PARTNER
Deaf Women Included
“Our experience with [this project] has been overwhelming in the sense that the girls now show an appreciation of themselves in the way they talk when interacting with diverse people including their peers…They are now more open and willing to reach their full potential in life and attain goals they have set. DWI has had a tremendous experience with [this] program.
The photos [from this project] have gone viral….At school when teachers are focusing on careers they request use of the photos as the children can relate to them very well. We also revisit them constantly with the girls to remind them that this is your cornerstone and your dream and you can work towards achieving it. The photos have given the girls a sense of self-worth as reported by their parents even at home. They now see themselves in a different light.”
Challenge
Adolescent girls at the intersections of age, race, poverty, gender, and living with disabilities face higher levels of violence, severe discrimination and resulting lower self-esteem, and limited access to education, health care, or economic opportunities. Deaf Women Included wanted a bold way to demonstrate the power and potential of girls living with disabilities - first and foremost for girls themselves, as well as, for their families, communities, and policymakers.
RC's Response
We worked with DWI to design a program, based on the Vision Not Victim model, to support deaf and differently-abled girls in Zimbabwe to grow in their own power, and grow in their roles as advocates for themselves and activists in their communities. This project celebrated the choices, ideas, and stories of deaf and differently-abled girls, and promoted life skills, mentorship, tools to support their own safety and health, and collaborative media to transform how they are seen and valued by their families, community, and country.
Our team worked with DWI to craft girls’ images and messaging into powerful visual tools to support the organization’s national level advocacy work for equitable rights and access for differently-abled people.
Impact
Through this project, 25 deaf and differently-abled girls participated in a creative process, learning critical life skills and information about their rights and possibilities for the future. Their parents, local leaders, and local businesses learned about the challenges facing deaf and differently-abled girls, as well as their power, potential, and aspirations for the future. Deaf Women Included utilized images co-created with girls to further their advocacy priorities on the local and national level, and has trained trainers to engage deaf and differently-abled girls with this program.
