Stairs With Confidence as a Domestic Worker By Dannah

We are overjoyed to congratulate Dannah Ramos, a proud member of the Voice of Domestic Workers, for being selected as one of the finalists in our “Voices for Change” Art Contest. This contest is part of the International Domestic Workers Federation’s (IDWF) 16 Days of Activism campaign against gender-based violence and the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Two global movements that demand recognition, respect, and justice for domestic workers around the world.

Dannah’s recognition is more than just a personal achievement; it is a testament to the resilience, courage, and creativity of domestic workers everywhere. Her voice, like so many others, rises above the challenges of exploitation, isolation, and injustice, reminding us that domestic workers are not invisible, they are powerful agents of change, defenders of dignity, and bearers of hope for their families and communities.

Today, we begin sharing the winners of the Voices for Change Art Contest, a heartfelt celebration of domestic workers who transform oppression into strength. Over the course of the #16Days of Activism, we will feature one inspiring work each day, amplifying voices too often unheard and stories too often untold.

Our first feature is “Stairs with Confidence as a Domestic Worker” by Dannah Ramos, a profoundly moving poem that captures her lived experience as a #MigrantDomesticWorker in London. Through her words, we feel the weight of the hardships she has endured, abuse, exploitation, loneliness, and the constant longing for her loved ones back home. Yet within that heaviness shines an indomitable spirit. Dannah’s poem is a testament to perseverance: she climbs each step with courage, resilience, and unwavering hope, determined to give her family the life they never imagined possible.

The power of Dannah’s work lies not just in the story it tells, but in the emotional truth it carries. Her poem reminds us that domestic workers possess extraordinary strength. They transform pain into power, fear into resistance, and suffering into hope. Each line, each verse, is a celebration of their ability to endure and to continue fighting for dignity, respect, and justice, even in the face of systemic barriers.

Through her art, Dannah elevates the voices of all domestic workers who persist despite adversity, who rise step by step, day by day, with courage and determination. Her poem invites us to bear witness, to recognize their humanity, and to stand in solidarity with those whose labor sustains families, communities, and societies, often at great personal cost.

As we celebrate Dannah’s achievement, we are reminded that art is not only a reflection of life, it is a force for change. Dannah’s voice, and the voices of all the participants in the Voices for Change Art Contest, challenge us to listen, to learn, and to act. They remind us that the struggle for justice and dignity is ongoing, and that through storytelling, creativity, and solidarity, we can honor the courage of domestic workers everywhere.

Let Dannah’s journey inspire us to lift every step she takes, to honor the sacrifices she makes, and to recognize that her courage is not hers alone, it is shared by millions of domestic workers around the world, whose strength transforms lives, families, and futures. To see the full list of winners and celebrate their incredible work, please visit idwfed.org 

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