Heidi Leino
Information:
- Name:
- Heidi Leino
- Age
- 37 (2010)
- Nationality:
- Finnish
- Profession:
- Development and environment activist
- Country:
- Finland
- City:
- Helsinki
Describe your background, your interest in development, your affiliation with NGOs, etc.
I have worked with development and environment issues for 15 years. Lately I have been mainly active in the Finnish NGOs Dodo and Siemenpuu Foundation. In our projects we support people in practicing ecologically sustainable livelihoods and to act as active citizens in their communities. I am a great friend of Africa, and I am especially impressed by the work of women’s organizations in Mali and Zambia.
How did you first get in touch with World Comics and grassroots comics?
I attended a training course to become a grassroots comics workshop facilitator in Finnish schools. World Comics Finland gave the training for this.
What are your experiences of grassroots comics? Do you plan to use grassroots comics in your future activities?
I facilitated about 20 workshops with Finnish youngsters, aged 13-19 years. The theme of these workshops was the impacts of globalization. This work was very rewarding. The young people concentrated impressively on the task and they produced hundreds of wallposter comics on their very own ideas. They seemed to be surprised of how good comics they were able to make and were very proud of them.
While on a project visit to Mali, I also ran a small workshop for the staff of Dodo’s partner organisation there, MCF Nyetaa.
I think the grassroots comics method is special in many ways. It forces you to develop and elaborate your message into its most essential. It also gives an equally strong voice to more silent and shy persons. And it catches the interest of everybody.
