Press Release – NEW YORK – November 20, 2017: When the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence kick off on November 25th, Footage Foundation will launch a series of stories about refugee and migrant women who have journeyed from situations of conflict to finding connection through the NGO’s Her{connect}Her program.
The 16 Days campaign launches annually on November 25: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and ends on December 10: Human Rights Day.
This year, Footage Foundation’s 16 Days of Activism initiative, “From Conflict to Connection,” will advocate for young women displaced by crisis and conflict, raising awareness of their vulnerabilities in respect to gender-based violence and the positive impact connection has on their lives and the world. Over the course of the 16 Days, the NGO will share “Her Routes and Roots,” a story series that tells of the journeys of displacement undergone by young refugee and migrant women, focusing on their resilience and pivotal moments of strength. The series will be published on Medium.
Footage Foundation Executive Director and Co-Founder, Dr. Kristen Ali Eglinton, explained that the stories were carefully drawn from in-depth narrative interviews she conducted throughout this year with women from Syria, Iraq, Cameroon, Saudi Arabia, and other countries who are now living in refugee camps and cities across Europe. This work forms the core of Footage’s Her{connect}Her voice empowerment program for young refugee and migrant women.
“The series will include the words of young women, artwork by photographer Ali Richards, as well as digital stories produced by Footage’s program participants,” Dr. Eglinton said.
Footage will engage in public outreach beginning on Giving Tuesday (November 28) in Washington Square Park, New York City. A multimedia installation will project the voices and stories of refugees. There will be an opportunity to leave messages of connection for these young women, information about Footage’s innovative voice programming, and advice for the public on other ways to make a difference in the wake of the refugee and migrant crisis.
“Funds we raised in Washington Square Park earlier this year supported Her{connect}Her, and this will be the first time the public will have the chance to hear these stories. It is exciting for us to show the community what has been accomplished, the change they have made in the lives of others through their giving,” Dr. Eglinton said.
