Breaking Barriers
Naila's journey as a youth-led action facilitator
Naila's journey as a disability activist and humanitarian began with the harsh realities she faced as a person with low vision. From the moment she entered junior high school, she encountered rejection and discrimination, with insinuations that "Children with special needs should not go to school here," echoing from teachers and peers alike. These early experiences ignited a fire within Naila to challenge societal norms and advocate for the rights of marginalized communities, particularly women and people with disabilities.
Her passion for humanitarian action deepened when she responded to the earthquake disaster in Cianjur Regency in 2022. Amidst the chaos and devastation, Naila witnessed firsthand the heightened risks women and girls face in disaster situations. Public toilets, often occupied by men, left women feeling vulnerable and unsafe. Naila heard distressing accounts from children, revealing instances of violence and harassment, highlighting the urgent need for gender-sensitive responses in humanitarian efforts.
Despite the challenges, Naila remained undeterred. Alongside one of a NGO, she spearheaded Psychosocial Support and Child Consultation activities during the emergency response, providing a platform for affected children to voice their needs and concerns. Through these initiatives, Naila advocated for safer and more inclusive spaces for women and children, challenging the pervasive societal attitudes that perpetuate gender-based violence and discrimination.
Naila's advocacy story continues further. Instead, she turned her experiences into a catalyst for change, recognizing the urgent need for inclusivity. This drive led her to her current role as a Youth Advocacy Guide Training facilitator with the support of UNICEF East Asia and Pacific, where she empowers others to advocate for themselves and their communities.
When Erwin, a UNICEF Indonesia Mitra Muda member, approached Naila to join the training as a facilitator, she saw it as an opportunity to amplify her voice and make a tangible difference. Despite the persisting challenges faced by persons with disability, particularly women, in accessing training and information related to advocacy, Naila remained steadfast in her commitment to building resilience and promoting active involvement of young women and persons with disability in advocacy efforts.
Naila and team divided two stages of activities in this training; the first was the preparation and simulation stage for the facilitator to simplify the module and contextualize it to suit the local context; apart from that, Naila had a role in making video training materials regarding "best practices in organizing an activity" and providing input whether the training venue and materials were accessible.
The second stage was training implementation from February 23 – 25th, 2024, in Bandung City, Indonesia. A group of 44 participants, carefully chosen from hundreds of eager applicants, joined in for a unique experience. These 15 to 24 participants came from different backgrounds, such as climate change, disaster management, disability inclusion, WASH, and children's rights.
Throughout the three-day training, participants underwent a transformative journey, emerging as effective advocates with the tools to drive meaningful change. The training went beyond mere surface-level engagement, delving deep into the nuances of meaningful youth participation versus tokenistic.
Crucially, the training sessions didn't just focus on advocacy tactics but also prioritized the mental well-being of advocates. Naila facilitated and shared her experience strategies for self-care as an advocate, recognizing the importance of maintaining resilience and balance in their activism. This emphasis on mental health underscored the holistic approach taken by the training, ensuring that participants were equipped with advocacy skills and the tools to sustain themselves in their advocacy journey.
As the training progressed, participants honed their ability to identify and seize momentum in their advocacy efforts. Through interactive exercises and group discussions, participants shared valuable insights and strategies, fostering collaboration and empowerment within the community. This collaborative spirit strengthened individual advocacy efforts and laid the foundation for collective action and solidarity among participants.
Initially, I though this training would be formal, and participants would just listen, but it turned out that my opinion was different. The exciting training encouraged participants to participate and reflect actively on their advocacy journey. In this training, we can also learn from each other about best practices advocacy carried out by other participants, and we are provided with advocacy strategies that I have not learned before.
The impact of the training has been profound, with participants like Wandi recognizing the value of active engagement and collaboration in advocacy efforts. As Naila's advocacy story continues to unfold, she remains dedicated to creating a society where marginalized voices are valued and respected. As a facilitator, Naila hopes that participants will carry forward the training to their organizations. She believes that limitations should not hinder contributions to advocacy efforts. Even small actions can have a significant impact when accumulated.
