promotes interaction among grantees and stakeholders, but also becomes a means of learning for the grantees in conducting their own activities, as evidenced when the COP continued as L&L Pathways during the pandemic. Organizations were able to adapt new ways of conducting awareness activities using online platforms and offline engagements with smaller groups. Amplifying Voices and Technology. Amplifying the voices and stories of the grantees and rightsholder groups using online platforms had its share of challenges such as differing levels of risks, confidentiality, and comfort working with government and different sectors. But pushing the grantees and rightsholders to go online was vital despite limited internet infrastructure, lack of capacities to utilize technology, and preference for personal interactions if the objective of making their stories and advocacies known to the public were to be achieved. This gradually came about and was practiced within the community as observed during the 2020 National Community of Stakeholders Online Marketplace and the 2021 National Summit where interested grantees rallied about their advocacies using the online stage. Establish mechanisms for continuous exchange to ensure the linking and learning activities will not be event-based but a flow of interaction among grantees and stakeholders. This can be prototyped on designing COPs and COS. YGOAL can support by continuously steering the grantees through the platforms they are using and designing linking and learning activities with a mentorship component, for a more stable and long-lasting effect of the initiatives. Other stakeholders and partnerships play a big role in widening the network and amplifying the advocacies of the grantees. Institutional strategic partnerships establish a stronger inter-sectoral collaboration and helps build the foundation towards a sustained community beyond Voice. LINKING AND LEARNING IS INFLUENCING OTHERS TO BE INCLUSIVE AND A SPACE TO IMPROVE Systems, preparations, involvement of other stakeholders such as suppliers, venue management, etc., are equally important to the facilitation process when it comes to establishing an open and safe space. An example would be when one of the venues was emboldened to support the project by providing ramps and signages within their facility to assist persons with disabilities. Other examples to successfully creating inclusive spaces are providing captioners and Filipino sign language interpreters during online activities, and the grantees’ openness to the process themselves.
The ability to empathize is a major characteristic an L&L facilitator must embody. Empathy enables rightsholder- centered processes, helps build a culture of co-creation, empowers grantees and rightsholders groups to be
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