Voice.Global website

A voice about the Magic of Voice

 

I feel immensely grateful to have had the opportunity to help plant the seeds out of which Voice developed, and to have been able to follow and support Voice and the magic of its voices till recently.  Voice has been and still is an enormous source of learning and experimenting to do grantmaking differently, to innovate, to localise and to bring rightsholders to the front beyond the ‘normal way of doing’.

From my own experience in projects fighting poverty and inequality in many countries, I had learned how difficult it is to really meaningfully engage rightsholders, particularly the most marginalised and discriminated. All donors have social inclusion as a requirement, almost all development organisations speak out loud “to leave no one behind”. But in practice, in the hectic of the race against the clock to achieve ambitious results under challenging conditions, many commitments to “leave no one behind” get diluted and deprioritised.

 

 

Both the donor as well as the two leading implementing organisations have been a continuous hinder to experiment, demanding compliance and reducing risks. Any grantmaking project, or any project in fact, always will encounter challenges of mismanagement and fraud. Voice also did. But Voice has tried to build trust by bringing the rightsholders together and stimulating as much accountability and transparency as possible. Rigorous risk management eats away the space for experimenting and trust building. But of course nobody is served by just throwing money without following what happens with it.

In my view, the Voice team, together with the rightsholders, have done a fantastic job to strike that difficult balance between compliance with rigid (financial) M&E systems and creating space to make errors and learn. A lot of ‘learning by error’, trying things that are completely ‘out of the box’. Being close to and with the rightsholders with staff mainly in the Global South, meaningfully engaging rightsholders in different ways in the implementation and management of the programme. Voice has lived its slogan successfully and with pride: “Now US! Nothing about us without us”. Voice has left a legacy and inspired me hugely to challenge myself in doing my work differently!

Magic of Voice(s)

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    Yayasan Inisiatif Perubahan Akses menuju Sehat (IPAS) Indonesia

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    Women can stand up: Women without disabilities and Women with Disabilities

    Wycliffe Osangco and Elsie Mulindi Makungu, Kenyan Paraplegic Organization - Kenya
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    With passion: Making sex work a safe industry

    Sherry, Asian Pacific Network of Sex Workers (APNSW) - The Netherlands
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    Winning through Networking and Partnership - Boosting  Public Participation

    Coalition on Violence Against Women - Kenya
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    Visually impared at the forefront of decision-making

    Geofrey Juma, National Taxpayers Association - Kenya
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    True change happens from the bottom, up!

    Caren, Emerging Leaders Foundation - Kenya
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    The magic of intergenerational communication

    Sheila Mulli, Former Voice Regional Roving Grants Officer for Africa - Kenya
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    The isolated boy became an LGBTQIA+ influencer

    Vanton - Cambodia
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    Teamwork and mapping transform Ogiek Community conservation practices

    Lilian Kiriongi, Chepkitale Indigenous Peoples Development Project (CIPDP) - Kenya
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    Smile!

    Ann-Gloria Njoki, Deaf Outreach Program - Kenya
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    Reclaiming one's indigenous identity

    Nam Ratha - Cambodia
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    Of endings and beginnings

    Carmine Ganac, Linking, Learning, and Amplifier Officer, Voice Philippines - Philippines
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    Neath’s Voice Journey

    Sreyneath Chhun - Cambodia
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    Murya Magic: Ruda Ngwan Chinka

    Ruda Ngwan Chinka, Hoomsen Women Farmers - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Pearl Nwosu

    Pearl Nwosu, TAF - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Malam Musa Audu

    Malam Musa Auda, NAYA - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Lucy Dangana

    Lucy Dangana, FIRC - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Ibrahim Usman

    Ibrahim Usman, NCOS-CAPIO - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Francesca Ekwonu

    Francesca Ekwonu, CSAAE - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Comrade Oya Harrison

    Comrade Oya Harrison, YSAD - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Annie Faithful

    Annie Faithful, Dew Drop Foundation - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Aloh Victoria Nwazonam

    Aloh Victoria Nwazonam, Mama Centre - Nigeria
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    Murya Magic: Agnes Nwaneho

    Agnes Nwaneho, YWC - Politeracy - Nigeria
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    More youth on the table!

    Shiko Kihika - Kenya
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    More than a disability

    Dim Sophea - Cambodia
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    Me, You and Us

    Ishita Dutta, Voice Global Programme Manager - The Netherlands
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    I thought I was alone – but I am not!

    Albinism Umbrella - Uganda
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    I can lead! 

    Dat Nguyen, PARD Vietnam - The Netherlands
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    God did not make mistakes in creating me!

    Jeff B. Cagandahan, Intersex Philippines - Philippines
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    From social isolation to leading social change

    Ann Khhort - Cambodia
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    Football is for everyone: Women and People With Disabilities can play

    KEFEADO - Kenya
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    FISH FOR SEX – NO MORE!  

    National Taxpayers Association - Kenya
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    Fighting myths with love and support

    Africa Albinism Network (AAN) - Tanzania
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    Communities of Practice, in practice!

    Saophorn Phoeng, Voice Cambodia - Cambodia
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    Changes through face to face interaction

    Kids and Teens Resource Center (K&TRC) - Mali
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    Building Bridges Between Generations: Inspiring Stories of Young People's Involvement in Fighting for Elderly Rights

    Indonesia for Humanity (YSIK) - Indonesia
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    Be brave!

    Pich Chhoeub - Cambodia
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    A voice about the Magic of Voice

    Nicolette Matthijsen, former Steering Committee member - The Netherlands
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    A strong woman emerges

    Keo Navy - Cambodia
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    A boost to our Feminist movement!

    Nancy Houston, Feminists in Kenya - Kenya

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