lens among the participants. We made efforts to co-create spaces that could allow for different causes, advocacies, and perspectives to come together, maybe share friction every now and then, but at the core remain empathetic and open. In Mali, art and music have shown to be connecting features. From festivals and creative sessions, like the Festival Handi-Capable to collaborations between young slammers and artists and youth with psychosocial and intellectual disabilities, the creative possibilities have been endless. A Miss and Mister Albino election brought many grantee partners together, as did the first festival of and by little people, creating an opportunity to meet them. Several events were organised bringing all grantee partners and rightsholders together to share their causes and show their abilities with each other and with a wider public. For instance, during the Advisory Board visit to Mali. Actions that unleashed creativity, created connections, and built on the power of Malian music and culture.
The core, however, is the learning curve for Voice itself when it comes to applying intersectionality and seeking to enhance inclusion in our own ways of working. Following the first annual Linking and Learning event in Indonesia, for instance, there was a reflection about how energisers requiring active movement or attention to music could exclude certain participants. We learned there is always room to do better in the journey to an inclusive world, and that intentionality is the key. Open spaces One might ask what is movement-building without intersectionality? Even though the vulnerability might be caused by different factors, the systems of oppression causing discrimination and marginalisation often have common roots and power. As a result, we as facilitators had to become more intentional about the activities and methodologies used. We learned to facilitate open and enabling spaces where all could mingle, listen, and learn, fostering an intersectional
Joining forces
Especially during the latter part of the first five years, we saw the ripple effect of the growing awareness of intersectionality and joining forces. For instance, the synergy between two Philippine grantee partners: 1) the University of the Philippines (UP) Babaylan, a LGBTI student organisation advocating for a system-wide anti-discrimination policy; and 2) the Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation, Inc., (LCDPFI) an organisation of people with disabilities who worked on an influencing project towards the economic empowerment of persons with disability. Through engagements in Linking and Learning spaces, UP Babaylan reflected how they can be more inclusive in their initiatives. They realised they needed to take steps to better include other community members who are facing other layers of exclusion, such as having a disability. Hence, they connected with LCDPFI and requested for disability sensitivity training. Motivated further by the experience, UP Babaylan created infographics that raise
Figure 18: Rightsholders perform at the inaugural Festi-Handicapable in Mali
awareness around disability, especially amidst the pandemic. “Voice L&L is an opportunity to unlearn, learn and relearn from other people (fellow grantees and rightsholders group). There is so much to learn and appreciate from other people. lntersectionality is very important.” - Maureen Mata - LCDPFI Another example is tackling the under recognised issue of ageing LGBTI persons. A collaboration between the Coalition of Services of the Elderly (COSE), an Influencing grantee partner in the Philippines who are working to ensure the rights of the elderly to social services, and Gayon Albay LGBT Advocacy Group, Inc., a grassroots organisation that continues to empower informal LGBTI groups in taking their space in local decision-making processes. Through a roundtable discussion, the two organisations came up with priority steps that need to be taken in order to increase the visibility of ageing LGBTI individuals and their needs.
Kim, a transman from Tanzania shared the following thoughts after his participation in a Voice Knowledge Exchange:
“Our source of empowerment lies in our capacity to see beyond our advocacy. Intersectionality became a major part of our Linking and Learning Journey. Our nourishment and growth go beyond our own personal advocacy.”
“From the learning experience now, I can purposely identify barriers and opportunities when it comes to being self-led and trying to influence change regardless of your fight. Being in a group that decided to focus on early marriages and pregnancies, as one of the group members works around those issues in real life, was eye-opening for me. This is because before I would never have taken the time to really reflect on other forms of discrimination in society because I was so focused on mine. Thanks to Voice, I can now understand how it feels to wear someone’s shoes (building empathy).”
Timothy Salomon, BUKLURAN (Philippines Grantee Partner)
Figure19: Sample infographic developed by UP Babaylan and Leonard Cheshire Disability Philippines Foundation Inc.
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