"It's really helped me. A year before, I was in a violent relationship....I'd always struggled to talk about my past. But I felt a huge relief as I weaved stars. Over time, I started feeling free."
Gladys Muthara, Gender based violence campaigner. TAP Africa.
Thanks to the ICV Alumni Grant, Gladys and Susan Waruingi ran a year of star weaving workshops with teenage survivors of violence in Nairobi Kenya. They taught teenagers about the One Million Stars project and using star weaving to create safe space to discuss gender based violence (GBV) and how to stand up to it.
They wove 7,500 stars for the One Million Stars installation in 2018.
Photos: ICS @ics_uk
I grew up during the troubles in Northern Ireland and I believe in the power of creativity in connecting communities. I am currently working with Amber Women's Refuge in Kilkenny. Before and during COVID19 I have been raising awareness of domestic violence and introducing the stars to Ireland by creating star weaving communities with vulnerable members of the community. You are not alone.
Siobhán McQuillan, Art Therapist. Arts Reach Ireland & Amber Women's Refuge.
Siobhán McQuillan is Ireland's star weaving leader for the One Million Stars project and is responsible for bringing the stars to Ireland in 2019/2020. Siobhán is supporting communities/villages in Ireland to weave stars for an installation for the 16 Days of Activism in November 2020.
Restoring aloha in our community, one star at a time. One step to ending violence and suicide is to have the courage to start speaking about it.
Pi'iali'i Lawson. Master weaver. Oahu Hawaii
Whenever we weave we bond closer. We inspire each other to aim high, we empower each other with confidence and we put our heads together to get things done.
Yip Siew Keen, Co-founder
Perak Women for Women. Ipoh Malaysia
Malaysia star weavers wove one million stars themselves and displayed 100,000 in the Perak Women for Women store earlier this year.
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