Social Inclusion Heroes Competition 2018 Ten stories of great people serving their communities 03.Foreword by Diariétou Gaye and Maninder S. Gill 04.Highlights from the winner’s stay in Washington DC 05.Breaking the Mold for Refugees: Founding the Tumaini Festival in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi Tresor Mpauni, Malawi (winner) 06.Protéger les jeunes de la délinquance en les intéressant aux nouvelles technologies grâce au Baby Lab Guiako Obin, Côte d’Ivoire (finaliste) 07.Art et culture pour le développement social Mimo – Iverson Madjimbe, Tchad (finaliste) 08.Changer le regard sur les ex-enfants soldats. Joseph Tsongo, République démocratique du Congo (finaliste) 09.Using Innovative It Tools To Improve Mental Healthcare In Ghana Dr. Atsu Latey, Ghana (finalist) 10.Out of The Streets : building hope for street children Contents Vinesenciah Gisore, Kenya (finalist) 11.Il n’y a pas des destins forclos ... Mbolatiana Raveloarimisa, Madagascar (finaliste) 12.From the street to class into entrepreneurs : the story of the skilled women vendors Esther Namboka, Uganda (finalist) 13.The Gift of Circus in Zambia / Gift Chansa, Zambia (finalist) 14.Vocational Skills Certification For Inmates In Zimbabwe Margret Damba, Zimbabwe (finalist) 15.Tumaini Festival 16.Social Inclusion Heroes Competition 2018 DISCLAIMER This material has not undergone the review accorded to official World Bank publications. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of The World Bank or the governments they represent. Africa Region Communications & Partnerships Unit (AFREC) – June 2019 FOREWORD Promoting social inclusion and reducing inequality is an who constantly dedicate their time, energy and resources essential part of our work in the Africa region. Beyond the to tackling these issues are, in our eyes, social inclusion moral imperative to sustain this commitment, history has heroes. They don’t stop at showing empathy. For these taught us that exclusion, if left unaddressed, unravels hard unsung heroes, it is equally important to find solutions won gains in poverty reduction, peace, and stability. to exclusion. The fact that they do so selflessly and relentlessly in tough environments makes them role In many African countries, as in many other parts of models not only for their immediate communities, but for the world, specific groups can be targeted and unfairly the entire African continent. excluded based on perceptions around disabilities, refugee status, gender, ethnicity, HIV, criminal history, and cultural One year ago, the World Bank’s Africa Region and norms. For example, albinos are ostracized, mistreated and Social Development teams launched a competition to sometimes even killed in several countries. In some places, identify Social Inclusion Heroes in Sub-Saharan Africa. having twins is considered a curse, and many families will The aim was to hear from individuals and civil society abandon them. Too often there are no structures in place to organizations undertaking life-changing work for the support people living with physical or mental disabilities, most vulnerable people in their communities. Out of 400 and they are left behind. submissions, ten finalists were selected as part of the first Living, much less thriving, under these circumstances can ever World Bank Social Inclusion Heroes cohort. be very challenging for those affected, as exclusion is often enshrined in social and economic norms and traditions. This brochure presents the incredible stories of our ten But there are also countless stories that show the ability Social Inclusion Heroes. We hope you are as inspired and of individuals and societies to evolve past these norms, moved as we are. May their example spur more and more starting with advocates and courageous allies who work social inclusion heroes to serve our communities today, hard to change hearts, minds, and behavior. The people and in the future. Diarietou Gaye Maninder S. Gill Director, Strategy and Operations Director, Social Development The World Bank, Africa Region The World Bank Group Highlights from the winner’s stay in Washington DC The Social Inclusion Hero 2018, Tresor Mpauni “Menes la Plume”, was invited to attend the World Bank / Internatioal Monetary Fund Spring Meetings in April 2019. He received his award from Sheila Redzepi, the World Bank Group Vice President for External and Corporate Relations, accompanied by Kafu Kofi Tsikata, the competition final jury’s chairman Mpauni had an opportunity to perform as an artist before the State of He was greeted the Africa Region, by the Somali Prime the most important Minister Hassan event organized by Ali Khayre the Africa Region during the Spring Meetings He met with Maninder S. Gill, the World Bank Group Director He also participated for Social in a panel discussion Development with the Blog4Dev 2019 competition winners on the following topic: “How can creative industry help to tackle fragility”? WINNER FOCUS : REFUGEES P.5 Breaking the Mold for Refugees: Founding the Tumaini Festival in Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi Tresor Mpauni, Malawi Also known by his artist name “Menes la Plume,” Tresor Mpauni lives in Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. He is the founder of the Tumaini Festival in this camp. Mpauni was designated the World Bank Africa Region’s Social Inclusion Hero 2018. He was invited to Washington D.C. in April 2019, and received his award from Sheila Redzepi, the World Bank Vice-President for External and Corporate Relations. Today, the Tumaini Festival is an extraordinary example of a large-scale cultural event within a refugee camp. Across the four previous editions, over 24,000 people have attended the festival, with 153 acts from across Malawi, Africa and When I attempted to use words and ideas through music and poetry to open the world, sharing the same stages with performers from Dzaleka. Tumaini the eyes of people in my country, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Festival has united performers of 12 nationalities, including DRC, Rwanda, I got in serious trouble. I had to flee and find refuge in Malawi. Arriving in Burundi, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Belgium, UK, Italy, Japan, Brazil, and Malawi, I was told by the immigration officer that I could not stay in the South Korea. Past guests include some of Malawi’s biggest musical stars, such as capital city, Lilongwe. I was taken to Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Lawi, Faith Mussa and Tay Grin, alongside cultural performers from the camp Dzaleka is a Chichewa word meaning “I will never try again.” It was once such as the renowned Amahoro Drummers. the worst prison in Malawi. Dzaleka is the only permanent refugee camp The festival has attracted