Issuu

Youth United Will Never Be Defeated

A Travelling Photovoice Exhibition About Disrupting Gender Norms

We are a group of young people from different communities around the world, including Canada, Malawi, Mali, Mexico, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Tanzania. This exhibition features photographs taken by young people from our communities about gender issues that matter to us. The photos tell a story of our experiences, emotions, and struggles. In talking about the challenges that we face in different countries, we can see how similar we are even though the issues might look a little bit different. Working together as agents of change, we have a larger and wider perspective and are coming up with solutions.

Changestartswithus.

The more we come together, the more our voices become louder. Photovoice gives us a platform to share and discuss our knowledge in our communities and with our leaders, and to hold them accountable. We are inspired for change, knowing that we’re not the only ones facing these kinds of problems. How do we address these challenges? As young people? As community members? As leaders? What is your contribution in changing the societal problems we are facing? Why should anyone be silent when there is a lot that they can say? When will change occur? Will it be centuries, or months? What can you do to spread love, not hate?

Our photos invite you to be part of our dream for transformation.

After reading the captions, don’t just keep it in your head: Be open-minded. Be willing to hear and adapt. Start by making a small change. Go out and take action. Learn what strategies exist. Implement policies. Work across generations, so that change can be sustainable. We want people to start daring conversations to shift destructive societal norms. Focus on the future. We want change that will create a more inclusive, equal, and welcoming society.

Photovoice activities during local youth gatherings:

During the Local Youth Gatherings, young people took photographs and wrote photo descriptions to respond to the prompt:

SierraLeone

Jos,Nigeria

Bauchi,Nigeria

Bamako,Mali

Photovoice activities at the Transnational Summit in Durban, South Africa:

At the Summit, young people worked with the entire collection of photographs and co-created this travelling exhibition to take back to their communities.

Fɔtek drug pasmak wan

[Krio] We yu tek kush pasmak yu nɔ de ebul lɛf am egen, dɛn I kin tan lɛk nɔn op nɔ de fɔ yu egen. Bɔt yu kin ebul bi yusɛf wantɛm mɔ bɔt fɔs yu go gɛt fɔ pul da bad nem we kush dɔn gi yu. Di pikchɔ na gud egzampul of aw sɔm pan wi pikin dɛn na Salon de naw.

Drug Abuse – Kush addiction

Trapped in a cycle of addiction, where hope feels out of reach. Recovery is possible but we must break the stigma. This photo is a good representation of the current situation of a handful of young people in Sierra Leone.

Bintu Dumbuya, 24, Female

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Fɔmared we yunɔ du fɔmared et (65 iaol man ɛn 16 iaolgyal-pikin).

[Krio] Mared de bi fɔsho se lɔv de, bɔtfɔbɔku pipul dɛn na Salon I min se yu we mared we yuliliyunɔ to pikinegen. Bikɔsɔfwitradishɔnɛnwetinwibilivwistil de giwililigyal-pikindɛn to man fɔsekamɔni. Ɔlgyalpikinfɔebulɛnjɔyinsɛflɛkpikinbifomaredtɛm de rich.

Early Marriage (65 year old man and 16 year old girl)

A wedding symbolizes love but for many in Sierra Leone it means the end of childhood. Young girls are still being exchanged for wealth due to tradition and religious believes. Every Girl deserves the right to enjoy their childhood.

Fatmata Kamara, 24, Female

Bintu Dumbuya, 24, Female

Freetown,

Sierra Leone

[Krio] Yu go si se dis man na dis pikchɔimmɔttay, I kanttɔk.Bay witradishɔnwibiliv se man dɛmfɔ bi di trɔŋ wan dɛmwɛnikamfɔshɔ bon-trɛnkɛnfɔbiaɔl ɔda tin. Bɔt man dɛnsɛfnamɔtalmanƐnnɔ to ɔltindɛnsɛf kin ebul do ɔ bia; bɔtbikɔsdɛnnɔ kin fil frifɔtɔkbɔtdɛn tin de opin wan, dɛnsɛf kin de sɔfa.Dɛnnɔ kin ebultɔkbɔtwetindɛnnɔebul du ɔ ivin if de we dɛn de tinkdifrɛn

Traditionally men are expected to be physically and emotionally strong being above all situations at all times. But they too have weaknesses and limitations which they cannot openly confess because it would make them look weak. This situation creates barriers to open dialogue about vulnerability or dissenting opinions.

