Breaking through exclusion and onward to self-advocacy
“When we set out for this Knowledge Exchange, I must confess, I perceived it as yet another Voice Linking and Learning event. One in which teams would come together, carry out the ‘usual’ conversations; although admittedly nothing is ever Just usual’ with Voice, and then go home. Even as we brainstormed and put down the questions to explore in the exchange, it
never occurred to me how powerful this topic would turn out to be. “Influencing unbound: the ingredients of self-led influencing!”
The different Linking and Learning spaces have also been conducive to the emergence of some amazing self-advocates. Morgan Maze’s story is one of the gems that shone brightly throughout Voice’s first phase. Morgan is a young man with down syndrome. He started exploring his potentials through an Empowerment project in Indonesia called ‘Let’s Speak Up!’ implemented by Yapesdi. From a project participant, Morgan bloomed into an international advocate, showing the world that youth with down syndrome CAN speak up and have various fantastic capabilities that can contribute to youth empowerment. Morgan continues to shine together with his peers as Let’s Speak Up continues as an Empowerment Accelerator grantee partner.
“Before the project, I never understood that I had rights, that women of my gender could claim to marry people considered noble. Today, we know of cases of black women married to marabouts of light race. This is my case. Our wedding was celebrated in 2019. Many people around me did not believe in it, but I felt reassured because I know that I am human like any other woman without distinction of status. I give love and tenderness to my husband. He too has always valued me, to his brothers who hiss in his ear that he is marrying a low-class woman, he demands that they give him proof to the contrary that the blood that circulates in the veins of a light-coloured woman has a different colour from that which circulates in the body of his wife!” Rahmou Harouna, member of the Ley mou Tillaberi group
This exploration was followed by the Knowledge Exchange Indigenous Women Rising, around the question what makes Indigenous women persist and lead in their struggle. Simply put, the slogan: “We persist because we exist”. In 2019, these were followed by the second Inclusion Innovation lndaba focusing on empowerment linked to influencing: Finding our Voice and an amazing knowledge exchange with participants from both Asia and Africa on the strength of self-led influencing.
innovate and learn grantee partners from Indonesia, the Philippines, and Niger. After a period of major adjustment to COVID-19, the community continued to learn together, and the online space was maximised towards this. Indonesia spearheaded the exchange as they noticed an emerging trend around intergenerational farming and the need for increased engagement and recognition of youth and women. The knowledge exchange ‘from Asia to Africa’ revolved around intergenerational transfer of knowledge in agricultural processes and increasing the visibility of women farmers. Common to all organisations was the low participation of young women in their programmes, while they recognise women’s participation in is important, and making their voices heard is an important step to meaningful participation. They bundled ideas and identified a set of actions. From increasing awarenessandknowledgeonagriculturaltechniques, providing opportunities for women to access land, to women’s involvement in agricultural processes. Lastly, a mentoring system between the older and younger women to motivate the younger ones to learn and engage. pandemic interrupted the series of in-person events. One of the challenges Voice has faced since the onset of the pandemic has been around re-creating the vibrancy and safety of the global events in a virtual setting. Unfortunately, the COVID-19
The COVID-19 effect: Undiscovered agility, empathy, innovation, and connectedness
It cannot be emphasised enough how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our ways of working. This global crisis proved to be catastrophic for the rightsholder groups supported by Voice. It has exacerbated the existing exclusion the rightsholder groups were attempting to break. As interactions migrated online, it challenged the ability of Voice to sustain engagement while keeping its ‘community members’ well-being in check. At the same time, however, we have observed an increase in connection among grantee partners and Voice despite the physical distance. We have also seen a push
for innovation, particularly in the significant shift towards digital platforms, tools, and approaches. More importantly, it has led Voice to go for further consultation, empathy and mindfulness toward the rightsholder communities. In some way, grantee partners have become more appreciative of the added value of linking and learning with other organisations, they have become more visible to each other. It has created another space for the rightsholders, grantee partners, and Voice to do business unusual-to let go of the fear of not being in control or not being structured, the fear of trying out new things.
Figure 22: Advocacy poster on land right. Photo Courtesy: KAISAHAN Facebook page
As Nyambura Gathumbi Voice Linking and Learning Officer and Programme Manager, Hivos East Africa put it so beautifully after the event: While these multi-country knowledge exchanges were organised as part of the global learning agenda, several other cross-country initiatives took place. One example is the knowledge exchange that transpired among selected
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