national and international media coverage, reaching in Malawi, with a population of approximately 30,000 refugees and asylum an estimated 40,000,000 people worldwide, presenting a genuinely different seekers from the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, Ethiopia, and other and positive story about refugees. Tumaini Festival has become a community countries. celebration that residents of Dzaleka view as their own event, which they look forward to each year. In Dzaleka, everything was different from the life I once knew. I experienced for the first time not having a place to sleep. I was given a room to The Tumaini Festival sleep in with 13 other people. is an extraordinary There were no opportunities. example of a large-scale Refugees face immense cultural event within a limitations in Malawi – they refugee camp. cannot work; they cannot go to Malawian public school and universities; they require permission to travel outside the camp. It is such a waste of talent in Malawi. I grew depressed and saw many The festival also brings economic growth and tourism to the camp and people around me similarly depressed, losing their hope and dreams. surrounding villages. In preparation, the festival employs builders, carpenters I thought I was going to die. But I survived. After surviving for six months, and tailors from the camp. During the festival, refugees set up bars, food stalls, I decided to start living again. and sells their crafts and other goods to the more than 10,000 visitors that stream into the camp. In DRC, I had been a touring hip-hop artist, writer and slam poet. I reawakened this part of myself and started building connections inside Today I continue my work as a performer, multi-lingual poet, and advocate for and outside the camp. In 2012, I founded Tumaini Letu in Dzaleka, refugee rights and peace in Africa, performing at the largest events and venues a Swahili phrase meaning “Our Hope,” with a mission to promote across Malawi. As a motivational speaker, I share my message to students cultural exchange among refugees and Malawians and to use the power in schools and universities in Malawi and with the broader public through of words, music and culture to raise awareness about issues facing refugees. organized platforms such as TEDxLilongwe. In 2015, I released my debut poetry album ‘Far from Home’, sharing my experiences as a refugee. The story of the In November 2014, I founded Dzaleka’s first arts and cultural festival, the album’s making is featured on Al-Jazeera’s ‘Witness’ documentary series. Tumaini Festival, which is now the flagship program of Tumaini Letu. The It is my hope that through Tumaini, and by continuing to spread my story festival is an innovative cultural event, developed and delivered by refugees around the world, I will be able to share the voices of the voiceless, promote a and the host community, which uses entertainment and artistic expression positive message of resilience, and be a role model for the next generation of to promote economic empowerment, intercultural harmony, mutual activists in Africa. understanding and peaceful co-existence. P.6 FOCUS : ENFANTS ET JEUNES VULNÉRABLES FINALIST FINALISTE Protéger les jeunes de la délinquance en les intéressant aux nouvelles technologies grâce au Baby Lab Guiako Obin, Côte d’Ivoire Informaticien de formation, ayant travaillé durant quatre ans (2011 à 2015) dans le domaine de la géolocalisation (suivi temps réel de tout engin mobile par le réseau GPS). En 2014, j’ai découvert le concept de Fab Lab (Laboratoire de Fabrication) Je représente la Côte d’Ivoire au programme scientifique africain Next sur internet à travers le cours massif ouvert en ligne “Fabrication numérique” Einstein Forum (NEF), une initiative de l’Institut Africain des Sciences et proposé par l’Institut Mines et Télécoms de France. Plusieurs recherches menées des Mathématiques dont le siège est basé à Kigali, et qui vise à promouvoir m’ont permis de comprendre ce concept d’innovation sociale et d’économie l’innovation scientifique et technologique africaine à l’échelle mondiale. collaborative afin de l’adapter au contexte africain et particulièrement ivoirien. Je suis conférencier international auprès de diverses organisations pour Avec une dizaine d’amis pour la plupart informaticiens, j’ai alors fondé sur la propulser nos initiatives locales à l’international et être plus représentatif terrasse de ma cour familiale le Baby Lab, premier Fab Lab ivoirien avec la vision en tant qu’africain. de faire des quartiers populaires de potentiels pôles d’innovation technologique. Lauréat de plusieurs prix et reconnaissances, j’ai été classé 1er Le Baby Lab est installé expressément dans la commune dans la catégorie « Appui à l’entrepreneuriat » des Prix Jeunesse d’Abobo, une des plus populaires de la sous-région ouest J’ai la mission de Francophonie 3535 faisant partie des projets d’innovation des africaine, mais qui a également très mauvaise réputation développer dans moins de 35 ans qui font bouger l’espace francophone. Le Baby dans les domaines du grand banditisme, de l’incivisme, et du niveau de pauvreté assez élevé. Un Fab Lab étant plusieurs pays Lab a gagné la confiance de l’OIF (Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie) qui le sélectionne dans son programme un lieu d’innovation sociale ouvert à tous, de démocratie africains un réseau africain de renforcement des espaces d’innovation et participative, d’intelligence collective, d’entrepreneuriat, de de femmes porteuses incubateurs pour soutenir l’entrepreneuriat sur le continent. promotion de la science et la technologie par excellence, le d’initiatives à avoir Le soutien de l’OIF nous permet désormais de diversifier rôle du Baby Lab dans la commune populaire d’Abobo est de un complément nos cibles et impliquer plus de jeunes femmes et hommes en permettre à ce que les enfants et les jeunes se maintiennent situation d’insertion. J’ai été reconnu par le gouvernement à l’abri des phénomènes récurrent de ces quartiers tels que de revenu par le ivoirien qui m’a décerné le Prix National d’Excellence 2017 de la délinquance, tout en les aidant à construire des carrières télétravail pour la Meilleure Initiative Numérique Jeune lors de la célébration dans la science et la technologie. développer leurs de la fête nationale des indépendances du pays. J’ai participé activités en septembre 2017 au séminaire de recherche sur l’avenir des Depuis 2014, le Baby Lab a pu toucher un peu plus de 200 Fab Lab en Afrique avec l’Agence Française de Développement enfants de 8 à 15 ans qui ont été formé à la robotique, à (AFD) et l’Université Paris 13. l’électronique et au code informatique (langue du 21e siècle) à travers notre programme Kid Lab. Programme soutenu par l’ONG En tant que Vice Président Afrique chez