Abdulia Sahid Conteh, 22, Male

Freetown, Sierra Leone

[Krio] Dis pikchɔ de sho di advantej we uman dɛn de sɔfa wɛn I kam pan udat fɔ tɔk wetin fɔ apin na di os – uman dɛn nɔ fɔ tɔk. Ivin pan tin we kɔnsan dɛm, dɛn yon wɔd nɔ min natin.Fɔ lɛ uman dɛn fri fɔ tɔk na Salon na sɔm fawe drim fɔs.

This photo represents the forceful way females are silenced when it comes to decision making. Females lack control of their lives and their words are shackled. True freedom remains a distant dream for females in Sierra Leone.

Bintu Dumbuya, 24, Female

Abdulia Sahid Tencoid Conteh, 22, Male

Freetown, Sierra Leone

We dɛn de luk-dɔŋ pan umandɛn we kin de bifofɔ lid [Krio] Dis pikchɔ de sho aw sɔm man dɛm na Salon si uman dɛm. Dɛn nɔ biliv se uman fɔ ɛva de bifo pan ɛni tin. Wi kin si di uman de bifo fɔ tich di klas bɔt wan pan di man dɛm vɛks ɛn mekɔp in maynd fɔ pul di uman de bay fos.

Discrimination on females taking lead roles

This photo represent the way some men in Sierra Leone see women, they don’t believe that women should take lead roles. This is a photo of youth in the classroom and a female took the lead in lecturing others and one of the male got offended and decided to forcefully move her from the board.

Fereka Ibrahim Marah, 25, Male

Hellen Marie Sesay, 22, Female

Freetown, Sierra Leone

Picture of Amina, an eight-year-old girl taken on Wednesday by 10:05am at Tudun wada community instead of being in school.

Aji-Abok, 21, male

Jos,Nigeria

Aaron

A twelve-year-old girl taking responsibility of caring for her siblings at a very tender age.

Jos,Nigeria

Blessing Moses, 27, female

This photo of students in the classroom shows that the males attend school more than females in the Gangare community. A common saying in the community goes “women’s education ends in the kitchen.”

Abdullahi Nuhu, 23, male

Zulaihat Nuhu, 24, female

Almajiri’sLife - Challenge:

The photograph shows two young boys living on the streets. Some young boys (but not young girls) in northern Nigeria are sent by their parents to live with religious teachers. Many of them end up having to survive on their own. They go hungry, don’t get any education, and are vulnerable to abuse.

Boys group (12-14 years old)

Yusuf Peter, Jibrin Murtala, Kabiru Adamu, Abdullah Adamu

Bauchi,Nigeria

Sexual Abuse

Young women and girls are at risk of sexual violence outside their homes. The photograph shows a girl carrying firewood on her head. Two boys are chasing her. One of the two has caught up with her and is sexually harassing her.

Group of adolescent girls (unmarried), 16-18 years old Murjanatu Usman, Khadija Abdullahi, Khadija Yakubu Ahmad, Zainab Idris

[Spanish] A partir de elementos de su comunidad, Xaneri teje mensajes políticos y estéticos, reivindicando la diversidad de género, etnia y clase social.

From elements of her community, Xaneri, weaves political and aesthetic messages, reclaiming gender, ethnic and social class diversity.

MexicoCity,Mexico

Miguel Sosme

[Spanish] Aquí estoy y con mi actividad desafío los roles que se me han impuesto. Con mi belleza y mi mirada, muestro mi cultura y mi empoderamiento.

Here I am and with my activity I challenge the roles that have been imposed on me. With my beauty and my gaze, I show my culture and my empowerment.

Miguel Sosme

MexicoCity,Mexico

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A ROUGH A PLACE

This photo represents a child of Wentworth – a soft, delicate, beautiful thing born into a hard and brutal place. Something so lovely and precious and full of promise can get so corrupted and destroyed simply because it was placed in a harsh and destructive environment.

Keira O’brien

BEYOND BARRICADES

Sharp edges may try to hold us back, but spirit helps us find ways to break through. Barbed wire represents the difficult times we live through. And the spaces between the wires with the sky at the back means that you can get through this hard place and the sky is the limit. Each scar written on us by the barbed wire tells a story of strength.

Noome Bungane

Being a man within my community of Eskasoni is hard. Going back in time, my people were promised the world and were bait trapped into poverty. To seek employment in the fishing industry, I have to drive far and wide, in conditions as seen in the photo above. We don't have access to an ocean on reserve and ain't promised wharfage at most places due to racism. So long commutes can be a part of it. On resources my people have fished and hunted for tens, of thousands of years.

