As a Humphrey Fellow, Andress Hamenda is studying law and human rights at the University of Minnesota. He plans to use his Humphrey grant to expand his network and improve his knowledge and skills to protect and promote human rights and design advocacy strategies and policy recommendations.

Andress graduated with a bachelor’s degree in management from Universitas Sam Ratulangi and went on to do a master’s in commerce at the Australian National University and another master’s in management from Coventry University, London.

He comes from Manado, North Sulawesi, where he is the founder and CEO of a local NGO Punya Harapan.  He leads his foundation, with funding support from successive Chevening Program alumni grants from the British Embassy, in providing sustainable vocational education to youths in juvenile prisons in North Sulawesi and other provinces.