About Us | Our Founder Max Dana

Empowering voices. Defending rights. Together.

The name MagkaSama, meaning “together” in Tagalog, reflects our belief that meaningful change is only possible through unity and shared purpose. It also draws inspiration from the Sama, mythical, eye-like beings imagined by our artist-founder, Max Dana, which represent awareness, presence, and collective vision.

In our logo, the Sama form a stylized water molecule. This symbol speaks to connection and interdependence. Just as individual molecules combine to sustain life, people, when united, create communities grounded in dignity and resilience. Water adapts, flows, and endures. We aim to do the same by nurturing dignity, amplifying voices, and building a more peaceful world.

As an independent civil society organization with no government or public funding, we bring people together to confront urgent human rights challenges by centering truth, collaboration, and lived experience. Our motto, “Stand Together, because Unity is Strength,” is inspired by the historic coat of arms of Haiti, a powerful symbol of resilience and resistance. It is not just a slogan, it is a guiding principle.

We prioritize raw, unfiltered storytelling, sharing reports, testimonies, and firsthand accounts that reflect reality as it is. In Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Haiti, we work alongside community-led movements to amplify local voices and support long-term peace through education, dialogue, and grassroots engagement.

Join us in shaping a future where dignity, fair treatment, and freedom are realities for everyone.

The MagkaSama Project logo, created by artist-founder Max Dana, draws on the Sama and the image of a water molecule to symbolize connection, interdependence, and collective strength. Just as individual molecules come together to sustain life, the logo reflects how people, when united, form resilient communities grounded in dignity and shared purpose.

Max Dana, Our Creative Founder

Founded by artist, philanthropist, and lifelong human rights advocate Max Dana, the MagkaSama Project is rooted in creative activism and community-led engagement. Max’s commitment to human rights began early, launching a student newspaper to amplify unheard voices and defend freedom of expression. In 2003, her newsletter, among the first to address the emerging genocide in Darfur, contributed to raising awareness about the conflict and helped shape the early thinking that would later become the MagkaSama Project.

Blending art with advocacy, Max has led initiatives such as Sama Kids Day, where children explore creativity to build empathy and global citizenship, and the "60 Signers for the 60th Anniversary" Initiative, a powerful artwork signed by renowned organizations and activists, honoring the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Now central to our annual Human Rights Week, the 60 Signers project also inspired the launch of our #SamaForHumanRights Campaign.

Today, Max’s vision continues to guide our evidence-based advocacy, global campaigns, and partnerships with local organizations to raise awareness, influence policy, and empower marginalized communities. Our goal is to help build inclusive societies where human rights are not abstract ideals, but everyday realities.

What We Do

Purpose

At the MagkaSama Project, we champion human rights and foster understanding through bold advocacy, creative activism, and community-led strategies. We believe that uplifting unheard voices and defending dignity are essential to building just and resilient societies. Learn more about our mission and how we put this belief into action every day.

Impact

Since 2003, we have supported communities affected by conflict, injustice, and marginalization. Our work strengthens local action, elevates grassroots leadership, and helps shape national and international conversations on human rights. When people come together, hope grows stronger and change starts to feel real.

Approach

Working in close collaboration with local organizations, NGOs, and international allies, we respond to human rights crises in conflict-affected regions. Through campaigns, public events, and powerful storytelling, we inform, mobilize, and encourage sustained engagement for change. Discover our partners and supporters who share our commitment to justice and dignity.

Vision

We envision a world where equity and peace are not distant ideals, but lived realities shaped by communities that lead with dignity, resilience, and purpose. Through solidarity, creative activism, and collective action, we work to turn awareness into tangible impact and drive systemic change rooted in justice and shared humanity.

How We Work

Collaborative Spirit

We operate as an independent initiative built on collaboration, bringing together committed volunteers and experienced experts to advance our work. By working across disciplines and borders, we share skills, perspectives, and responsibility to respond thoughtfully and effectively to human rights challenges.

Community

Our volunteers lead both local and global efforts, organizing screenings, moderating forums, and mobilizing support within their communities. Researchers, advocates, and creatives contribute insight shaped by experience and care, helping guide our campaigns, deepen understanding, and strengthen advocacy rooted in real lives and contexts.

Movement

We are growing a decentralized, people-powered movement grounded in shared values and local leadership. By encouraging independent thinking, supporting community-led initiatives, and linking local action with global solidarity, we help sustain participation and build momentum that lasts. Take action today and join us in creating lasting change.

Independence

We accept no government or public funding. Our work is supported through the private commitment of our founder, Max Dana, allowing us to act with independence, remain agile, and stay accountable to the communities we serve. This autonomy enables us to speak plainly, take principled risks, and remain focused on the needs of people affected by conflict, discrimination, and injustice.