Isahit, une société française française Bibliothèques Sans Frontières. Plus de 30 ateliers participatifs spécialisée dans le travail numérique destiné majoritairement aux jeunes avec les jeunes et enfants de la commune populaire d’Abobo ont été réalisés filles et femmes sur le continent africain, j’ai la mission de développer autour de l’économie circulaire (recyclage de déchets informatiques, palettes dans plusieurs pays africains (anglophones et francophones) un réseau de bois …), l’entrepreneuriat social, l’open source et les logiciels libres pour de femmes porteuses d’initiatives à avoir un complément de revenu par le fonder les bases de démarrage de projets d’entreprise sans grands moyens. télétravail pour développer leurs activités (financer son projet, reprendre les études, mettre son enfants à l’école …) et être autonome. Depuis décembre 2016, on compte environ un millier de jeunes filles et femmes en Afrique qui télétravaillent chez Isahit dans les pays suivants: Côte d’Ivoire, Bénin, Burkina Faso, Sénégal, République Démocratique du Congo, Cameroun. Enfin je coordonne présentement le programme pilote ‘’Employabilité et Inclusion sociale par numérique’’ de l’UNICEF dans 3 localités de la Côte d’Ivoire (Abobo, Bouna et Agboville). C’est un programme de 12 mois de formation au numérique et de mentoring pour favoriser l’employabilité d’un millier de jeunes de 16 à 24 ans. Cette action devrait aboutir nécessairement sur la création de nouveaux lieux d’innovation technologique et sociale comme les Fab Lab (Laboratoire de Fabrication). FINALISTE FINALIST FOCUS : JEUNES VULNÉRABLES P.7 Art et culture pour le développement social Mimo – Iverson Madjimbe, Tchad Jeune tchadien de 30 ans, originaire du Mandoul, région située au sud du Tchad. Sociologue deformation, artiste - musicien, auteur-compositeur et interprète, scénariste – réalisateur et défenseur des droits humains. Au Mandoul, on note plusieurs formes de violations des droits humains : les culturelles et artistiques (musique, cinéma, théâtre, danse urbaine et pratiques culturelles néfastes à savoir, les mutilations génitales féminines, traditionnelle, poésie, sculpture, photographie, dessin et peinture, You lead, les le mariage des enfants, le phénomène des enfants bouviers etc. Les conflits reporters sans frontières) etc. communautaires tels que : conflit éleveur-agriculteur, générationnel et religieux. Les seules étiquettes reconnues comme identités remarquables des jeunes du PERSPECTIVES : Mandoul sont « le vol, l’alcool, la prostitution, MST/VIH/SIDA, fonctionnaire Nous envisageons de renforcer le centre « Café Des Arts » comme structure de la rue de 40 (domestiques), analphabétisme, colombien (bandit de grand d’accueil (construction d’un emplacement public, d’un podium fixe, d’une chemin) » … Et cela constitue un problème majeur pour l’épanouissement des salle de réunion, d’une salle multimédia, d’un magasin, d’un cyber café…), jeunes. et en l’équipant en matériels de production (sonorisations, De l’an 2000 à 2003, je me suis engagé comme instruments de musique, matériels audiovisuels, des jeux etc.) acteur du changement pour influencer Nous avons réussi à positivement les jeunes en créant le Club « planète jeunes » suivi d’un groupe musical dénommé impliquer les autorités Pour atteindre nos objectifs, nous avons mis sur pied un comité de pilotage des projets annexes de ladite association composé des Hyade dont les actions étaient orientées vers l’animation administratives, jeunes ayant l’expérience dans la gestion des projets en novembre et la dénonciation des comportements belliqueux. traditionnelles et 2017. Ce comité a pour tâche d’élaborer et de mettre en œuvre Après quelques années écoulées, d’autres problèmes ont religieuses dans la mise des micros programmes au bénéfice des jeunes. émergé et impactent négativement la vie des adolescents : la radicalisation ou l’extrémisme violent, la migration en œuvre de nos actions A long terme, nous projetons d’aller vers une ONG d’action massive des jeunes vers les grands centres urbains, et programmatiques culturelle à caractère international pour renforcer les précisément en Lybie. dynamiques existantes des jeunes leaders du Tchad et de toute l’Afrique toute entière. Interpellé par ces événements, je me suis engagé à participer à l’effort collectif et communautaire visant à encadrer les jeunes et à promouvoir leurs talents en favorisant l’animation et le développement d’un cadre d’échange, de rencontre et de création entre eux, la population et les artistes. Considérant que la cible (jeunes) doit être sensibilisée sur les droits, les valeurs de paix et le leadership responsable dans la perspective de sortie de la pauvreté, en 2012, j’ai décidé avec d’autres artistes de créer une association dénommée AARMOK qui œuvre pour la promotion de l’art et de la culture en vue du développement socio-éducatif et culturel des jeunes. Elle vise spécifiquement à renforcer les dynamiques participatives par la mise en œuvre des initiatives de communication : mobilisation sociale, plaidoyer, formation, sensibilisations des populations etc. Nous mettons à profit les actions des artistes pour contribuer au renforcement de la cohésion sociale et à la promotion des libertés fondamentales, la bonne gouvernance, la protection des personnes vulnérables, la cohabitation pacifique, la justice etc. Ainsi, de 2012 à nos jours, AARMOK a réalisé d’innombrables activités de transformation en faveur des jeunes, des femmes et des enfants dans le Mandoul. Nous avons réussi à impliquer les autorités administratives, traditionnelles et religieuses dans la mise en œuvre de nos actions programmatiques et accompagner certains partenaires nationaux et internationaux dans les sensibilisations de masse et autres. AARMOK compte plus de 300 jeunes qui s’épanouissent au « Café des Arts  » (centre culturel, siège de l’Association) dans différents clubs d’animations P.8 FOCUS : EX-ENFANTS SOLDATS FINALISTE Changer le regard sur les ex-enfants soldats Joseph Tsongo, République démocratique du Congo Joseph Tsongo, né le 14 avril 1994, est un jeune journaliste, blogueur et acteur de changement social basé dans l’Est de la République démocra- tique du Congo. Depuis près de 4 ans, il travaille comme responsable d’une radio communautaire à vocation environnementale émettant dans le paysage Virun- ga, patrimoine mondial. Il agit de manière à rendre les gens plus conscients du monde dans lequel ils vivent. Ses domaines d’activité sont notamment la paix, le développement, les médias et la création artistique dans la sous-région des Grands lacs en Afrique. Début 2016, il a lancé un programme de théâtre forum participatif avec le psychodrame pour aider à changer le regard ou la comprehension de la communauté sur En ce qui nous concerne, la première partie