'The Symbols of Change' - 2019 APA/CVM Domestic Worker Documentary

Although many of us are familiar with domestic workers, few know their personal stories that led them to this profession or the challenges they face working in homes and hotels across the world. This documentary explores the lives of seven courageous young women in Ethiopia who turned to domestic work at a young age to support themselves and their families. In the small, rural Ethiopian town of Debre Markos, a series of interviews with government officials, employers, community leaders, and NGOs highlight the challenges these women face, and reveal what work is being done to improve the living and working conditions of this important part of the economy and society.

Originally this documentary was designed and screened for Ethiopian audiences to raise awareness of the challenges young women face as domestic workers in their country. APA is now sharing this film with international audiences in the hope of raising global awareness on the topic.

APA is compliant with the Dochas Code of Images and Messages. All individuals who appear have consented with full permission to be shown in this film.

This documentary was made possible through collaboration with Irish Aid.

A Partnership with Africa is an NGO based in Dublin, Ireland that was founded in 2004 and is a registered company and charity. APA works on empowering women, girls, and children in Ethiopia and Tanzania to access their rights, rebuild their lives and dignity, and earn a living wage from their work. Our main tasks are helping orphaned children go to school and find new homes; preventing HIV infection, violence, early marriage, and exploitative working conditions of women and girls; ensuring inclusion of ethnic minorities; and establishing clean water sources. APA is also involved with the creation of development education curriculum for students in Ireland to learn about global inequality.