TDKRA PROJECT FIELDWORK UPDATE, SUMMER 2022
Objective: The overall objective of the final TDKRA fieldwork was to gain an in-depth understanding of the experience of girls and young women with disabilities in the context of COVID-19.
A girl with a yellow T-shirt is drawing, A Luoi, 2022
Activities: The fieldwork focused on reconnecting with the participants, reporting on and sharing the outcomes of the previous stages, and following up with them regarding the impact of COVID on their lives.
A Luoi, Thua Thien Hue: April 22-23, 2022
Can Tho: May 9 and 21,2022
Bac Tu Liem, Hanoi: July 4-7, 2022
A virtual meeting with participants in Can Tho, 2022
Key Meeting Objectives / Activities:
- Report on the outcomes of the previous stages, collect participants’ feedback and complete the final report.
- Review interview techniques with women with disabilities.
- Conduct interviews
- Drawing
At this stage, DPOs and local community participants took the initiative in organizing the TDKRA workshops. In Can Tho and A Luoi, the women engaged in a review of interview techniques prior to conducting the actual interviews with the girls. In Bac Tu Liem, DPOs suggested that girls also take part in interview training. The girls and women interviewed each other in turn. Accordingly, we adapted the interview techniques based on what local communities felt was most appropriate.
A group of two girls and a woman are interviewing in turn, Bac Tu Liem, 2022
The drawing was used as a useful tool for girls to view their reflections on COVID and its impact on their lives. A girl with disabilities in A Luoi drew a handcuff to express how we have been surrounded by COVID and how she wanted to escape from it. Another girl used her drawing as a call to unity in Vietnamese communities during the COVID pandemic with the hope of remaining healthy and confident as we go through this challenging time.
Two girls are drawing together. One girl holds the hand of another as they color a painting, Can Tho, 2022
Key Outcomes:
- This fieldwork provided an opportunity for women and girls with disabilities and their DPOs to reconnect with each other following two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants shared a variety of stories with different experiences about the challenges they encountered and the means that they came up with to cope with the situation. They also shared their strengths, solidarity, and relational support for each other during the pandemic.
- The project team members were able to re-connect with the DPOs and participants via in-person and virtual meetings.
- The DPO partners were able to strengthen their leadership through research and engagement.