de la scène est essentiellement les anciens enfants soldats dans l’Est de la RD Congo. consacrée aux acteurs principaux (ex-enfants soldats), qui jouent ou présentent sérieusement leur vie de brousse, telle qu’ils l’ont vécu auparavant au sein des groupes armés. Et cela, durant une trentaine de minutes. Cependant pour Ma région est depuis plus de 20 ans déchirée par des conflits armés alimentés par introduire la séquence suivante, les acteurs présentent des images illustrant la des différends fonciers…etc. violence et resteront ainsi figés sur le plateau… Depuis, l’horreur a particulièrement forgé le mental des enfants nés au milieu des En effet, c’est par ici où les participants (spectateurs) interviennent. guerres et des conflits, poussant un grand nombre d’entre eux à rejoindre les rangs Ils sont appelés à changer (pratiquement) l’image de violence, de destruction des groupes armés y sévissant et devenir un «Kadogo» (petit en Kiswahili local) et de stigmatisation qu’ont affiché les acteurs sur scène…mais ils peuvent qui venge les siens. Enrôlés de gré ou de force, ils combattent dans les rangs des également donner une leçon en jouant (positivement) le même rôle. Ici, groupes armés, portent des munitions et des gris-gris. D’autres sont messagers l’objectif est que la société cesse de considérer ces ex-enfants soldats comme ou espions. responsables de ce qui s’est passé. Parce qu’ils en sont également victimes. Même s’il est bref, ce passage dans les rangs des groupes armés locaux ou étrangers ne manque pas de marquer, souvent de manière irréversible, la vie de ces futurs adultes. Mon initiative était Ainsi, nous organisons ces activités dans les milieux religieux et autour des confédérations paysannes. Étant Les enfants filles, servent majoritairement d’esclaves d’aborder ces ex-enfants un tremplin vers la société, nos actions permettent la sexuelles pour leurs commandants… et les garçons soldats avec une arme découverte et le dépassement de soi, tout en expérimentant combattent toujours sous l’influence des drogues. Ils douce. la vie de groupe et ses particularités. Du coup, ces ex-enfants prennent part aux meurtres, obéissant aux ordres donnés soldats, jadis diabolisés, ont développé un sentiment par leurs chefs. d’appartenance à leur famille et à la société entière grâce à ce « théâtre forum participatif » pour la tolérance. Après la démobilisation, ces ex-enfants soldats violés, détruits et stigmatisés doivent revenir dans la vie civile. Mais leur adaptation sociale est parfois le cap le Malgré nos efforts, nous avons connu de rares cas d’ex-enfants soldats qui n’ont plus difficile à franchir. Ces jeunes gens (ex-enfants soldats) ne sont surtout pas pas pu réintégrer leur communauté, dont un que l’on a revu dans un groupe les bienvenus dans la société où on les taxe déjà de barbares… armé. Mais dans la majorité des situations, ces jeunes ex-enfants soldats sont de Mais une fois exclus, ils risqueraient de rentrer encore une fois dans la brousse nouveau acceptés dans la société après ce long travail de sensibilisation. pour reprendre leur sale besogne et compromettre ainsi leur avenir. Partant de ce constat amer, j’avais pris l’initiative en 2015, de créer un cadre d’échange et de Voilà en bref, mon expérience dans l’inclusion sociale des ex-enfants soldats partage qui puisse rapprocher ces ex-enfants soldats de la communauté. dans l’Est de la République démocratique du Congo. Mon initiative était de les aborder avec une arme douce. Et c’est le « théâtre forum participatif » pour la tolérance que j’ai choisi. La dynamique va à la fois dans le sens d’intégration sociale et de divertissement. A ce niveau, j’agis principalement comme un agent facilitateur. Bien au départ, ces ex-enfants soldats ont appris à exprimer librement leurs émotions. Certains, ayant occupé des postes de commandement, n’acceptaient plus une quelconque hiérarchie dans la société ou en famille. D’autres avaient d’ailleurs passé plus 10 ans dans ces groupes armés. Et avec cet orgueil, leur adaptation sociale était alors assez compliquée… Mon action consistait alors à encadrer ces jeunes ex-enfants soldats à travers le « théâtre forum participatif » pour la tolérance. Ce genre de théâtre est surtout tragique parce qu’il présente les faits tel qu’ils se sont passés. Il comporte également deux étapes. FINALIST FOCUS : MENTAL HEALTH P.9 Using Innovative IT Tools To Improve Mental Healthcare In Ghana Dr. Atsu Latey, Ghana Dr Atsu Latey is a 26 year old who practices medicine at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. He aspires towards developing affordable health interventions for Africans. He’s the founder of MindIT, a service which uses technology to provide people with affordable healthcare. He was a winner in the 2018 TUFH FAIMER Students Project For Health Conference in Ireland, shortlisted with other 25 innovators to participate in the 2018 Ashoka American Express Bootcamp in Nairobi Kenya, is an international award winning writer and a columnist in the Mirror Newspaper of Ghana. in October 2017, MindIT Service has received immense recognition both locally and internationally. Random acts of kindness change the world, one person at a time. An act of educating the public on Depression culminated in the creation of a mental Real kindness originates from the heart and it is where passion burns. health service. MindIT is a health service which uses innovative IT tools to screen Ghanaians for psychological distress and provide them with affordable and accessible One thing kindness does is that, it takes a part of your heart and places it in that mental healthcare. which you have been kind to. We are contributing to the SDG3 ( Good Health and Wellbeing) by screening the Ghanaian population for mental illness and In commemoration of World Health Day 2017, I featured offering them care that is affordable and accessible. an article in my Newspaper column on how to recognize depression in people. I’m a passionate writer and I In Ghana, there are only 18 psychiatrists who serve the entire voluntarily write articles on issues that plague the youth. Our hearts contain population of 27 million, thus tipping the ratio of patients To me, true kindness is that which is fueled by passion, immeasurable bits which to psychiatrists at 1:1,700,000. The Ghana Health Service which is, using what you’re passionate about to bless lives. we can share with others, augmented this by training some nurses in mental health, after which they’re posted to health centers across Ghana. Thus, It is one’s heart reaching out to that of others. and anytime their hearts there are well over two hundred community psychiatric nurses A teacher from a remote town in Ghana read the piece beat, we feel a nudge on in Ghana who are stationed in the district clinics