How the Sibol Project Is Supporting One Community at a Time
I am Marielle Villasper, a development professional who graduated cum laude with the degree of Bachelor of Science in Social Work at the University of the Philippines- College of Social Work and Community Development in 2014 and passed the licensure examination for Social Workers in the same year.
I have extensive professional experience working with individuals, families, and communities in implementing public and private programs and services on child protection, mental health, psychosocial support, refugee protection, poverty alleviation, and community development.
These work experiences have shaped me into the person I am now—empathetic, passionate, committed, and resilient despite adversities in life. Among these work experiences, I highly appreciate working on child protection and community development; hence the very reason I am a proud child’s rights advocate and I am presently connected with an industrial company under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Department where I play a critical part in overseeing the social protection and community development programs on livelihood, infrastructure, disaster risk reduction, and environmental stewardship to targeted communities.
My commitment to the pursuit of knowledge and to discovering the full extent of my potential as an agent of change; strengthening my competencies in promoting effective and sustainable human organizations and social institutions towards resilient, inclusive, and enhanced human ecosystems has motivated me to be part of the 2024 Goldin Global Fellowship.
My designation as the community relations officer – social worker has opened opportunities to work with and for diverse communities. To serve the people and create good and lasting change in the lives of underprivileged communities keeps me motivated and committed to my work. I have been a registered social worker for a decade now and I have worked with diverse groups that helped me acquire extensive knowledge and understanding of the process of community development and organizing. I firmly believe in the power of communities to thrive when provided with the right support to achieve self-sufficiency and independence. Furthermore, it is both humbling and rewarding to witness the remarkable transformations that individuals and communities undergo.
How the Sibol Project Builds Sustainable Communities for a Greener Future
In our areas of operations, we implement CSR projects and activities that aim to positively impact the community. I have established a good relationship with the barangay and its executives which resulted in a quick and positive response when I invited them to the community visioning summit. In this activity, I asked the local executives about their aspirations for the community they live in, the current actions or projects related to these, and the support needed to make the plans realized. I was delighted with the truly insightful community engagement. As a result, the Sibol Project was conceptualized and eventually implemented.
The Sibol Project is a strategic approach towards a self-sustaining model of a community feeding program benefiting from the assets and capacities of the local government, technical experts from the Department of Agriculture, and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the private sector. It highlights the synergy of solid waste management, backyard farming, and vermicomposting (composting using African night crawlers). We utilized a bottom-up approach in project planning because we leveraged the existing assets and expressed the needs and issues of the communities which are overflowing with household organic waste and scarce sources of locally-grown produce and healthy food.
There are two important project components:
- Facilitation capacity-building activities for community members on backyard farming and vermicomposting through coordination with technical experts from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and
- Provision of material support to improve the existing garden such as the construction of the vermicomposting facility, plant boxes, and garden kits which include basic tools and seeds or seedlings.
In alignment with the community work I am currently involved in, we aim to empower individuals by promoting sustainability through the adoption of alternative agricultural practices. This includes establishing and enhancing community gardens, which not only serve as local food sources and promote environmental responsibility for a brighter and greener future but also provide alternative livelihoods for vulnerable and interested groups within the community.
Currently, we are in close coordination with our partner school and barangay local government unit in Mariveles, Bataan for monitoring purposes. It has been reported that approximately 22 kilos of crops were generated and used for the feeding program of malnourished children and consumed by families experiencing trouble putting food on the table.
With this project, we are hoping to capacitate core individuals in embracing sustainability and improving livelihoods to spread hope, opportunity, and environmental responsibility for a brighter and greener future.
I remain hopeful that I could also expand this project to the community where I live to create green and sustainable spaces in urban areas.
A Transformative Experience with Goldin Institute
It is truly an honor and immense privilege to be part of the 2024 Goldlin Global Fellowship Cohort as this provides an opportunity to learn from community leaders across the globe and have an edifying experience through our shared reflection and practical experiences as we fulfill the mission we are entrusted with in our countries and be able to establish purposeful relationships and networks to further our cause.
This fellowship has been an exciting opportunity to elevate my skills and deepen my sense of responsibility, not only to grow personally and professionally but also to continue supporting the communities we serve in embracing and achieving sustainable development. It has equipped me with valuable resources on effective leadership and community empowerment, helping to drive holistic development.
