In the serene coastal town of Unawatuna, a group of 23 young girls from the southern province gathered in August 2023 for a transformative journey. They were invited by the Centre for Media and Information to participate in a three-day Mobile Journalism for Governance Training Program. Little did they know that this program would become a catalyst for change, shining a spotlight on the critical issue of women’s rights and menstrual rights in particular.

As the program began, these young women were asked to share their own experiences of women in their communities. The stories they unveiled were both heart-wrenching and powerful. A first-year student at Rajarata University, narrated the struggles faced by girls and women in plantation communities who grappled with menstrual hardships due to poverty. She recounted the shocking reality of young girls having to endure their menstruation without access to sanitary pads, resorting to using waste paper or even tree bark from climbing banjus to makeshift pads. These stories were emblematic of the challenges faced by girls in marginalized rural communities during the ongoing economic crisis.

Another graduate student, a passionate advocate for the rights of sex workers, shed light on how the current economic situation had taken a severe toll on vulnerable women. They faced harassment, legal discrimination, and public shaming while striving to provide for their families. The young advocate emphasized the importance of addressing the systemic factors that compelled these women to engage in such work against their will.

The Mobile Journalism for Governance Training Program aimed to empower these young women to become advocates for women’s rights. Under the guidance of dynamic trainers, 

Mr. Kapila Ramanayaka and Ms. Fathima Shanaz, the participants learned the art of mobile storytelling. Mr. Ramanayaka, a pioneer of mobile journalism in Sri Lanka, imparted hands-on skills, teaching them the essentials of storytelling, shot composition, video editing, and interview techniques using their smartphones.

Ms. Shanaz, a lecturer and passionate advocate for women’s rights, delved into the complexities of governance and women’s rights on a global scale. She discussed the progress made and the persistent challenges, fostering discussions on local and regional contexts. By the end of the training, these 23 women had transformed into storytellers on a mission.

The program’s final day was all about action. Encouraged by their mentors, the participants embarked on their own mobile journalism projects centered on women’s rights and gender equality. They were equipped with the skills to craft powerful stories, address human rights issues, create gender-sensitive narratives, conduct ethical interviews, and engage in field surveys on women’s rights issues.

As the Mobile Journalism for Governance Training Program concluded, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. These 23 empowered women left Unawatuna with a renewed sense of purpose and the skills to amplify their voices through mobile journalism. They carried with them the power to break barriers, challenge norms, and turn women’s rights into a lived reality. Their stories would echo far and wide, demonstrating the transformative power of storytelling and the indomitable spirit of women. 

The impact of this program extended beyond the participants as they became advocates for women’s rights in their communities, igniting a wave of empowerment that would continue to grow.