across the identified herself as being depressed and so she called me ours too. country. We have leveraged on this system to provide affordable for help. She had a traumatizing time when delivering her mental healthcare to Ghanaians thus reducing the burden on child, which she eventually lost and was in a turbulent the few psychiatrists in the country. relationship. I assessed her over the phone and deduced that she was suffering from post partum depression. I tried to get her some mental healthcare form Our hearts contain immeasurable bits which we can share with others, and where she was but there was no psychiatrist close to her. She didn’t know she was anytime their hearts beat, we feel a nudge on ours too. That motivates us to do depressed, she didn’t know there was treatment available and she didn’t know more. When we lose a piece of ourselves to people, we multiply and see ourselves where she could get the help from. She was importunate with her requests but I in those people. Together we can change the world, just one act of kindness at couldn’t offer any help. a time. This marked a turning point in my life! It dawned on me that there may be some people who may be suffering the same predicament as her and so I thought of a way to screen the Ghanaian population for mental illness and offer them care which is affordable and closest to them. One day, while using the mobile money platform to make some financial transaction I had an epiphany that it was a questionnaire tool, so I asked my engineer friend whether we could get a code and encode a mental health screening tool on it and he agreed to do it I didn’t have enough money so I convened an eclectic team of skilled youth who’d contribute their skills pro bono to run the service. The team included an animator, my fellow medical students and a clinical psychology intern. Now, after a year, we run the service which has provided free care to many. Our screening short code, *711*88# is free on all networks in Ghana, doesn’t require mobile data and works on the most unsophisticated phone. We have a call center (which runs on volunteerism) which receives the user responses, assesses them and facilitates a free clinical consultation for them at the nearest mental health unit, under Ghana’s pervasive National Health Insurance Programme. After its launch P.10 FOCUS : STREET CHILDREN FINALIST Out of The Streets : building hope for street children Vinesenciah Gisore, Kenya Viney Gisore is an associate fellow of the Royal Common Wealth Society with over five years’ experience in community development and the nonprofit sector. She has represented Kenya on national and international forums, on matters of the youth, focusing on leadership and social development. Currently, Gisore coordinates activities in her youth led initiative, Out of the Street, that has served thousands of street children through Education, Rehabilitation, Civic Training and Recycling (Street Kids In Plastic Project). Her ultimate goal is that that through her engagement Kenya will become a street kid free zone where the broader community will be involved to keep kids off the streets. Nearly 500,000 children live on streets Kenya. The number is expected to double in OUT OF THE STREET IS GOVERNED BY FOUR PILLARS: the next 10 if nothing is done. 1. Rehabilitation The organization’s rehabilitation program provides health services for Kenya’s poverty alleviation programs have earned some admiration locally and street children and slum dwellers through occasional medical camps internationally. However, the problem of street children in major towns remains that attend to urgent cases and provide de-worming and counseling. A acute and has yet to be solved. That is why OUT OF THE STREET (OTS) was 2016 survey conducted a survey in Majengo and Kibera to find out why founded. children from these slums run away from home. The survey concluded that most of them run away due to domestic violence, poverty, and the OTS is a registered NGO with the country’s Ministry of Social Services. It was consequences that often come with divorce. Members of a dancing founded in January 2015 in Nairobi by Vinesenciah Gisore, a Moi University group called Street Dancers were drug addicts before we encountered student and five other students from different universities in Kenya. Today OTS has them. Today, they are responsible youths who make a living from 50 members who comprise students from different institutions. dancing. The organization seeks to empower street children by providing food and initiating income generating programs. The overall goal of the organization is to relocate 2. Education children from the street, hence its slogan in Kiswahili, “Kutoa mtoto kwenye We have established three street libraries that serve at least 94 street,” Get a child out of the street in English. Ultimately, the organization hopes street children daily. In 2016, the organization was awarded “Best to build rehabilitation centres across the country and to establish plastic recycling Organization” in the Education Category by Global Give Back Circle. company (Street Kids in Plastic) for the young children in the hope that they will be transformed thus making the country a better place. The organization also hopes 3. Recycling to see street children get a reliable source of basic needs, unite with their families/ STREET KIDS IN PLASTIC PROJECT, our fundraising recycling relatives, and further their education. project, has gained attention from United Nations Environmental Assembly2, International NGO Summit and Safaricom BLAZE. The organization also hopes to see street 4. Civic education children get a reliable source of basic needs, Child Neglect is a problem that has long affected families in Kenya. Our unite with their families/relatives, and civic training takes a door to door approach to educate the community on children’s rights in Majengo slum and up to now, we have visited further their education. about 500 households. YOOT, our youth inspired magazine, is expected to aid our civic education trainings and help us raise funds for our talent and rehabilitation centres. CALL FOR ACTION Our four pillar approach has proven effective over the last three years. In fact, a recent research by the organization, indicated that the entrance rate of street children at Majengo Slum, our headquarter area, has dropped by 4% Our Training and Talent Centre every weekend brings together volunteers who facilitate mentorship programs that incorporate crafts making and talent training. We Our Training and Talent Centre every weekend brings together volunteers who facilitate mentorship programs that incorporate crafts making and talent training. We also conduct programs geared for spiritual nourishment. Our approach aims at a wholesome influence on