A Transformative Leadership Experience
What if you had the power to shape your destiny?
My recent workshop, Hero’s Journey into Our Self-esteem, Self-care, and Self-leadership, was designed to guide participants on a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment, developing the confidence and tools needed to lead their own lives with the intention and purpose to create their own unique stories. This international workshop held in September 2024 in Greece, was facilitated by Dr. Patricia Novick, a 2023 Goldin Global Fellow, and Judith Delozier from Neuro-Linguistics Programming (NLP) Greece.
57 participants from across the globe joined both in person and through Zoom connecting through local pod centers in Tanzania, Jordan, Ireland, Germany, India, France, Kyrgyzstan, the United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe, making it a truly global and impactful experience.
Key Insights from Tanzanian Participants in The Hero’s Journey Workshop
This workshop marks the beginning of a personal development journey to discover our strengths. For the Tanzanian participants, most of whom were youth, it has been seen as the starting point between where they are now and where they aspire to be as grassroots leaders driving change in our community.
Edson Reuben, an attendee said:
“This workshop gave me the courage to value myself and to never doubt my strengths. From now on, I will be practicing positive affirmations as I learned from the ‘What I Like About Myself’ activity during the workshop”.
When we took time to reflect after this workshop participants recommended having more programs like this to reach more youth as it will help them into their journey of self-awareness and teach them how to welcome obstacles as useful resources in addressing adaptive challenges within our community. As a community leader and a Goldin Global Fellow, I am very grateful to have involved young people in this wonderful experience, which has brought new hope to them by allowing them to see their strengths and talents that they can contribute to strengthening positive changes in our community.
Staying True to What Matters Most: Identifying and Celebrating Distinctive Strengths
Holding the question of Who are we becoming? begins with remaining true to what matters most to you. Knowing our core values forms the pattern that connects us to our true potential and allows us to bring that potential into the world. Through self-reflection, we can identify what we stand for, what makes our hearts beat with joy, and asses how our choices align with our core values. This strengthens our decision-making process, by ensuring that our actions are driven by what we stand for rather than external pressures.
Identifying and celebrating our strengths is the key to finding balance, by bringing awareness to our unique abilities without judgment. Appreciating these unique abilities allows us to use them as resources to overcome obstacles to achieve our goals. Celebrating what makes us unique helps us to stay grounded and focused when we are faced with obstacles.
Walking into the Future
The lessons and connections I gained as a Goldin Global Fellow, significantly enhanced my activism journey and this workshop in particular. It is a transformative journey of self-discovery and self-actualization focused on enhancing self-esteem, practicing self-care, and developing self-leadership to unlock one’s full potential. The takeaway from this workshop was the idea of welcoming obstacles as opportunities for growth and learning while being responsible for our obstacles and transforming them into meaningful change.
Participants were encouraged to recognize that we are interconnected parts of a larger system that offers insights into our beliefs and actions toward our personal and professional journeys.
As Judith Delozier said:
“We are all members of the system. What is the system telling you? Find the positive intention and change the intention to something interesting.”
We Grow Together: Celebrating 20 New Fellows from 16 Countries
“Our learning village keeps getting bigger. You are now part of this extended family and the larger village that supports and loves one another to help you grow. I am very honored to be part of your village”
-John Zeigler, Senior Director of Programs, Goldin Institute.
After an enriching eight-month journey together, full of learning, collaboration and heart-felt conversations, 20 grassroots leaders and activists from around the world marked the end of their Global Fellows program. On Nov 14th, 2024 they celebrated the culmination of activities with a graduation which was full of art, culture, and togetherness.
Beginning in March, Fellows spent each week interacting with each other and the co-facilitators reflecting and testing ideas from the Gather platform. Gather is both a mobile platform for shared learning and a curriculum for people who want to build on the talents of their neighbors and the assets of their communities to make real and lasting change.
The graduation ceremony was a chance for Fellows to reflect on how far they have come and the new connections they developed. It was also a chance for everyone to share hopes for the future.
“Congratulations for getting to the graduation, this is not goodbye, this is welcome. You are now part of the Goldin Family. Each one of you is committed to your communities and you have other communities that are committed to you represented here on this event.”
-Burrell Poe, Director of the Goldin Institute’s Mutual Aid Collaborative.
