Introducing Our Hub Team – Suzan Joy

by | Jun 1, 2016 | Archive

For 2016, The Pollination Project is launching 4 new grantmaking hubs which are run by 17 successful grantees. These hubs help us support local leadership, make better grants, and mentor and develop start-up social change projects. Who better to introduce you to our hub members than their team mates?!

In this installment, Fred Batale interviewed and wrote about Suzan Wilmot, his fellow Ugandan team member in our East Africa Hub.

Suzan Wilmot grew up straddling the line between poverty and privilege, a foot in each world as her father struggled to raise her single handedly while doing odd jobs for wealthier families. These contrasting experiences gave her the chance to determine what is truly meaningful in life. The history we go through shapes our future and determine what we can become in life, and Suzan didn’t let this situation stop her dreams.

Now in her twenties, and a mother of two children, Suzan continues to find herself between worlds. She’s a social change trainer, while also running an international business. She’s an activist shunned by many of her agemates that prefer the perks of being politically connected to a military regime, while also spending her time digging up her groundnuts, boiling dodo, and enjoying the other day-to-day tasks often associated with Lango womanhood.

Suzan has trained refugees in upcycled crafting. She has organized women and youth for nonviolent demonstrations against some of the most viciously powerful men in the African Great Lakes region. She has consulted social change groups, and she has joined campaigns for things like Internet accessibility and less repressive laws. She has endured arrests and has helped others do the same. Her work is colorful, intense, and dynamic.

Doing all the above paved the way for Suzan to become a change maker because she was able to reach many lives. She directs Solidarity Uganda, at the forefront of work in Uganda dedicated to movement building, nonviolent action, and community organizing. She started Solidarity Uganda to train people to achieve peace and justice due to increasing cases of land grabbing, human rights abuses, corruption, and economic exploitation, among others. Her method of operation is realism. She truly pursues high impact, even where there are few inputs. All of these things and more qualify Suzan to be an excellent leader.


 

“For social change to fully take its course, there has to be two of three key necessities; human resources, time and money. For the case of Uganda where economic poverty is hitting people hard, we need to invest more in time and human resources.”

 

In a society where young women of Suzan’s tribe get little respect, in spite of their hard work, the hardships that people go through as a result of violence and economic exploitation drive Suzan to continue with her work.

Suzan has always liked to connect people from different aspects of life working towards social change. In her role in the Pollination Project hub, she hopes to engage more people in dialogue on key issues that affect communities and to work with them to come up with clear realistic action plans. Some of her ideas include schemes to support economic empowerment and sustainable activities (such as forming cooperatives), organizing work groups, and making campaign plans.

Suzan hopes that the work of the Pollination Project East Africa Hub can create a space and environment which invites more and more people to be a part of the change they want to see. She says that “for social change to fully take its course, there has to be two of three key necessities; human resource, time and money. For the case of Uganda where economic poverty is hitting people hard, we need to invest more in time and human resources”. She hopes that if enough people can become involved in making change, then the issue of money can come last and a seed grant can just become the icing on the cake!

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"Sowing Change: Conversations about Seed Grant Impact," is designed to shed light on the transformative work of our grantees, made possible through the support of TPP's seed grants. 

In our first episode, our Natasha Reilly-Moynihan meets Tracy Glover of @sweetpeepsmicrosanctuary, a haven for chickens rescued from animal agriculture. Tracy shares the transformative journey of these sentient beings from being seen as mere food to recognized as unique individuals with their own stories. 

This series aims to showcase the ripple effect of TPP's seed grants through powerful narratives of change and compassion. Tune in to be inspired and to see the world from a new, hopeful perspective.

Watch it now and let us know iff you like it 🧡👇
Please, meet Maida Šabeta-Lemajić , our Heartivist of the Week!

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a landmark document from 1948, marked a pivotal moment for humanity by acknowledging inherent rights for all individuals, regardless of origin or circumstance. However, while humans have seen progress in safeguarding their rights, the same cannot be said for other inhabitants of the planet. Maida Šabeta-Lemajić, a passionate advocate for animal welfare, is tirelessly working alongside the Global Animal Law GAL Association to extend universal protection to all sentient beings.

Born and raised in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Maida's journey into animal advocacy began during her college years when she discovered the pervasive issue of animal cruelty. Since then, she has been instrumental in shaping animal protection laws in her country, leading to significant reforms such as banning animals in circuses and curtailing animal experimentation.

Maida's dedication to animal welfare has taken her to various organizations, including PETA Germany and Cruelty Free International. However, it is her involvement with the Global Animal Law GAL Association that has allowed her to pursue her dream of enacting global animal protection laws. Under the leadership of figures like Dr. h.c. Antoine F. Goetschel, the association is working towards establishing the United Nations Convention on Animal Health and Protection (UNCAHP), a monumental initiative aimed at legally safeguarding animals worldwide. 

Maida and her team are spearheading efforts to raise awareness and garner support for the UNCAHP through initiatives like video production and outreach campaigns. With support from organizations like The Pollination Project, they aim to amplify their message and build a global coalition for animal rights. 

Read the interview on our website [https://thepollinationproject.org] 

@global_animal_law_gal
#Animalrights #animalprotection #animallaw #animalactivism #animalwelfare #AnimalHealth #HumanHealth #EnvironmentalHealth #OneHealth