Goma’s Girls Assert Their Rights with Powerful Mural Project
By Brooke Williams, She’s the First
Photos by Pamela Tulizo, Tulizo Elle Space
A mural in the process of being created in Goma, DRC where 14 human rights identified by girl participants have been written in Swahili, 2022. (Photo by Pamela Tulizo)
A Canvas for Change
In an endeavor that melds art with advocacy, Colors of Connection, in collaboration with Tulizo Elle Space, has orchestrated a vibrant initiative in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo that has girls' rights on display on a massive scale.
Walking through the neighborhood, you’ll spot two large murals that highlight a local Girls’ Bill of Rights, inspired by The Global Girls’ Bill of Rights®. These artworks were conceived and painted by girls.
The murals are part of a program called Musichana Hamuka (Swahili for Girl Awakening), that offers life skills, creative activities, mentorship, knowledge sharing and local capacity building, and public mural-making and advocacy for girls and their communities.
This program provides safe spaces, mentorship, and creative activities to 300 10 to 14-year-old girls who are at high risk of child marriage and living in a highly insecure, low-resource neighborhood in conflict-affected Goma. Christina Mallie, co-founder of Colors of Connection and a director on this inspiring project, shared her motivations and the impactful outcomes of the work.
Mural-making for the girls is an opportunity to voice their perspectives, and to be seen and heard in a new way by their community. Because of their young age and gender, young adolescent girls’ have little to no opportunity to express their needs and interests, much less demand basic human rights. To create the murals, Christina and her colleagues worked with The Girls’ Bill of Rights® Toolkit and engaged girl participants in a discussion about rights, finding it to be an approachable and relevant resource for the girls.
A mural in the process of being created on a school building in Goma, DRC where 14 human rights identified by girl participants have been written in Swahili, 2022. (Photo by Pamela Tulizo)
“The Girls’ Bill of Rights Toolkit is a great resource for us because it has been shaped and vetted by girls on a global scale,” said Mallie.
Understanding Rights
A significant challenge was the girls' initial lack of awareness about their rights. In one session, they discussed the difference between rights and responsibilities. Many girls initially believed their rights were to wash dishes or clean the house, or obey their elders reflecting how little socialization they have on rights and how deeply engrained gender roles are.
Because their Bill of Rights was created from the girl’s own experience and knowledge , it was incredibly useful for them to have the Global Girls’ Bill of Rights as a reference point, to compare what they had thought of with what girls globally consider essential human rights. It enabled them to add in rights they hadn’t considered but realized were critical such as the right to education in sexual and reproductive health.
“The Girls’ Bill of Rights Toolkit is a great resource for us because it has been shaped and vetted by girls on a global scale.”
The Local Goma Girls’ Bill of Rights
Written by and For Girls
Inspired by The Global Girls’ Bill of Rights
The right to have a name, a nationality, an identity. (Constitution, 2011; Convention on the Rights of the Child #7 and #8; CEDAW Article 9)
The right to the highest attainable standard of healthcare, including comprehensive sexual and reproductive healthcare. The right to education in sexual and reproductive health.
(Convention on the Rights of the Child #24; Maputo Protocol Article 14)The right to be fed and clothed and to live in a safe home where one can develop their full potential. (Convention on the Rights of the Child #27 and #24)
The right to go to school: to a free, quality primary education. (Convention on the Rights of the Child #28)
The right to be protected from violence, mistreatment and all forms of abuse and exploitation. The right to be protected from child trafficking and child marriage. (Constitution Article 15; Penal Code Law 06-018; Article 3, Family Code Article 352, 2016; Maputo Protocol Article 16; Convention on the Rights of the Child #19, #36)
The right to equality: Girls should be free from discrimination and harmful stereotypes, whether at home, at school or in our communities. (Constitution Article 11-14, Convention on the Rights of the Child #2, Maputo Protocol Article 2, CEDAW Article 1)
The right to be free from war. The right to protection in times of war. (Congolese Military Law Article 7; Convention on the Rights of the Child #38, #39)
The right to have a family, to be cared for and loved. (Convention on the Rights of the Child #9, #18, #19, #20)
The right to play and have leisure time. (Convention on the Rights of the Child #31)
The right to freedom of information, expression and participation. (Convention on the Rights of the Child #17)
The right to shelter, to protection, and to have decent living conditions. (Convention on the Rights of the Child #18, #19, #20)
The right to participate in decision-making and access to leadership positions without fear of discrimination, harassment or persecution. (Constitution, 2011; Maputo Protocol Article 8 and 9)
The right to decide for themselves about their bodies and sexuality. (Maputo Protocol Article 14)
The right to protection from harmful traditions and enjoyment of positive cultural practices. (Congolese Penal Code (Law 06-018, Art. 3, 2006); Maputo Protocol Article 5)
The rights were presented to community stakeholders, including local government and artists who helped identify which rights were most pertinent to highlight before creating the mural designs with the girls. The mural creation itself was all done by the girls, and supported by the team of artists who helped them sketch out the design, showed them how to mix colors, and other artistic techniques.
Community Reaction and Impact
A completed mural on a school building in Goma, DRC where 14 human rights identified by girl participants have been written in Swahili, 2022. (Photo by Pamela Tulizo)
The sight of young girls leading the creation of these murals initially surprised the community but quickly garnered support and admiration. “The community was surprised and astonished to see girls of this age painting in their environment. It's unusual because the community assigns this role to boys, according to tradition and custom,” program staff shared. “In the end, the community understood that it's not just boys who can paint.”
“The community was mostly supportive and praised the girls' work. They were proud of the girls for encouraging them to speak out and denounce inequalities within their community. The leaders committed themselves to supporting the fulfillment of these rights and to upholding the law,” said a program staff member. “Notably, the sight of young girls leading the project quickly garnered support and admiration.”
Tangible outcomes from the murals have included more open discussions among elders and girls about the harmful practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
While many people were supportive, there was also pushback from some community members and parents. This resistance reflects the challenges of pushing against entrenched social norms.
“(Community) leaders committed themselves to supporting the fulfillment of these rights and to upholding the law. Notably, the sight of young girls leading the project quickly garnered support and admiration.”
Looking Ahead
A girl participant on site during mural creation, in Goma, DRC. (Photo by Pamela Tulizo)
With the success of the murals in Goma, both organizations plan to continue incorporating The Global Girls' Bill of Rights® Toolkit into their curriculum and expanding its use to other girls' groups. By doing so, they aim to further support girls as they advocate for their rights on a larger scale.
Through their vibrant murals, Colors of Connection and Tulizo Elle Space are not just creating art; they are fostering a movement that supports young girls to stand up for their rights and inspires communities to challenge and change harmful social norms. This initiative highlights the powerful role that art can play in advocacy and the ongoing fight for gender equality in DRC and beyond.
Conclusion
Through innovative engagement with art, Colors of Connection and Tulizo Elle Space have ignited important conversations in the community that led to concrete changes positively impacting girls’ lives. The project in Goma stands as a testament to the power of collaborative efforts, creativity, and the undeniable spirit of girls determined to make their voices heard. With each brushstroke, they painted not only murals but a vision of a world where every girl knows and exercises her rights, free from discrimination and limitations. This is more than a story about art; it's a narrative of agency, resilience, and hope for the future of girls everywhere.