The graduation event featured speeches from invited guests, testimonies from participants, dance, songs, and poems. Showcasing their talents, Fellows used creative approaches to express their joy and excitement for the future. The celebration started with a song from Duti Syeda Ashfah Toaha, a Fellow based in Dhaka Bangladesh, which holds a timeless message about spiritual introspection, existential wonder, and the human quest for connection and meaning.
“Why there is so much injustice happening in the world, and it makes no sense. But we can partly begin to understand by looking within. Just like the song depicts, we all live inside the house of mirrors, we must look within to find the answer.”
-Duti Syeda Ashfah Toaha, 2024 Global Fellow, Bangladesh.
Fellows shared highlights of their learning journey. Duti presented a video from her Community Visioning Summit, showcasing how she gathered neighbors to identify local assets and envision a renewed community. The video captures key moments from the summit.
Another Fellow from Zambia, Sabetha Zulu, shared her new skills empowerment initiative (Ku’wala’) which was inspired by the Gather course: “My Community Visioning Summit led me to uncover critical issues experienced by young girls in my community. Thanks to the Goldin Institute’s support and my participation in Gather I was able to merge my long-time experience in promoting menstrual health hygiene, my expertise in cosmetology and a strong desire to empower girls and young people to register and launch the Ku’wala initiative."
A summary presentation on achievement was shared by Haftee Wako, a Fellow based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: “Naturally as human beings we like to focus on what we lack; we like to compare ourselves with other people. But Gather changed my life and that of my community when I learned about the Asset Based Community Development approach.”
Furthermore, Marielle Villasper, a Fellow from The Philippines shared additional learnings that Fellows experienced together. “I am grateful and hopeful for this collaboration to continue. The profound relationships and a sense of community in Gather has motivated us to do more for our respective communities and contribute ideas to support other Fellows int their countries as well.” Marielle said.
Rachel Biel, 2024 Global Fellow from Paducah, Kentucky, shared her new initiative to connect people in the creative sector through a dynamic directory, Creative Place Makers. Rachel was inspired by the Asset-Based Community Development conversations and decided to work on this initiative as part of her peacebuilding project.
Faisal Ilyas, a Fellow from Pakistan reflected on how he was able to develop supportive relationships with stakeholders in his community by bringing them together in asset-mapping, discussing aspirations and hosting a press conference. “Special thanks to the Goldin Institute for guiding, inspiring and guiding me to host a press conference in my Pakistan to advocate for peaceful co-existence. What I learned from Gather is that we are together to bring peace in the world”, Faisal said.
Two creative projects by Iranian Fellows, Sara Sasani and Zohreh Solati, were also showcased. Both curated exhibitions as part of their peace building projects. Sarah’s exhibition revolved around the theme of war and its devastating impact on communities particularly women and children “War in War with War”. Zohreh presented her creative exhibition centered around environment and women’s rights theme entitled “Eco-feminism”.
Inspired by her learning journey, Arrey-Echi Egbo Ndakaw, from Cameroon, presented a powerful poem and thanked everyone for being inclusive and kind to her that she felt part of this inspiring community.
Thinking ahead to the future, Celine Oswuku, from Nigeria, concluded presentations by sharing hopes. In her statement, Celine thanked all Fellows for their care and love and encouraged everyone to use the knowledge obtained from Gather to bring about a new world where communities are inclusive of every individual person, and where we build on existing talents and gifts to achieve desired goals.
As the graduation ceremony concluded, Diane Goldin thanked Fellows for their commitment and presented certificates of accomplishments to Fellows. “I am overwhelmed by the power conveyed in your creative presentations and testimonies. I welcome you to our growing family, congratulations and enjoy the journey” she remarked.
Fellows celebrated their achievement with special traditional dances from Iran and Pakistan where Zohre (Iran) performed her unique choreographed dance and Dr. Jahan (Pakistan) danced a popular song in Pakistan called Ho Jamalo that celebrates a local hero named Jamalo.
Lissette Mateus Roa, co-facilitator of the Global Alumni Network, left us with an important reminder, that we are stronger together. Please know that we are going to continue to be available for you even after the end of the course. Anything you need, we are here for you because you are now part of our network and our family.
Re-imagining Communities for People with Sickle Cell Disease
When we hear about a community, we often imagine a physical place with houses, parks, trees, hospitals, markets, etc, and people going about their daily lives. We imagine a bustling rural, semi-rural, or urban setting.
