Meta’s Story of Change from Laos: “Endelss passion for development work” (Part 3/3)
Rightsholders ready to shine on
Sixteen years ago, after graduating from university, Metta, a transgender woman, joined CHIAs. At CHIAs she found a workplace whose values align with her ideal aims for the LGBTI community in Laos. She helped to manage several projects through the years, including a Voice grant. All have enabled her to be challenged, to improve her capacities, and most importantly, it has allowed her to engage directly with the LGBTI community and assist those who face discrimination. From a very young age, Metta intended to prove to Lao society that her abilities should not be restricted or hindered by how she dresses or appears. Metta took the position of provincial coordinator for the Voice project in Champasack province, and her skills and experiences have greatly aided her in leading and contributing to Voice projects in recent years. “Voice has given me the privilege of leading LGBTI colleagues and rightsholders utilising my years of expertise. Every day, I am driven because I know I will get up to listen to, assist, and support people in need since, as someone who has been discriminated against and been marginalised by society, I understand how they may feel right now.”
The major turning point in life for Paterno was during the Voice@5 Stage Performance. She was the opening act. In the build up to the day she was feeling nervous about the opportunity. However, she faced her fears. Working with the curators and mentors in preparation for the event helped her discover her own strength. When she got on stage her level of confidence surprised even herself. The performance was a great leap for her and since then, there has been no turning back. Since then, she has been performing at very important functions and to cap it all she gets paid. “Today, I currently serve as a member of the International Youth Advisory Committee for the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I make a living doing what! love.” Palemo’s Story of Change from Nigeria: “creative youth booth camp” (Part 3/3)
As the rightsholders move along and across the three pathways of change on their individual journeys, their narratives are both individual and shared stories that show how they improved their lives based on becoming empowered, banding together, and influencing others around them. Moreover, seeing the rightsholders Voice serves taking ownership over the “Coming to Voice”, “Leave No One Behind” and “Nothing About Us Without Us” is an important milestone to create a sustainable basis for further change, beyond the lifetime of the programme. However, not all obstacles for different rightsholder groups have been lifted and many more rightsholder groups need and deserve similar support. As such, the changes referred to here, illustrate what rightsholders have been able to achieve, but also remind us that the journey towards change continues!
When children presented songs, poems and drama play with messages on the benefits of education, especially for girls and children with disabilities, she was driven to tears. “Seeing my daughter on stage making wonderful performance was like a dream, tears fell from my eyes with the message she was portraying and the actions she was doing ... from that day I saw a new talent I had never seen in her.” That day Nabatanzi went home with so many beautiful memories of her daughter winning the sub-county and district-based participatory theatre competitions which signalled a new beginning for her daughter to experience new things in her life. With her daughter on a full scholarship, Nabatanzi’s burden got lighter since she now only needs to support the four remaining siblings. “Yes, I may be poor, but I see a bright future for my daughter, she wants to be a doctor and I believe she will be... nothing in this world is impossible as long as you keep faith and courage.”
Ardi’s Story of Change from Indonesia: “Youth embrace farming” (Part 3/3)
The local administration has changed its attitude towards the youth and now accords them greater recognition. Before getting involved in the “Let’s Be Young Farmers” programme, almost all young participants had never been invited to attend village meetings, but this has changed. Now, the village government invites the youth to some relevant meetings. This has provided them with opportunities to get involved in decision making processes in the village. Hopefully, this will open other avenues for social and political engagement. Ardi concluded by saying about the programme, “think this activity is very helpful to motivate young people to be young farmers.”
Nana’s Story of Change from Niger: “On the road to power” (Part 3/3)
“It was during the training on the texts governing the participation of women in political life and the electoral process provided by the NGO Leadership Challenge, that! learned that the texts provided for a percentage for the participation of people like me who cannot read or write. From then on, I made a commitment to fight for my political and civic ambitions.” With the training and information, she has received from the NGO “Leadership Challenge”, Nana has now realised that nothing is impossible for her politically and, above all, that she herself is the instrument of change that concerns her.
Nabatanzi’s Story of Change from Uganda: “Vulnerable mother sees light at the end of the tunnel” (Part 3/3)
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