The Power of Your Donation!
One of our greatest joys is sharing the remarkable achievements of the Giving Joy award winners. These grant recipients inspire us and showcase the profound impact made possible by your generous donations and the transformative potential of micro-grants! We are thrilled to share the journey of Shades of Us Mobile Cinema FLOW project.
Shades of Us Storytelling Initiative for African People (‘Shades of Us’) is a Nigerian non-profit organization using storytelling to address the socio-economic issues affecting Africa, Africans, and people of African descent. Shades of US used the Giving Joy grant to produce and disseminate “Flow” – a film focusing on period poverty showcasing the experiences of women and girls who cannot afford menstrual hygiene products, along with their families and other supporting community members. You can view the film here.
Over a period of 8 months (August 2023 - February 2024), Shades of Us engaged communities, menstrual health implementing partners in Nigeria and South Africa, women and girls from internally displaced camps to dialogue about menstrual hygiene and health.
Giving Joy grant funds played a crucial role in script development; film location scouting; auditions and actor casting; film shoot, postproduction, screening events and promotions across social media. These activities resulted in enhanced skills and experience in film production for team members, strengthened organizational ties with schools and partners, and positioned Shades of Us as a catalyst for awareness on period poverty and menstrual hygiene.
One of the highlights were screening events in February and May 2024 (Menstrual Hygiene Day) in Abuja, designed not just as a film viewing but as a platform for meaningful dialogue. The events included interactive sessions aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration among advocates for menstrual health, as well as the distribution of menstrual products donated by the Yagazie Foundation and Kimberly Clark.
“As we move forward, Shades of Us remains committed to expanding the impact of FLOW beyond initial screenings.” Stated Ramatu Ada Ochekliye, Founder, Portfolio Director, Shades of Us. “We extend our deepest gratitude to all our supporters, partners, and volunteers who have been instrumental in making the Mobile Cinema FLOW project a success. Together, we are making strides towards a future where menstrual health is understood, supported, and prioritized for all women and girls.”
Through its strategic use of social media platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok, the film reached 431,311(!!) individuals in-person and virtually. Digital outreach was crucial in amplifying the message and fostering a broader conversation about menstrual health.
This story illustrates the power of your donation and how you can make a real difference towards gender equality. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to women worldwide.