When I talk about community, I imagine a group of people, affected by or united by a singular characteristic ranging from a shared passion or dealing with the intricacies of some of life’s lemons thrown at us. How these groups of people choose to deal with the lemons life throws at them is what refines and defines them as a unique community not characterized by physical landmarks and bustling cities.
The lessons I have learned since March, when I joined the 2024 Goldin Global Fellowship, have been valuable in my quest to make life better for my community. Throughout the fellowship we created maps of community assets, opened our eyes to barriers and how we could overcome them, and envisioned a community vision that was implemented into a tangible project. These activities prepared me to reimagine a community vision that caters to and seeks to meet the needs of a unique community, those with Sickle Cell Disease.
Challenges Facing Those with Sickle Cell Disease
Before I continue, Sickle Cell Disease is a genetic blood disorder that affects predominantly people of Black and Mediterranean descent. It is characterized by pain episodes which are referred to as sickle cell crises and can lead to varied complications that adversely affect the quality of life of many living with the condition. Ignorance of the condition due to a lack of adequate knowledge and awareness has led to many misinformed people attributing it to witchcraft, thereby making it a taboo topic to talk about openly. The result is stigmatization and discrimination of people living with sickle cell and their families.
As a result, many of those suffering from the disease face a lot of challenges in having a meaningful life. Some are outright refused jobs because of their health situation and not because they are underqualified, making unemployment a major challenge for many people living with the disease.
When I started my patient advocacy journey, one of the things I wanted to shed light on was education. Educating the community about what sickle cell is all about while at the same time, seeking ways to support people living with sickle cell to reach their full potential.
One of the most effective ways we have sought to offer such support is through empowerment programs, offering valuable life skills that would empower this amazing group of people to grow, achieve independence, and thus be in a position to better take care of themselves and in so doing, help to curb depression and unemployment within this community. We have been able to teach people to make liquid soap, give manicures and pedicures, do basic graphic designing, and most recently, use Resin Art to produce beautiful things that could be sold.
Utilizing Lessons and Networks from the Goldin Fellowship
By leveraging the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach–an essential lesson from the Goldin Fellowship–alongside the appreciative inquiry model, we crafted a vision that truly resonates with the needs of our unique community. This approach not only sparked interest among participants but also garnered positive feedback on our social media posts. Several individuals have reached out to me privately, asking for tips on how we executed the program so they can replicate it within their own sickle cell communities. This interest highlights the value of our training in filling a critical gap, and I am eager to continue building on this work.
Envisioning and satisfying the needs of a community requires providing the necessary tools for self-actualization and empowerment. In the next five years, my dream is to be able to train many more people living with sickle cell disease across Cameroon and, hopefully, Sub-Saharan Africa on valuable life skills to give them a great kick and a chance at utilizing their full potential towards a happy and fulfilling life.
Naturally, this will take more than dreaming, no matter how valid the dream is. It will require funds, expert skill trainers, comfortable halls and places to stay while the training goes on, seed capital to kick start implementations after the training, and a lot to make such skills sustainable long after the training is completed.
As I continue to envision and reimagine building community through the GATHER platform, not only with the sickle cell community in mind, I remain hopeful that the knowledge received through the Goldin Institute Fellowship will be put to good use, and my dreams and desires to empower many more like me will come to pass.
Green Urban Development in Pakistan
On May 2024, Faisal Ilyas, Executive Director of Peace Hope Pakistan and 2024 Goldin Global Fellow met with John Zeigler, Senior Director of Program at Goldin Institute to discuss intersections between their work in green urban development and asset-based community development. The two spoke about guiding the connections between the Chicago and Global teams of the Goldin Institute.
Accompanied by adjunct faculty at DePaul University, Hiba Zakai, they initially met and discussed the insights of Local and Global Peace Fellows and the impactful work Goldin Institute is doing worldwide. "We were together on the call when all the Chicago and Global fellows were online, it was a great experience. Thank you so much Goldin Institute for such an inspiring experience.” says Faisal. "I had the privilege to travel to Islamabad and accompany the participants in the Green Urban Development (GUD) initiative on a learning journey that allowed me to witness the creativity and urgency in addressing issues of green urban development in Pakistan.” says John. He further says that Faisal allowed him to understand the power of humanity which, according to John is the main movement builder that helps to lift this GUD process.
