Join us at Unity Bookshop On 8 March!
we invite you to celebrate women’s voices with journalist Catherine Vuylsteke. Enjoy readings, a deep dive into her book, the stories of six cartoonists, and a screening of the related documentary.
Draw for Change tells the life stories of six female cartoonists—Mar Maremoto, Ann Telnaes, Rachita Taneja, Doaa El-Adl, Victoria Lomasko, and Amany Al-Ali—from Mexico, the United States, India, Egypt, Russia, and Syria. Recorded by journalist and author Catherine Vuylsteke, their stories underpin the Cannes-awarded documentary series of the same name. Though they come from different generations and vastly diverse backgrounds, they are united by an unwavering determination to challenge injustice.
With humor, courage, and originality, these women confront patriarchal norms, authoritarian power, censorship, and social prejudice. Their drawings often cut through complexity with a clarity that lengthy analyses rarely achieve. While some speak out against misogyny, homophobia, or fat-shaming, others risk persecution for criticizing political regimes.
Despite their differences, striking parallels emerge: Rachita Taneja frequently targets Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amany Al-Ali critiques President Assad, and Ann Telnaes scrutinizes American political leaders, including Dick Cheney and Donald Trump. None chose an easy path. They have faced loneliness, controversy, and self-doubt, yet continue to resist silence—not only to claim their own space, but also to amplify the voices of those less able to defend themselves.
Vuylsteke spent countless hours with the artists, collecting stories filled with painful memories, tender anecdotes, and moments of triumph. They met across cities such as Cairo, Leipzig, and Brussels, in person and online, often over shared meals or endless cups of tea. One, a true Scheherazade, returned day after day with stories that always promised an even more compelling tomorrow.
Draw for Change brings together the stories of six fearless female cartoonists from across the globe, recorded by journalist and author Catherine Vuylsteke and featured in the Cannes-awarded documentary series. Coming from different cultures and generations, they share a steadfast commitment to challenging patriarchy, political power, censorship, and social injustice.
Through humor and sharp visual commentary, their work exposes what words alone often cannot. Though their paths have been marked by hardship, controversy, and doubt, they persist—claiming space not only for themselves but for those whose voices are too often unheard