“Young people like me are embarrassed to eat local foods like tubers and corn. We reasoned that if something quick is available, why should we eat the locals’ food? We feel confident eating local food after joining Lakoat because it represents our true identity. We were willing to pay a high price in the past because we were unwilling to eat local food due to the influence of other people’s lifestyles. We are now proud of our food.” NORTH MOLLO YOUTH Radioing gender equality In Niger, Non-Governmental Organisation Cœur Citoyen, organ- ised weekly interactive radio pro- grammes where they invited elected women from the Tahoua region in a bid to encourage young girls to be part of the elected leadership and challenge the societal norms. They highlighted challenges spe- cific to their community and taboo subjects to which they proposed solutions. The participation of men was also encouraged in some of the programmes.
women with disabilities, tested out an ‘art for dialogue’ approach. In collaboration with artist and trainer Nika That, who is the first female blind massage therapist in Cambodia, they organised an art exhibition titled “Close Your Eyes and See: Touch, Smell, Hear, and Feel the World without Sight”. The art exhibition was focused on help- ing the public better understand the struggles of being blind, their needs and to build empathy. It gave blind women their own platform to share their struggles with key stakeholders and the public, engaging over 100 people and being spotlighted in the local news, Khmer Times “I am the first female blind massage therapist in Cambodia. I experienced multiple barriers growing up as a blind girl and continued to face the obstacles as a blind woman. I dream that all of us are given the opportunity for employment, social engagement and communication. I want everyone to value and recognise our abilities more than our disabilities.” NIKA TATH, TRAINER AND CO-ARTIST FOR THE EXHIBITION “CLOSE YOUR EYES”.
Wading into the ocean with a gen- der-equal agenda In Tanzania, Aqua-Farms produced a documentary on coastal commu- nities as part of the Bahari Yetu (Our Ocean) project. The project sought to break the silence on societal, cultural and religious barriers to women’s participation in the fisher- ies industry. To further amplify their work, Aqua-Firms Organisation car- ried out an art campaign where they painted 40 fishing boats with coastal Swahili proverbs. These proverbs were collected from the community to address socio-cultural and reli- gious barriers and negative concepts about feminism. The campaign aimed to increase male and female fisheries workers’ participation, collaboration, and understanding so that both genders can work towards one common agenda, inclusion. Voice grantee partners are using a range of innovative, cultural and artistic methods to take their mes- sages for equality and inclusion into the wider community. The creativity and specificity of each initiative highlighted above speaks to the vitality of rightsholders groups and social movements everywhere in an increasingly repressive context.
Amplify
The local artists and Buyuni women group out to the sea to collect materials for ocean art in Tanzania
110 (Informal) groups, organisa- tions and networks have built diverse alliances, initiating an agenda to amplify rightsholders’ voic- esideas and experiences 1093 publica- tions linked to am- 202 online and offline campaign- ing activities undertaken plification (blogs, articles, videos etc.)
To Amplify: The process of acquiring the means and support to express and raise your voice.
The forceful and rampant attacks on civic space around the globe including the Voice focus countries most significantly impacted the work of rightsholders and grantee partners on amplification. However, the exam- ples below illustrate that they have overcome these challenges with vibrancy and creativity, often focusing their efforts on the nearest sphere of influence— their immediate communities and those in their localities. Rediscovering local food, conserving in- digenous culture In Indonesia, Lakoat Kujawas, together with Bapak, Mama, and Indigenous elders, organised a festival called Festival Kecil Musim Panen (Small Harvest Festival) that sought to recognise the importance of retracing their nearly extinct agricultural and food culture. The festival allowed the community to document their cultural her- itage and pass on indigenous knowledge to the youth. They learnt about the Mollo indigenous elders’ agri- cultural and cultural practices and traditional arts and worked together to celebrate the arrival of the harvest season in the community.
Art for dialogue
Women Peace Makers in Cambodia who are working on an intersection- al agenda with women from indige- nous groups and ethnic minorities, women youth, LGBTI persons and
Nika That, first female blind massage therapist in Cambodia.
Exhibition visitors posing with signs calling for greater dis- ability inclusion in Cambodia
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