Green Urban Development and Water Management
On the trip, they visited the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) headquarters in Islamabad to get a first-hand understanding of its work and activities. “The purpose of the visit was to explore opportunities for the exchange of ideas on how to promote innovative urban solutions through community engagement. Dr. Hifza Rasheed, Director General (Water Quality) gave an overview presentation about PCRWR research & development, innovations, and capacity-building initiatives.”
Faisal Ilyas values the meeting as informative, as they shared the national-level research results in the presentations. He shared his experience working with madrassas and mosques in Lahore while giving consultancy to the WWF Lahore office. The WWF planted more than 20 Conservation of Ablution Water systems in different madrassas and mosques and also planted recharge wells in Lahore city to uplift the waterbed a need of the hour.
Utilizing Assets to Uplift Communities
Faisal, John, and Hiba also went to Haryali Hub – the Climate Action Project Site of the Pak Mission Society, a non-profit National Humanitarian and Development organization working for the unreached and marginalized communities to bring hope, dignity, respect, and share love through emergency relief efforts and deliver long-term rehabilitation and development programs. Ms. Ayesha Khalid Senior Program Coordinator at the Institute of Urbanism, led the guided tour to Haryali Hub, all shared their brief introductions and Mr. Sunil Gill shared the highlights of their work.
The staff at Pak Mission Society shared their Climate Action projects and some of their achievements. Later they helped us all to show their recycling and up-cycling techniques for reducing the pollution and supporting the organic adaptations. Staff members also presented souvenirs to all the guests.
The visit concluded with a session on the Asset-Based Community Development Approach and Asset Mapping at the Superior University Lahore led by Hiba and Faisal. Students shared their project insights to uplift their communities. They learned to apply asset-based community development through mapping the vital assets of the respective community. We also describe the great work done by the Goldin Institute since 2018 by selecting Global Fellows and Chicago Peace Fellows at the GATHER Platform.“ Faisal Ilyas said, Mr. John Zeigler is an amazing leader and wonderful advisor. While sharing my work with him, he listened with great interest and encouraged me to keep helping people in need. I am truly thankful for his valuable time and lovely company.”
Using Waste Through Activism and Art
Rachel Biel is among 20 2024 Goldin Global Fellows who, together, are learning and working as a Community of Practice. Learning from each-other’s experiences and utilizing the GATHER platform, they build on the talents of their neighbors and the assets of their communities to make real and lasting change in their communities.
Having just started her Fellowship participation, in this article, Rachel, the owner of Artizan Made in Kentucky, USA, shares the inspiration behind applying for the Goldin Global Fellowship and why this journey is already enhancing her three-decade-long work and activism.
She also introduces Artizan ReMade, a social project and study group dedicated to elevating human waste to the status of “material,” a resource everyone must use responsibly. The group advocates for creatives who can collect and use these materials to create new, long-lasting, valuable products.
Rachel grew up in Brazil and lived in a multicultural environment in Chicago for 20 years, and she aims to utilize the Goldin experience to contribute more to what is already being done regarding international communication and exchanges in her local community of Paducah, Kentucky, a Unesco Creative City.
Meeting with Other Fellows, an Inspiring Encounter
She has been friends with John Zeigler, Senior Director of Programs at Goldin, for many years, which is how she first heard about the Goldin Fellowship as a place to meet like-minded people, inspire change, and be part of the change.
When asked about how she plans to implement Goldin’s lessons in her community, she highlights: “I want to bring my online communities together with my local ones in the spirit of creative placemaking models that have grown in the U.S. and other countries, where art is used as a means of economic development while bringing diverse people together in a safe and welcoming way.”
“Meeting the other fellows and going through the GATHER exercises is so interesting to me! I feel like I am still very much at the beginning of a journey, and learning about what the others are doing is truly inspiring!”
“I was so happy to see that several of the Goldin Fellows are working on sustainability as a focus, too. I want to learn more about their insights.”
Artizan Made - Artists and Fair Traders Use Waste as Material
Artizan Made has 50 members who have online shops. About half sell on Etsy and the other half have their own sites. The goal is to help these shops with marketing and promote them on social media sites and wherever possible. Rachel hopes to grow the membership to around 200 shops, creating a diverse platform showcasing excellence in techniques and products. The historical narrative is vital as so many traditions are losing their masters, the keepers of the secrets handed down from generation to generation.
