The grant was our first acknowledgement from an institution, which is important for public service projects…The grant, to be completely honest, gave me a reinvigoration of hope in this effort when I had sort of lost it. Being a transgender woman anywhere in the world is a pretty difficult journey. Having ideas and perseverance to do them when institutions with resources don’t take your efforts seriously- as a Black trans woman- can make you want to throw in the towel. At times, I asked myself, ‘Why am I committed to this? I have a job, so why am I taking on additional work when I don’t need to be?’ However, I’ve just been completely married to the idea that trans women of color- in particular black transgender women, are not empowered in ways that we could be. Receiving the Pollination Project grant reinvigorated my commitment to the vision, and gave me a stronger trajectory to generate and create ideas and newer ways of thinking about this effort to be impactful.
Aria Sa’id, Kween Culture Initiative, San Francisco, CA, USA
In the heart of Nkwen Bamenda III Sub Division, Northwest region of Cameroon, the pilot project "Youth and Visual Arts Activism for Social Change" unfolded at Teken Quarter Youth Community Hall. This initiative, running from January to April 2023, targeted fifteen disadvantaged youths—including school dropouts, drug addicts, and other vulnerable groups. The project, supported by a The Project Project grant, was launched by the Collective Arts Development Association (CADA), which provided six art facilitators. These experts delivered extensive training in various artistic skills, from sketching and drawing on canvas boards to graphic design and T-shirt printing.
Participants were introduced to the fundamentals of colors, composition, and proportions, along with practical applications in screen printing on diverse materials like jeans, nylon, and polyester. The primary goal of the project was to leverage art and social entrepreneurship as viable alternatives to drug use, abuse, crime, and poverty in the local community. Furthermore, the project included an outreach program involving sixth-grade pupils from the Government Primary School in Teken Quarter.
The success of this pilot paved the way for a flagship initiative titled "Empowering Marginalized Youths through Life Skill Education Art and Entrepreneurship Skill Development." This ongoing program offers six-month intensive training sessions to thirty disadvantaged youths, teaching them not only visual and graphic arts but also audio-visual skills and crafts essential for economic independence and social inclusion. Moreover, the program includes mental health education, counseling, rehabilitation strategies, and connects participants with mental health professionals as needed, continuing to transform lives thanks to the foundational support of the The Pollination Project grant.
#art #socialchange #activism #youthempowerment #mentalhealtheducation #cameroon #heartivism #grants #thepollinationproject
WINNERS!!
Our grantees Manjushree Abhinav and Aanchal Raturi won the Swarnali Roy Vegan Advocacy Awards 2024 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Manjushree received a grant for her project "My planet and my plate", inspiring students to become climate activists themselves, to plant the seed of change into the hearts and minds of students, hoping that these seeds will sprout into far-reaching effects.
Aanchal founded Project Re-Learn, conducting workshops in Uttaranchal colleges to sensitize future agriculturists about ethical practices.
Join us in congratulating these two incredible heartivists! 🧡
@hsi_india
@hsiglobal
@manjushreeabhinav
@earthling_anna_raturi
#animalrights #animalwelfare #vegan #plantbased #veganlifestyle #nocruelty #crueltyfree #heartivism #grants #animaladvocacy #india
🌟 Volunteer Week 🌟 Celebrating our family of Grant Advisors!
Today we celebrate our grant advisors dedicated to #animalprotection .
🔸 April King (Montenegro/United States)
🔸 Elphas Ongongo (Kenya)
🔸 Mohini Sharma (India)
🔸 Evans Okumu (Kenya)
🔸 Fernanda García Naranjo Ortega (Mexico)
🔸 Leandro Franz (Brazil)
🔸 Jeremy Gregory (United States)
🔸 Kate Luke (Australia)
🔸 Andrew Alexander (United States)
@granjitatyh
@kotorkitties
@littleoaksanctuary
#volunteerweek
#animalrights #animalwelfare #heartivism #grants #animaladvocacy #advisors
Resty Nabaggala, a dedicated advocate for gender equality and youth empowerment in Uganda, is working to tackle menstrual poverty and promote education for girls. Growing up in a rural area plagued by poverty, child marriages, and limited educational opportunities, Resty experienced firsthand the challenges that hindered girls` access to education.
After witnessing the stark realities faced by her peers—many of whom were forced into early marriages or dropped out of school due to menstruation-related issues—Resty became deeply committed to addressing the root causes of gender inequality and educational barriers in her community. This passion led her to establish the Here For Her Foundation, with the goal to empower girls and women by providing menstrual education, access to reusable sanitary pads, and advocacy for girls` rights.
Through initiatives like the Pad Her Project - supported by a seed grant from The Pollination Project - Resty and her team are working tirelessly to break the silence surrounding menstruation and dismantle the societal taboos that perpetuate menstrual poverty. By offering educational sessions, distributing reusable pads, and empowering girls with the knowledge and skills to manage their menstrual health, Resty aims to ensure that no girl is deprived of her right to education due to menstruation-related challenges.
#menstrualhygiene #menstrualhealth #periodpoverty #heartivism #womenempowerment #girlsempowerment #uganda
