Qilin-Giraffes – The Podcast to Restore your Faith in Humanity

kanthari alumni Aparna Gopan and Ruangtup Kaeokamechun (Ruang) do an amazing job in questioning taboos – talking about the things we’re taught not to talk about and therefore giving, especially children, an important tool to get information. Aparnas “Elephant in the room” in India and Ruangs “Little Firefly” in Thailand are dealing with taboos in their societies. In our very touching conversation they talk about their personal motivation and experiences regarding taboos and the achievements they can see within their societies. It’s very encouraging to listen to these two fearless women, who go on fighting for the rights of the marginalized and speaking out loud about harmful taboos. If you´re loocking for a way to support them, here you find their websites:

https://www.hinghoynoy.com/

http://www.elefantintheroom.org/

Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, are staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders. The farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the new farm reform laws and a guarantee on the Minimum Support Price system being retained. In today´s Podcast Giraffe Hero Dilip Simeon is giving us a thorough evaluation on the farmer’s protest in New Dehli. The movement, which is ongoing for almost three months already, had being going on peacefully since November 2020. The one incident of 26th it is not what the bulk of the farmers wants, he said. The movement has created great solidarity among the society. Dilip also gives some insight on what are the crucial things that should change socially and politically in India, but also globally.

Yoshimi connects books to people and people to books. After the kanthari scholarship, she started “Always Reading Caravan”, a unique nonprofit that brings books, fun, and hope to rural communities in Northern Thailand. A mobile library for children and adults, both with, and without disabilities in rural Thailand, founded by a Japanese woman who happens to be blind. For Yoshimi, books are important, but more important are the people reading these books. She sees reading as a tool to connect people and also to connect people to society.

https://www.alwaysreadingcaravan.org/php/index.php

People with albinism have been persecuted, killed and dismembered, and graves of albinos dug up and desecrated in some eastafrican countries. At the same time, people with albinism have also been ostracised and even killed for exactly the opposite reason, because they are also presumed to be cursed and bring bad luck. In today's Podcast I'm talking with Jane Waithera about her experience with albinism in Kenya and her path to found Positive Exposure Kenya. With her organisation she is fighting to challenge the stigma that is being projected on people with Albinism, not only in her country. She has a very clear vision on how to change the current situation towards more diversity, a clear mission on how to improve the lives of people with albinism and change public vision and also the values they pursue. How exactly is her approach? Listen to our podcast and check her website at: positiveexposure-kenya.org

Sristi Foundation was founded by Karthikeyan, known as Karthik, a psychologist born and raised in Pondicherry generally known as 'Pondy' situated on the East Coast of India. Karthik, a 2012 kanthari graduate spent 15 years in an inclusive orphanage where disabled and non-disabled children lived and grew up together. The projects Kartik has founded with Sristi Villiage are absolutely admirable. Listen to his very personal story on how he ended up finding his path in devoting his life to improve the conditions for people with intellectual disability. With the projects he started in 2015, he supports plenty of people to lead an independent life, be part of the community and have an individual perspective.

Social Changemaker and kanthari alumni Faruk Musema explains us his concept of reverse inclusion. As an inclusive sports coach for children with disabilities at the Gulu Disabled Persons Union, Faruk is a passionate sports man and social Changemaker in his community in Northern Uganda. He is also passionate about sports and has set himself a goal: Ability Sports Africa (ASA) empower children and youth by running adaptive sports and literacy programs. They empower students and children with disabilities to stay in their schools. The idea is to see the abilities of the children, create activities in schools to engage their bias in different games. To reach that comprehension in the community, he found a way to create other bias, adaptive games that brings up all different kind of abilities. That’s how they encourage children without disabilities for example to sit in a wheelchair as well to play wheelchair basketball and thus understand what it actually means, to sit in a wheelchair.

kanthari alumni Kapila Rasnayaka promotes a genderless society. Not sure, what’s that about? Kapila explains: “Genderless means just representing yourself as you, without masculinities and feminities – it means you’re free to fly, anywhere…” A great joy talking to Kapila, who gives us a 360° insight of his vision and engagement to promote gender equality and create a genderless society. Join Kapila on his journey to "the Genderless Jungle" and "Voices of Humans" in Sri Lanka. Get to know how you can free your world of gender constructs through workshops, through activities, through being an example. Kapila wants to encourage people to see opportunities, to create love.

https://voicesofhumans.org/#

Human rights activist and commended Giraffe Hero Jaz O’Hara founded „The Worldwide Tribe“ in a bid to highlight the humanity behind world issues and inspire positive social change. She is uplifting refugee voices and celebrating human differences. Founded in 2015, the Worlwidetribe has grown into an organisation and online community which raises awareness about the refugee crisis whilst also supporting those caught up in it in a sustainable way.

Ojok Simon is from Uganda. The 2012 kanthari graduate, is a beekeeper, an environmentalist, a human rights activist and also almost blind. At age thirteen, Ojok survived an armed attack to his village that led to his blindness. But also made Hive Uganda possible.

Enjoy listening about Ojoks activities and how he has managed to create a sustainable enterprise with wild beekeeping for the blind people in Uganda. We want and need to ask you for a little extra patience today. Internet connection and technical equipment in rural areas is not always as stable and up to the standard as we need it and are used to – but we’re sure – if you just slow down a little and let your mind travel with todays’ podcast, your conscience will overcome its rather poor audio quality and capture Ojoks message: “I want to leave a legacy, a history on how to change things and move on”.

Foto:kanthari.org

Trevor Molife, founder of the organization Purple Hand Africa is giving us a broad insight about how life might be for someone forming part of the LGTBQI community in Zimbabwe. Note, that this topic comes with traumatic stories – which makes it not less important to listen to his, on the contrary, one should raise attention and get engaged. To embrace each and everyone, no matter their gender or sexuality and see the actual human being. We learn about Purple Hand Africa, how they create a safe space for the community and offer especially mental help, strengthening individuals and reducing the suicidal rate of members of the community. We also learn about Trevors personal journey, impressive, persistant, sad and yet so powerful – a great person to get in touch with!