the street children. How much more can we achieve if you chose to get involved? Be the change! TOA MTOTO KWENYE STREET! FINALISTE FOCUS : AUTISME P.11 Il n’y a pas des destins forclos ... Mbolatiana Raveloarimisa, Madagascar Mbolatiana Raveloarimisa est la présidente fondatrice du réseau «Autisme Madagascar». Elle se définit comme une militante pour la justice sociale et les droits humains. Elle est impliquée dans plusieurs mouvements et organisations dans son pays et en Afrique. Mbolatiana est titulaire d’un Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies en géographie. Elle a suivi de nombreuses formations sur la paix et la sécurité. Professionnellement, elle est la secrétaire exécutive de la Coalition des radios pour la paix à Madagascar, chroniqueuse dans le plus grand journal du pays et enseignante à l’Université d’Antananarivo. Mbolatiana est également le point focal de la société civile pour la réforme du secteur de la sécurité et l’application de la résolution sur la gestion des armes de destruction massive. Elle a deux enfants, dont un garçon autiste, qui a donné naissance au grand mouvement de l’autisme à Madagascar. L’éminent professeur m’a appelé dans son bureau. Mon fils était encore en salle de réanimation après l’opération chirurgicale. Très, trop, simplement il m’a annoncé qu’il s’est trompé de diagnostic et que finalement, mon fils n’était pas sourd. Pendant que mon enfant de trois ans luttait encore pour vivre, celui reconnu être LE spécialiste de l’ORL m’annonce d’une manière si crue qu’il était un incapable. Il a quand même fallu payer le million d’Ariary de frais d’hôpitaux qui équivalait à plus de trois mois de salaire. Après cette mésaventure, les faux diagnostics se succédèrent encore. Citons parmi tant d’autres celui perpétré par un éminent neurologue qui a diagnostiqué mon fils internationaux de l’autisme. Il a lancé une pétition internationale réclamant la mise comme atteint du syndrome de RETT. Pourtant, il s’avère que ce syndrome en place de réglementations nationales sur l’autisme, et a construit un solide réseau touche uniquement les filles. Bien heureusement, nous avons eu le réflexe de volontaires à Madagascar. Depuis avril 2016, pour célébrer la Journée mondiale de sensibilisation à l’autisme, Autisme Madagascar a relevé le grand défi d’illuminer d’aller voir sur internet avant de lui donner les médicaments listés. Parmi eux, le Palais de la Reine - le monument historique le plus important de Madagascar la Dépakine, pour les épileptiques. Finalement, j’ai pu faire l’autodiagnostic - en bleu, la couleur symbolique de l’autisme. C’était aussi une première pour de mon fils en me documentant sur internet : mon fils est autiste. L’épreuve Madagascar, alors que c’est déjà une tradition dans d’autres pays. de la scolarisation a été tout aussi douloureuse. A trois ans et demi, mon fils a été renvoyé car il ne répondait pas aux normes imposées. Tout cela, sans que Depuis, pas moins deux ans, notre organisation est devenue une association. je ne puisse faire quelque chose. Nous avons pu accomplir : • 200 consultations pour des diagnostics gratuits Autisme Madagascar a grandi Devenir un défenseur des droits de l’homme semble • 100 praticiens formés et est devenu une institution de être une histoire personnelle. premier plan dans le domaine Se battant pour de meilleures • 2 guides gratuits élaborés et diffusés en langue locale du plaidoyer pour les droits conditions de vie et de soins • 2 000 outils de sensibilisations humains à Madagascar. pour mon fils autiste, Achille, Une mission humanitaire internationale de formation aux praticiens • j’ai réalisé que rien n’a été fait à et bénévole, d’appui aux parents Madagascar pour répondre aux • Une levée de fonds qui a vu la participation engagée des artistes besoins des personnes avec sa condition. Il n’y a pas de loi, pas de politique publique et aucune connaissance sur l’autisme, ce qui conduit à de fréquentes • Une relation de collaboration efficace avec les médias : insertions dans les journaux, émissions radios et TV, couverture médiatique des actions erreurs de diagnostic médical, et parfois à des soins médicaux inappropriés. J’ai décidé d’initier « Autisme Madagascar » en novembre 2013, afin de mener • Un réseau d’une centaine de bénévoles : jeunes étudiants, professionnels, des sensibilisations et construire un réseau de parents d’enfants autistes pour petites entreprises se soutenir mutuellement dans ce dur combat. • Signature de convention de collaboration avec le Ministère de l’éducation Autisme Madagascar a grandi et est devenu une institution de premier plan nationale pour la formation du corps enseignant des écoles primaires publiques dans le domaine du plaidoyer pour les droits humains à Madagascar. Il a à la détection précoce de l’autisme et la prise en charge scolaire contribué à démystifier l’autisme - souvent considéré comme un handicap ou même comme une malédiction -, mais il a également aidé de nombreux Le travail continue. Il a généré un plaidoyer au niveau national et international ménages vivant avec l’autisme à retrouver leur dignité et à être solidaires, pour une étude approfondie sur les violences médicales faites sur les enfants, les réclamant un soulèvement national pour notre combat. violations des droits des familles par les faux diagnostics, la surmédication ainsi que les chirurgies abusives. Je suis intimement convaincue que chacun mérite sa Autisme Madagascar a organisé, entre autres activités, de nombreux ateliers place et qu’«Il n’y a pas des destins forclos, il n’y a que des responsabilités délaissées» de formation pour le personnel médical, en collaboration avec des spécialistes (Fadel Barro) P.12 FOCUS : WOMEN EMPOWERMENT FINALIST From the street to class into entrepreneurs : the story of the skilled women vendors Esther Namboka, Uganda Esther Namboka, aged 34 years, is the Founder and ED of Gals Forum International, an NGO that fosters stable and economically empowered families with focus on empowerment of women and girls. Through the NGO, she has been able to advocate for women and girls’ rights, Education, economic empowerment through skilling and financial literacy, promote women’s participation in leadership, peace building and security, access to reproductive health information and services, creating safer cities for girls, provision of basic computer training. The NGO is also developing a vendors’ mobile application. Esther is an award winner of the ‘Community Service Excellence Award,’ for her initiative in the women vendors skilling programme. She is a graduate of Cherie Blair Mentoring Women in Business and she is mentor. She is an Alumnus and the first Chairperson of the Young African leaders Initiative, a President Obama initiative. Esther sits on the high level committee on Ending