HerstoryGrows – The seeds we plant grow roots
“For me, the change begins when we begin to love ourselves, to be strong, to be independent”, the words of Liliana resonate all the way from Colombia to the rest of the world.
Awareness is like a pair of new glasses you cannot take off, once we see new possibilities, there is no turning back, we will never choose oppression once we have known liberation. The story of Liliana, a farmer in Colombia, shows exactly this. By being exposed to ideas that challenged gender norms and society that her land and her rights could be used in different, more just ways, Liliana’s vision changed.
They say if you want to hear the stories of the world, ask a woman. From the Philippines to Nigeria, Nepal to Togo, Uganda to Colombia, the women and men of Women2030 program came together to give us a glimpse into their world and how they are challenging injustices and gender inequality.
In order to build a movement, we must learn and connect with each other. The gender justice movement today is characterised by intersectionality, it is a fundamental part of the evolution of the radical change that feminism wants to bring. Here, we meet different people with different characters, speaking different languages, coming together, bringing their seeds and building a forest.
We are excited to share with you the booklet of the Women2030 program evaluation in partnership with Recrear “The Seeds We Plant Grow Roots, A Booklet of Impact Stories”.
The Women2030 program involved more than 1,300 women’s rights and feminist organisations in more than 40 countries and reached over 40,000 people from all over the world who benefited from capacity building initiatives, and 120 million through the media. All came together to challenge injustices and inequalities and raise their voices through three main impact areas: capacities built, policies improved, and mindsets changed.
The seeds that were planted in the program are rooting, and in this booklet we can see how they grow and enrich the dialogue between organisations working towards gender justice across the globe.
The participatory storytelling evaluation was designed to celebrate this growing network. It showcases the impact of the program through alternative lenses. Storytelling enabled us to give visibility to the people who were engaged in the process and drove it. It portrays the tangible solutions and the impacts they made through the inherent humanity of sharing experience.
This storytelling journey puts human faces behind the numbers, and helps people to connect to each other. Step into the world of each protagonist, each story shows the impact that investment and resources can create. See the impact of Women2030 in this uniquely creative way so that you can engage with the successes of our program more intimately.
The protagonists shape the narrative, while building capacities to tell their stories. By listening and sharing many stories, patterns are discerned and an inspiring connection is made between the whole world, with the common goal of eradicating patriarchal structures and achieving true equality.
Enjoy!