Angelo Bernard

Here's a picture of a beautiful calm sunrise. Days like these ain't promised, and that adds to the risk of being a provider. Just as calm and bad as it can get on the water. The same goes for how hard it can be mentally as well. Missing family, but driven by them to continue as well. It can be a battle with yourself as much as the waves and swells.

Angelo Bernard

Message to my younger self: Continue being a respectful cool dude. Keep soaking all the cultural teachings you can. Keep practicing your Mi’kmaq tongue. I love your enthusiastic energy and don't let anyone tell you it's too much. Don't change for anybody. Love you.

Angelo Bernard

When no isn't an option, men refuse to use condoms and girls fail to stand up for their sexual reproductive health rights which compromises their safety.

Robert Chimtolo, Male, 21

Poverty, gender norms and lack of comprehensive sexually education leads to girls being exposed to teenage pregnancies limiting girls access to education.

Chiyamiko Mbetewa, Female, 25

Early marriages increase young women's vulnerability to gender-based violence as they often lack the autonomy, resources and support to protect themselves.

James

Mazenga, Male, 26

Malawi

Ukutheza izinkuni - Issue [IsiZulu] Izinkuni zitholakala kanzima emahlathini ngoba abantu bathatha izindawo ezingahlali muntu, bebiyele amahlathi bethi awabo bese siswela izinkuni. Meke wangena kulelohlathi usunecala. Sihlala emakhaya izinkuni sizidinga kakhulu, sipheka ngazo ngoba asinayo imali yokuzithenga.

It is hard to find firewood in the forest because some people claim some parts of the forest that are not owned by anyone, fence it in and claim it as their own. This makes it hard for us to get firewood. If you go inside the fenced area of the forest to collect firewood you have committed a crime. In our rural community, collecting firewood is important because we need it to cook because we do not have money to buy it.

Group 1: The Freedom Fighters

Hlathikhulu, South Africa

[House chores - Issue

IsiZulu] Abantu besifazane yibona abangaphansi kwengcindezi yokuba bafeze/benze imisebenzi yasendlini. Kulindeleke ukuthi bapheke, banakekele izingane kanye nabakhwenyana futhi bahlale ekhaya owesilisa ayosebenza athumele imali ekhaya. Osekugcine kwaba insakavukela umchilo wesidwaba, emakhaya kanye nasemphakathini wonkana. Konke lokhu kudalwa noma imbangela imfundiso yasekhaya.

Being a man or woman means nothing and makes no difference; anyone can cook. It is every person’s responsibility at home to see to it that everyone is well taken care of. What is important is working together which will help everyone feel supported through equal sharing of power. In this home, house chores will be shared equally, and there will be compassion. This will lead to happiness, unity and warmth in the family and the entire community.

Group 3

Gender inequalities - Issues

A typical patriarchal family within society whereby a man of the household is superior while the woman is inferior. Women are expected to submit. These inequalities lead to Gender-based violence, homicide and women's inability to express themselves.

Group 1

Issues

[IsiZulu] Ngeke ngiphathwe umfazi!!

I will not be led by a woman!!

Sis bhuti!!

Group 2

Uthingo Network, South Africa

Gender-Based Violence Issues

[IsiZulu] Lesithombe sikhomba ukuhlukumezeka uma esedle amanzi amponjwana. Utshwala kwenza ube nodlame ugcine usubeka abantu isandla.

This picture shows abuse that happens when someone has drunk alcohol. Alcohol makes you violent, and you end up beating other people. Substance abuse impairs your judgment and increases aggression.

Group 4

GET TO KNOW US CALLING US NAMES

Portraying a bad picture of lesbian couple. Influencing others to follow the lead.

[IsiZulu] ‘Lento eniyenzayo ayikhoryt niyazi ukuthi nginganenza izintombi zami nobabili, like the old times.’

‘What you are doing is not right. You know I can make you both my girlfriends…’

Solution. Educate them through social media platforms and radio podcasts, especially creating short films, because that’s where emotions are perfectly portrayed, and see other perspectives of the damage they are causing.

Group 5

A stolen choice

A young girl, her face veiled, stands as a symbol of countless others forced into early marriages. Her covered face reflects the life ahead hidden, constrained, and decided for her, not by her.

Unequal burdens

In this image, boys sit comfortably, focused on their homework, immersed in learning without interruption. Meanwhile, a young girl is caught between her studies and the demands of household chores. The weight of her daily responsibilities is visible, contrast to the boys’ freedom to focus solely on their education. This photo tells a story of imbalance. While the boys enjoy the opportunity to prioritize their education, the girl juggles two worlds: the pursuit of knowledge and the burden of domestic labor.