Creating safe spaces for all is transforming lives of young people who feel marginalised due to reasons beyond their control, writes UNFPA communications analyst JOSEPH SCOTT.
Princess Dinala has endured discriminatory treatment from the very start.
Born with albinism, she faced rejection not just on the netball court, but in every facet of her daily existence.
She recalls: “Every time I asked my friends to play netball with them, they declined saying that since my eyesight was bad, they feared I would make them lose the game as they felt I was likely to pass the ball to the opposing team.”
Albinism is a rare genetic disorder where one is not born with the usual amount of melanin, a pigment that determines the colour of your skin, hair and eyes.
Most persons with albinism have very pale skin, hair and eyes. They are prone to sunburn, skin cancer and sight problems.
Princess’ unique skin tone was perceived as a curse, a stigma that left her isolated and grappling with depression.
But in June this year, she discovered a glimmer of hope in an unexpected place, a safe space established under the Teens project, funded by the Government of Ireland to create a safe haven for young women and girls who felt marginalised due to factors beyond their control.
Upon joining in, Princess faced initial resistance from her peers who were hesitant to embrace her differences. However, the safe space mentor Gladys Enock recognised the need for a broader conversation.
She kicked off with a session on human rights, using smart phone tablets to showcase videos depicting communities that celebrated individuals with albinism.
“For many, it was the first time to use a tablet for learning,” explained Gladys. “Later, the discussions were lively as the videos had attracted their attention.”
The tablets, a novel addition to the safe spaces, not only simplified learning but also broadened the girls’ horizons, exposing them to ideas beyond their immediate communities. The interactive session proved transformative, shifting the girls’ perspectives on albinism and fostering a deep understanding of the importance of respecting human rights.
For Princess, the safe space became a catalyst for change. Empowered and emboldened, she found her voice and the strength to confront the discrimination that had plagued her for years.
“I now realise that I have the power to change things by speaking against such behaviour,” she declared.
The impact extended beyond combating discrimination. The tablets facilitated knowledge exchange on running small businesses and managing village savings and loans. Linley Rahman, a 19-year-old mentee, admitted to never having used a smartphone before. The newfound digital knowledge, coupled with mentor-guided internet searches, transformed their village savings bank, turning losses into profits.
As a result, Linley, a single mother, utilised her earnings to buy onions for resale, turning a profit that fuelled her ambition to return to school.
“I got pregnant when I dropped out of school as my parents couldn’t afford paying school fees. Now that I have a small business, thanks to the support I got from the safe space, I plan to use my profits to pay for my school fees next year.”
