Advocacy Storytelling on Mobile Phones

Rooted in Rights has partnered with Mental Voices Africa to promote international advocacy for those of us with mental health disabilities. In October 2019, Noela Luka, Chairperson for Mental Voices Africa, and Allexa Laycock, Editor for Rooted in Rights, led the first group of participants in an advocacy storytelling workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. This workshop trained these advocates to script, film, and edit their own self-advocacy stories on mobile phones.

This workshop was initially supported by The Professional Fellows Program on Inclusive Disability Employment. The Professional Fellows Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and implemented by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston and Humanity and Inclusion.

A photo of Brian seated in a chair with headphones in his ears looking toward a mobile phone being held toward him.

Mental Voices Africa – Brian

Brian Emmanuel Mbuthia created an online open forum on Mental Health called The Stronger Forum. Here he engages especially with young adults and invites teachers, parents and caregivers as part of creating conversations around Mental Health that he has been able to set up with the help of his psychologist. He also participates in panel … Continued

Rooted in Rights and Mental Voices Africa logos with Closed Captioning and Audio Description logos. Festus smiles in front of a brick wall.

Mental Voices Africa – Festus (Swahili)

Content note: Mention of suicidal feelings Festus Maronga, is from Gachie, Kenya. He’s a student at Kenyatta University studying Diploma in Theatre Art and Film Technology. He loves writing poems and acting. He’s passionate about Child Rights and Mental Health. Studying Theatre Arts has helped him create awareness on Mental Health through the poems and … Continued

Mental Voices Africa – Festus (English voice over)

Content note: Mention of suicidal feelings Festus Maronga, is from Gachie, Kenya. He’s a student at Kenyatta University studying Diploma in Theatre Art and Film Technology. He loves writing poems and acting. He’s passionate about Child Rights and Mental Health. Studying Theatre Arts has helped him create awareness on Mental Health through the poems and … Continued

Phyllis sits in front of a brick wall. She wears headphones and looks to the side with a slight smile.

Mental Voices Africa – Phyllis

Phyllis is an I.T and Administration Professional with Logistics working experience. As a Mental Health Ambassador, she hopes to help destigmatize mental health and foster open dialogues about issues such as Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, and other disorders. As a Mental Health Ambassador, she has cherished her time learning from fellow ambassadors and developing her own … Continued

Mental Voices Africa – Nick

Nicholas Odhiambo Osir has a BA in Philosophy. He is a Mental Health survivor meaning he got better over time, developed great coping mechanisms and is not always on medication. He is passionate about self-advocacy on Mental Health issues in relation to drug and substance abuse, especially among the youth. He often engages young people … Continued

Mental Voices Africa – Harrison

Harrison describes the difficulty in acquiring a disability card as a person with bipolar disorder.

Image of Noela Luka. She's outside and behind her is a triangular shaped figure.

An Interview with Noela

Why talk about Mental Health? Noela Luka is a documentary filmmaker from Kenya working with Rooted in Rights – check out her reasons. Noela is working with Rooted in Rights as part of the International Professional Fellows Program for Inclusive Disability Employment (PFP-IDE).