Gender based violence under the ministry of Gender. Esther is also a fish farmer on Lake Victoria. The International Mothers day is celebrated worldwide every year on 14th May. University (UTAMU), the women are acquiring basic computer skills as well Mothers are celebrated in different ways through activities that recognize their developing IT solutions for their line of business. Namboka has also organized role in society. In Uganda and in other African countries a culture to honor sessions on financial literacy and management for the women. They are trained of this day is not well rooted. To raise the profile of Mothers’ in how to start business and they are also sensitized on family day in Uganda, Namboka organized the first Annual Mothers’ stability and gender violence. Namboka also arranged a health Summit and Mothers’ Dinner to celebrate motherhood and to provide a platform for mothers to share experiences, to learn Namboka is lobbying the camp for the women where they were tested for different diseases and provided with medication and family planning from professionals and to network. government and donors information, and tips on healthy living and eating. Namboka planned her steps very carefully. She organized for support to provide the a pre- event activity ‘Live a day in her life,’ to highlight women who graduated Why I chose to empower the Women vendors ? the plight of and challenges affecting the vulnerable capital and tools to The women face challenges such as insecurity since they wake mother. The activity aimed to draw influential women in up in the wee hours of the morning to buy their merchandise Uganda to live and experience the lives of the ordinary effectively employ their returning to their homes very late. They lack capital. They vulnerable women for a day. Two well placed women newly acquired skills are often harassed by city authorities and many are knocked volunteered to come down from their perches to spend dead by vehicles as they struggle to sell their products through a day in the life of vulnerable mothers. traffic. They lack access to proper sanitation facilities at work The women, minister of trade, industry and cooperatives, Amelia Kyambadde, and at home. and the deputy managing director of the National Social Security Fund, Ssali Namboka was awarded ‘The Women Vendors Community Service Excellence Geraldine, took up the challenge. Kyambadde vended fruits and vegetables Award’ by the Uganda Women Entrepreneurs Association Ltd (UWEAL). on Kampala streets (Photo); Ssali became a security officer and searched the members of the public and vehicles at Forest Mall. After walking in the shoes of vulnerable women Kyambadde and SSali committed to advocating for and supporting the cause of vulnerable women. Kyambadde pledged to work together with Gals Forum International to assist women vendors find alternative businesses instead of engaging in illegal, risky and unprofitable street vending. She observed that hairdressing, tailoring, fashion and design, cookery and bakery and shoe making were better alternatives. Over 110 women vendors enrolled in courses in those skills and graduated from the Management Training and Advisory Centre (MTAC), Nakawa. Currently, Namboka is lobbying the government and donors for support to provide the women who graduated capital and tools to effectively employ their newly acquired skills. The former women vendors were provided platforms to talk about their experiences. In partnership with Uganda Technology and Management FINALIST FOCUS : VULNERABLE YOUTH P.13 The Gift of Circus in Zambia Gift Chansa, Zambia Gift Chansa studied in the Netherlands at Fontys performance academy and Wuqiao China, holds a diploma in project management. He is a founder of Circus Zambia a creative hub and a company that equips young people with circus circus, life skills, social skills, entrepreneurship and Job opportunities. Gift is extremely passionate about young people, He spends a lot of his time talking about solutions for the better tomorrow through performance arts and through Circus Zambia they support almost 30 young people with extra tuitions and school fee. Since he was a teenager Gift had been performing travelling abroad, To the united states, japan and the United Kingdom. He is a @TedX speaker, MTV staying Alive Squad ambassador, Prestigious Life+ Award winner and most recently was a recipient of The Queens Young Leaders 2018 Award. My name is Gift Chansa a co-founder of Circus Zambia. I grew up in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Lusaka called Chibolya, infamous for its crime rate and drug abuse. I was determined to make something of my life and in 2006, I joined Barefeet Theatre, an organization which transforms the lives of at-risk youth in Zambia using theatre. During my years with Barefeet, I learned theatre and I performed in the UK, Poland and the Netherlands. I was also selected to train in acrobatics in China for a year. At Barefeet, I witnessed the power of arts and the way it can change people’s lives. I wanted to give youth from my community the same opportunities and the possibility to change their lives and the image of our neighborhood. Together with my friends and colleagues I decided to start Circus Zambia; a social circus company that provides youth with circus, academic and life skills. I faced challenges because of my origins. In school when students wanted drugs, they would come to Circus Zambia was me. People viewed me negatively and founded in 2015 and today doubted that I had anything positive to contribute to society. I recall a time it brings joy and passion when I was in a theatre in Lusaka. We to 80 children every Soul is about life skills and soft skills. Through circus we teach about HIV/AIDS, stood in circle and as soon as I stated Saturday when we meet to sanitation and drug prevention. Young people also become peer educators in their communities and through performances we reach about 5000 people per year. my name and my neighborhood, play, train and perform. Chibolya, people started hiding their phones and shunning me. The daily issues that youth from Chibolya face are important to me because I have The image that people have of lived them. I believe no one should be discriminated because of their place of birth. Chibolya is reinforced by the media. We believe in young people have the power to change the world. We young people The stigmatization motivated me to work harder. I firmly believed that the we want a better tomorrow. A future with equality and love. arts could give me a platform. As a young performer I noticed that when I was on stage people paid attention. It made an impact. I, a reject from Chibolya, Since Circus Zambia started we have managed to buy our own space, turning was being applauded by everyone. I decided to use this platform to become dreams to reality. In less than 2 years we have accomplished a lot. We have a staff of a change maker. 