It was very helpful and inspiring to know more about the works and future plans of other feminist groups. There were some proposals after reading which we knew so many new things about different issues in some regions that we have not evWhen groups were asked which criteria they applied for the selection process, several of them said that they were guided by the connection they felt with the projects presented and decided based on what they considered to be the most critical needs in their context. The majority of groups expressed that they voted for underrepresented issues, for groups using innovative approaches, as well for those that they considered to be less likely to be funded. A few groups also shared that they selected some proposals based in their own country because they felt they could more accurately understand and assess their relevance.
As part of the voting process, groups explain their selections. In the voting section, they can address any concerns or questions they have about the groups. In their comments, groups justify their vote by providing contextual analyses and deep reflections on the way they understood the value of – or resonated with – the vision of the proposals they voted for.en heard before.
Below are some examples of comments explaining why groups voted for their peers and endorsed them to receive funding:
The first thing in the proposal that stuck in our minds is this sentence: 'after being involved in activism and after having suffered from anxiety, depression and burn out, experienced on our skins how detrimental being in a constant fighting mode can be. We want to help other younger activists to avoid the same path’. We share the same feelings. Formulation of this kind of alternative and enabling space is very needed in the context like ours (regional). And we see this group as our peer in the neighbouring country, that we would like to cooperate, share experiences etc.
My reasons for supporting this group are as follows:
- Very timely approach in the area of peace building and family laws which are sometimes overlooked. Focusing on muslim women's personal stories would bring out the real picture and context from the targeted regions /places. And these stories could be a string foundation for future interventions on the issue. Also, it is good that they are planning to build the capacity to enable them to channelize their learnings with others in their communities. Some of the approaches are also seems innovative i.e. breaking fast event.
CEO
As a group honestly at first we were sceptical because It was hard for us to wrap our heads around food being used as a teaching tool to shift attitudes because it is unprecedented. like Never! Ever! Nowhere on planet earth in the history of intersectional feminism has this ever been done. Half way through their proposal we were sold and convinced beyond any reasonable doubts. I personally read their proposal 7 times and the more I read it, the more it reeked of so much potential. If the three-day immersive dining experience is well documented, the group can sell broadcasting rights to South African TV stations from SABC to multi-choice and Netflix! honestly the sky is limit which will in turn mean revenue for the group.
They are the new kids on the block and we think they should be given a chance to effect change in their lives as well as the communities they represent particularly looking at the fact that Zambia is one of the countries that still uphold colonial patriarchy driven anti-LGBT laws and they will need all the help they can get because they will operate for a while being unregistered and that on its own is hard fund. Reading through their proposal summary reminded us of when our group was just a few months old; we were sick and tired of systematic-identity driven oppressions that we decided to do something about it, to the point where we had so many projects we wanted to launch all at once! We were that determined. The truth is, we all have a starting point and we hope that theirs is through this grant. If they are successful (fingers crossed) as FRIDA you can maybe advise them on one specific project they would start-up with in order to gain momentum and collaborate with other groups, because movement building as a new group is so crucial to the group's survival both financially and social support wise.
Creemos que este proyecto apoyará a la visibilización de grupo LGBTIQ campesinos, históricamente olvidados incluso dentro de las luchas de género, estas luchas son normalmente urbanas, dejando de lado a un segmento importante. La propuesta de generar empoderamiento LGBTIQ en grupos rurales es necesaria. Es un proyecto nuevo, con planteamientos importantes. Podría ser un ejemplo para otros países con grandes poblaciones indígenas y campesinas. Al ser una organización campesina rural es posible que tengan menor acceso a fondos como este. El proyecto tiene acciones concisas que podrían generar un gran impacto en la localidad.
Their rural approach of working with women from the rural areas is very much commendable as LBQ women from the rural areas are not only prone to abuses but they are likely to lack the basic knowledge about their human rights and have been excluded from interventions for the longest time. Gender based violence is a sore issue across the continent and whenever there is an opportunity or space to address its effects, it must definitely be attended to in order to lessen the occurrence of incidences. More so, there is very little that has been done to deal with LBQT experiences specifically tailor made to give them the safety and comfort they may need. This group could, from its success be a learning opportunity for the rest of us. It’s good that they want to instill Feminism values and principles in their work. Their use of Arts and sports for advocacy is a creative approach and provides a recreational and therapeutic space for those in the community that don’t necessarily like formal workshop training spaces to learn through something they enjoy at their leisure. The inclusion of Intersex people in this project is appreciated as it has been an issue that they feel excluded even within the LGBTI movement, so this is a good step toward the right direction. Further it is good that they not only will just have activities and move on to the next but will conduct data collection and analysis for a baseline which will inform future needs.
Self-care is a political act, but in mainstream media it is often packaged as skin-care and binge-watching Netflix. As this group has members identifying at the intersection of Dalit, Muslim, Queer and other historically oppressed identities, we believe they have the potential to identify and amplify ways of self-care that are not just focused on self-preservation but also promote community support and public health (they have also mentioned SRHR as part of their approach) at large. There have been many acts of marginalization, especially in the recent past, committed against people hailing from other parts of the country living in the national capital region (NCR). They have been targeted by racism, Islamophobia and homophobia as well – an intersectional movement in the NCR led by young folx would certainly help build a safe space.
We want to support Poland with its fight for LGBT+ rights any way possible. It seems like this group is extremely motivated, very active and very determined to reach all the nooks and crannies in Poland. As there is a huge leap backward in Poland in terms of ''LGBT free zones'', it is especially important that such groups are willing to travel and not to focus their work only in the capital.
We think this project should be selected because taking into consideration the challenges of communities in Somalia especially younger feminist activists within a very conservative and patriarchal structure-driven communities and religious fundamentalism, this project is a sparkling hope for younger activists and the communities in daring breaking the status quo around rights, dignity, safety, participation and full realization of humanity. The project also is building its core values and actions within Somalian positive rooted practises that enhance younger feminists’ generation growth in activism journey owned in their culture and identity.
As an LGBTIQ+ group ourselves, we would like to show solidarity with other queer groups in our region. We understand how difficult it is to not register your organisation as lgbtiq+ group but also difficult otherwise - in the end you have to find a grey area where you actually don't break any law but keep doing it instead. This group really need help setting up or else they will be burnout and die.
The reasons to select them 1) They seem to work for very very underprivileged group of Pakistan. 2) They have also done free delivery service of menstrual hygiene product during COVID-19. So, they seem to be active even during these difficult times. Our vote would not go to waste if such hardworking people got selected.
