The Moth Presents Global Stories Of Women And Girls

The Moth's Community Program brings storytelling workshops and performances to diverse organizations in the U.S. and around the globe. Focusing on issues around health, criminal justice, and gender equality, the team works to uncover and elevate voices that are otherwise underrepresented in the mainstream media. The result: a collection of very personal stories with the power to build community and awareness, challenge social norms, and promote understanding and change. Several such accounts will be shared from the stage that evening including Sarah Nakintu (Uganda), sharing a story about escaping child marriage; Emma Naluyima (Uganda), talking about starting a farm on her land to make ends meet after giving birth; Karen Njoki (Kenya), who finds the courage to step out after living in fear of her abusive husband; Kendi Ntwiga Nderitu (Kenya) telling the tale of her triumph over local bullies and scoring high marks on an exam to broaden her horizons; Sitawa Wafula (Kenya), sharing about following her professional dreams in the wake of an epilepsy diagnosis; and Fatou Wurie (Sierra Leone) with a story about discovering the important force her grandmother played in her life. 

"We believe deeply in the power of storytelling and effective communications to change hearts and minds, building the case for greater investment in women and girls," says Sarah Haberman, Executive Director of The Moth. "We are thrilled to continue our work with community organizations in the U.S. and the global south—thanks to the collaboration and support from key partners including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation—to present the fruits of those workshops at what will surely be another extraordinary and powerful evening of storytelling at Lincoln Center."

"My own story is shaped by what I heard from women in the dusty townships of Gugulethu and villages of Zululand, and in later life, even in meeting halls in New York. Listening to women tell their own stories is essential to understand their individual experiences and the shared, universal issues," commented Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Women Executive Director.  "These are stories that illuminate some of the biggest challenges to women's rights such as their reproductive rights, or the deeply rooted cultural practices that shape invisible barriers and enable violence. They also illustrate the inspirational leadership of women and girls who step through those barriers and shape new successes."

For more information about the September 18th showcase or to learn more about The Moth's Community Programs, visit www.themoth.org.

About The Moth

The Moth is an acclaimed non-profit organization dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. Since launching in 1997, The Moth has presented over 20,000 stories, told live and without notes to standing-­room-­only crowds worldwide. The Moth conducts seven ongoing programs: The Moth Mainstage, which tours internationally, has featured stories by Malcolm Gladwell, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, John Turturro, Molly Ringwald, and Tig Notaro, as well as an astronaut, a pickpocket, a hot­dog eating champion and hundreds more; The Moth StorySLAM program, which conducts open mic storytelling competitions in 27 cities; 24 in the US plus Sydney and Melbourne, AU, and London, UK; The Moth Community Program, which offers storytelling workshops and performance opportunities to adults who are too often overlooked by the mainstream media; The Moth High School StorySLAMs, which bring the thrill of personal storytelling to high schools in New York and educators around the world; The Moth Podcast, which is downloaded more than 44 million times a year; The Moth Corporate Program, which provides industry-specific storytelling solutions; and Peabody Award-winning The Moth Radio Hour which airs weekly on 450+ public radio stations nationwide. Learn more at www.themoth.org.

SOURCE The Moth

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