7 people on a part time basis and 15 people on a fee basis. We have managed to start a project Clowns 4 Condoms, reaching over 5000 young people with information I hope to draw attention to the fact that young people in Chibolya and that will save their lives. Since we started, Chibolya and Circus Zambia has been other deprived areas lack basic services, education and life skills. Continued covered positively in the media. I have also been invited to speak on TEDX Lusaka, discrimination and stigmatization makes it harder for them to rise above the I have been chosen to receive a prestigious award from the Queen of England under, daily challenges they face. They are already vulnerable, and a small shove will the Queens young Leaders initiative, and Circus Zambia was covered on CNN push them to the street. African Voices. The beautiful thing about this is that I am from Chibolya and I am from the same background as the youth we work with. So I don’t speak on behalf of Circus Zambia was founded in 2015 and today it brings joy and passion to these people, I am these people. 80 children every Saturday when we meet to play, train and perform. Circus Zambia has three main programs; Body, Mind and Soul. Body is about physical training and health. Mind is about education -we currently pay school fees for 16 children and support over 20 with extra tutoring- while https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EZ6IyBCK0A P.14 FOCUS : INMATES FINALIST Vocational Skills Certification For Inmates In Zimbabwe Margret Damba, Zimbabwe Margret Damba is a Social Inclusion & Gender Advisor at VSO Zimbabwe Previously, she worked as a Verification Officer with ORAP Zenzele, a local NGO in Zimbabwe. Before joining the NGO sector, Margret, worked as an Assistant District Administrator with the Ministry of Local Government in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. Margret is a graduate of Political Science and Administrative studies from the University of Zimbabwe. She also holds MSc Degree in Social Ecology from the same institution. Coming from a minority tribe and marginalised District of Binga in Zimbabwe, Margret is passionate about development work where everyone has access to resources and where the most vulnerable and marginalised groups are included. Experts agree that vocational training is one of the most important educational deprivation but also lack of agency or control over important decisions as and rehabilitative programs that correctional facilities can provide. Training well as feelings of alienation and inferiority which is the case with inmates in gives inmates the skills for a trade or industry that prepare them for re- Zimbabwe’s correctional facilities (United Nations, 2016). integration into society. Research carried out in prisons in the United States The first graduation of trained inmates took place at Harare Central Prison of America observed that inmates with vocational training experience less in November 2017. Fifteen inmates were awarded National Foundation recidivism than those without training and are more likely to be employed. Certificates in Wood Technology and Textile and Clothing. Three of inmates graduated in wood technology and 12 in textile and clothing. In my capacity as a Social Inclusion and Gender Analysis According to the Prison authorities, there is a market for skills Advisor, working for Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), acquired by inmates. It is a constitutional mandate for inmates I have been developing the capacities of local partner In my experience of to gain life skills which will help them to be productive member organizations working with inmates in Zimbabwe’s 70 correctional facilities to advocate for skills training, to working on the inclusion of society upon release. Employment blunts social inclusion. finance tuition and to rehabilitate prisons’ workshops. of inmates in Zimbabwe’s Prior to the new approach, prisons were regarded as a place of punishment specifically designed to exclude inmates from All this is meant to ensure that the rehabilitation process correctional facilities, society and gaining meaningful skills and certification during of inmates become meaningful. Programming around I have learnt the incarceration. This contributed to increased recidivism. inmates’ skills training and certification is crucial mainly importance of collective because, this is a group that is easily excluded. Social exclusion refers to inability to participate fully in economic, efforts. In my experience of working on the inclusion of inmates in social, political and cultural life, as well as the process, Zimbabwe’s correctional facilities, I have learnt the importance leading to and sustaining such a state. Participation may of collective efforts. Bringing various interested parties to be hindered when people lack access to material resources, including income, work together in correctional facilities with the goal of facilitating inmate employment, land and housing, or to such services as education and health inclusion is critical. When inmates are included, their abilities are improved, care — essential foundations of well-being that are captured in Agenda 2030. diverse opportunities are opened for them and their dignity is restored. Social Yet participation is also limited when people cannot exercise their voice or inclusion has to go beyond “inclusivity” in programs; it requires adequate interact with each other, and when their rights and dignity are not accorded funding to make the concept a reality, as demonstrated by VSO funding the equal respect and protection. Thus social exclusion entails not only material inmates’ tuition and graduation ceremony. FINALIST P.15 Tumaini Festival Nov 1&2, 2019 Dzaleka Refugee Camp - Malawi Tumaini Festival presents a unique opportunity to support an innovative cultural event, developed and delivered by refugees and Malawians, which uses entertainment and artistic expression, to promote intercultural harmony, mutual understanding and peaceful co-existence. Tumaini Festival has represented a unique opportunity for refugees to share aspects of their lives with interested visitors, to exhibit and sell their crafts and to feel the hope of connecting to a wider community. Entrance to all events will be free of charge! Social Inclusion Heroes Competition 2018 Winner Tresor Mpauni, Malawi FINALISTS Guiako OBIN, Côte d’Ivoire Mimo – Iverson Joseph Tsongo, Dr. Atsu Latey, Madjimbe, République Ghana Tchad démocratique du Congo Vinesenciah Mbolatiana Esther Namboka, Gift Chansa, Margret Damba, Gisore, Kenya Raveloarimisa, Uganda Zambia Zimbabwe Madagascar