"Ushairi wa data" - The poetry of data.
This poem is written and performed by @cricketwrites , one of 15 informal worker researchers we’ve been working with together with Haki Data Lab.
Together, they collected 1,000+ surveys from waste pickers, domestic workers, and matatu operators about their experiences at work.
What came through was difficult to read for all: high levels of abuse, harassment, and income insecurity.
Cricket took these data insights and turned them into a spoken word peice performing it at community events and on radio in Kenya.
Sometimes, data just hits harder when it’s felt, not just visualised.
For more info about this project visit
This is Liston, he's a matatu conductor in Nairobi. In Kenya, thousands of informal workers like Liston transport millions of people every day, keeping cities moving, without proper protection, fair pay, or security.
In this community-led data project we collaborated with Haki Data Lab and trained 15 informal workers like Liston to collect data about their lived experience at work. Together they collected from more than 1000 people! The data shows 8 in 10 matatu operators report experiencing physical or psychological violence at work, and 3 in 10 have faced sexual violence. Many are also injured on the job, with 6 in 10 reporting serious harm, far higher than the national Kenyan average.
This is not just a local issue to Nairobi. It reflects how transport systems around the world depend on informal workers, while failing to protect them.
#Rights4EveryWorker
Domestic workers care for homes, families, and lives every day, yet their own safety and rights are often ignored.
In Nairobi, thousands of informal workers like Rossie do essential work behind closed doors, without proper protection, fair pay, or security.
In this community-led data project we collaborated with Haki Data Lab and trained 15 informal workers like Rossie to collect data about their lived experience at work. Together we collected from more than 1000 people.
The data is unsettling, 7 in 10 domestic workers have been harmed on the job facing unsafe conditions, fire, chemical exposure, and falls. Many also experience violence, with 4 in 10 reporting physical abuse and 3 in 10 sexual violence. Visit /projects/margins-to-metrics to see the data and learn more.
#Rights4EveryWorker
In Nairobi, thousands of informal workers like Faith handle the city’s waste every day, without proper protection, fair pay, or security.
In this community-led data project we partnered with Haki Data Lab and trained 15 informal worker researchers to collect more than 1000+ surveys about their lives and working conditions.
The data shows that nearly all waste pickers (96%) report being injured on the job. Many face daily exposure to fire (7 in 10) and harmful chemicals (8 in 10), while less than 1% have a written contract.
This is not just a local issue. It reflects how cities around the world depend on informal workers, while failing to protect them.
We think it's about time to recognise waste pickers as essential workers and ensure their rights are respected.
#Rights4EveryWorker
We’re excited to share that our collaboration with LifeLine Youth Empowerment Center has been longlisted for the Information Is Beautiful Awards in the ”Unusual” category!
’Equal Victims’ stands out for its unconventional approach to both data collection and visualisation. Through our participatory methodology, ’Power Portraits’, LifeLine’s community in Uganda designed their own symbol-based data collection system. The resulting visualisation moves beyond traditional charts, representing intimatepartnerviolence in a way that honours the community’s experiences using colours, emojis, local patterns and textures.
This community-led process uncovered insights that conventional methods miss, and without retraumatising participants. The methodology allowed survivors to share difficult experiences on their own terms while ensuring the data truly belonged to those who shared their stories. Both the data collection method and visualisation techniques protect identities in a context where being LGBTQ+ carries significant risk.
We believe the most powerful data is created when communities are trusted to lead—from collection to visualisation!
Check link in bio for more info.
#CommunityData #CitizenData #IPV #DataViz
📣📣 Why is community-led data so important? In September we hosted a panel at #FIFAfrica24 in Dakar, Senegal, to share our views. We're grateful to our CODEC council member @wevynmuganda for moderating the session. Wevyn recently founded @arctivecitizens and is doing amazing work with her team in Nairobi's informal settlements. Follow them for more!
New Data Alert! 🚨 In collaboration with @yarid_uganda and @youthvoices_community we surveyed 400+ urban refugees in Kenya & Uganda for the updated Future With Wakimbizi campaign. Together with refugee communities, we transformed these data insights into policy recommendations for the governments of both countries and @unhcruganda and @unhcrkenya . Check out the new data and the recommendations in the link in our bio 🤓
We are proud to partner with Lifeline Youth Empowerment Center o tackle intimate partner violence (IPV) in Uganda’s LGBTQ community. With the support of community members & health experts, we co-created a visual data collection method using @canva that builds trust & reduces re-traumatisation.
📖 Click the link in our bio to read the full story!
#EmpowerSurvivors #EndIPV
The #RefugeeForum in Geneva is only a few weeks away but most of the refugee-led organisations (RLOs) we support in the #TakingTheLead network won't be able to be there in person. This network has a presence in 34 countries and the RLOs in it support more than 243,000 refugees with vital care and services. Swipe ➡️ to see the problems these RLOs face and the collective goals they have set to change the future for refugees. #GRF #GRF2023. Website link in bio!
We are at #FestivalDeDatos in Uruguay and the future of data is here! These lovely teens from Molino Viejo school stopped by to grab some swag and take our Data Personality Quiz. Great mix of creatives and advocates!
🎉 Meet the Future, Today! 🎉 #TakingTheLead is not just a network; it's a movement. Dive into the members’ success stories and game-changing initiatives!
Website link in bio ⬆️
#refugeeleaders #refugeeempowerment #forrefugeesbyrefugees
🌟LAUNCH ALERT🌟 For the past two years we’ve been supporting the creation and growth of a global network of Refugee-Led Organisations called Taking The Lead. Today we’re super excited to unveil their new website that we’ve co-created with the network. Website link in bio.
Thank you to the 150+ RLOs who contributed and to our partners Mobilisation Lab and @opensocietyfoundations for your support!
#TakingTheLead #RefugeeEmpowerment #ForRefugeesByRefugees #RefugeeLeaders
