaper of my city, QuePasaSalta, for my achievements and being the “outstanding Saltenian youngster 2019”.

(SHORT VERSION)
I am Valentina, a human rights activist and advocator, passionate about the world. Yes. I love getting involved, discussing and raising awareness about issues that affect so many people across the globe and that matter a lot. I think that everybody can do something and that everybody should do something. This world needs us to care. I am Argentinean, half-Chilean, Spanish and Italian descendant, but most importantly, I am a world citizen. Most part of my experience with human rights comes from my 7 years volunteering with an Argentinean NGO that works at the grassroots levels. Currently, I am a Fulbright scholar and a ‘P.E.O Women and Peace scholarship’ recipient, pursuing a master’s degree in the U.S in counterterrorism studies.