how rights holders make change happen
community. Many champions and role models that exemplify empowerment emerged over the course of the programme. Many of them stood as “beacons of light” whose actions
“Rightsholders coming to voice and be- coming activists, role models and agents of change: Many journeys of change start with a spark, a realisation of being seen and judged differently because of an identity or a disability. Yet, other sources reaffirm that you are a human being like any other and that your rights are the same. In many cases the first barrier on the rightsholders’ journeys to self-empower- ment is to overcome self-stigma. Once a person gains greater awareness of their own situation and rights, combined with increased self-esteem
Individual becoming champions, role models, and agents of change is an important milestone, but their journeys towards broader societal changes often requires more than individual agency. In most cases, achieving change around the three impact areas of Voice required collective and continued action of a particular group of rightsholders based on solid ownership and participation by its members. rightsholders were able to shine the way for others to come after them. As such, a first key assumption of Voice was validated: Rightsholders “are ready to work on their own empowerment”. Rightsholders banding together, joining forces and forging alliances
Fortunately, in most cases where rightsholders embraced a leadership role in their communities, this led to the formation of a new group or the strengthening of an existing group of like-minded members. Banding together, joining forces and forging alliances among individual rightsholders emerged as the basis for the influencing activities under the grantee partners’ projects. A second key assumption of Voice was validated: Rightsholders “are willing to influence through sharing experiences and forming new alliances based on aligned values”.
The stories confirm that the rightsholders taking leadership of their journeys towards more responsive and inclusive societies is the way forward. Across all five groups, rightsholders worked together to influence change in their contexts, achieving some of their dreams and moving closer to others. Becoming empowered and speaking up, their actions were in most cases successful in reaching and often influencing the powerholders in society. Thereby, a third key assumption of Voice was validated: Rightsholders “can find and identify role models and allies within government bodies, (other) civil society organisations, and local authorities”.
Many journeys of change start with a spark, a realisation of being seen and judged differently because of an identity or a disability. Yet, other sources reaffirm that you are a human being like any other and that your rights are the same. In many cases the first barrier on the rightsholders’ journeys to self-empowerment is to overcome self-stigma. Once a person gains greater awareness of their own situation and rights, combined with increased self-esteem and confidence, many of them experience a life change of some form. Often accompanied by a growing desire to use what they have learned for the larger benefit of their communities. At these moments, individual leadership trajectories become visible, from empowerment to embracing a leadership role within their
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