Rachel looks for talent that represents diverse communities from around the world. The product focus is on eco-fashion and home decor. She is looking for more representation of people of color and indigenous groups on the site. The Amiga Fund has been set up to help low-income applicants pay for their first membership year. She aims to showcase people working with sustainable materials, either grown (plant or animal) or upcycled from garbage. See membership info here if you are interested in joining this wonderful group! The Marketplace imports member products and then links back to their shops.
“When looking for members of my collective, Artizan Made, I have tried to bring in as many people as possible who also use waste in their creations. Garbage is out of control worldwide, and it is heartbreaking to see what we have done with the ocean, the air, and the land.”
Rachel, who has used waste as a material for many years in her own artwork, recently started a study group on Facebook, Artizan ReMade, focused on learning about why our global waste problem is out of control and how we can intercept the cycle, keeping usable materials out of landfills.
She believes that artists are very good at zooming in on a material they need and using it in huge quantities for their work. This includes used fabric, cardboard, metals, and everything we throw away or recycle.
“I thought it essential to study what is happening because the problem is beyond our imagination—it’s horrific! We are zooming in on one material at a time, and people can contribute their findings and share ideas along with their work. I hope that this will inspire local action in many places.”
Artists Intercepting the Cycle!
The first topic the ReMade group explored was fast fashion. For this, Rachel draws attention to the harmful effects of fast fashion and the need to change. In this piece, she notes an important fact:
“More than 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and are likely to be lost within 20 years; the same number were lost over the whole of the last century. The scientists say that without the human destruction of nature, this loss rate would have taken thousands of years, and they warn that this may be a tipping point for the collapse of civilization.” [Source: Earth.org]
Acknowledging the situation, Rachel emphasizes that people still have much to learn.
“I feel that I am well-read, educated, and aware, and there were so many things that I did not know, like the toxicity of the fibers that are used to make clothing in the U.S., including for children. There is very little oversight.” “There are piles of clothing in Chile and several African countries that are so big that they can be seen from space!” she adds.
A positive thing she learned about in the ReMade group is how many places are creating Maker Spaces that coherently organize these cast-off materials and make them available to the public.
“They also have fun activities like fashion shows that use waste, art events for kids, and so on. I would like to see this happen here in Paducah, and a couple of people have already expressed interest.”
Global Awareness
The upcycling topic is just one of the angles she is looking at. “Another vital aspect is accessibility and visibility on the internet, especially for low-income and minority artists. This is a global issue. Every three years, everything changes online: social media trends, how websites are built, image sizes, and so on. Then, there are issues like housing, gun violence, drug use, etc., all creating stress in society and resources, and art has a role to play there, too.”
Several of the members of Artizan Made are living in traumatic times, with wars and violence happening in Ukraine, Israel, Guatemala, and Haiti, Rachel shares.
“These are the most volatile ones to which I have a personal connection. I feel that building connections across borders makes a difference where we can support each other and try to create systems that help the disenfranchised get the visibility they need to move forward with confidence.”
Networking with the Goldin Global Fellows has just strengthened this conviction, and Rachel looks forward to having these relationships last for many years: “It has been such an honor to be a part of GATHER, our learning platform! May we all move forward in the Light!”
Mapping a Community Vision in Sri Lanka
As part of her Goldin Global Fellowship, Sashikala Lakshman, from Sri Lanka, held her Community Visioning Summit in Rawathawatta East, an area just south of the capital Colombo. This gathering was designed to identify and address the prevailing challenges faced by this area collaboratively.
Participating in the 2023 Goldin Global Fellowship made Sashikala, who believes in our collective responsibility to safeguard children's rights, a more skilled community worker. She emphasizes the lessons from the asset mapping exercise under the Fellowship.
Speaking to the Goldin Institute, Sashikala highlighted the importance of the Fellowship lessons and the utilization of the GATHER platform in successfully implementing her event, which drew active participation from a diverse range of stakeholders, totaling approximately 50 attendees representing various categories.
A Sense of a Shared Purpose Among Diverse People
The Community Visioning Summit opened with a comprehensive overview of the Goldin Global Fellowship program and the Community Visioning Summit, elucidating the shared objectives and mission.
“In a spirit of inclusivity and community building, each attendee had the opportunity to introduce themselves, providing insights into their respective roles within society and their contributions to its betterment. This initial interaction fostered a sense of camaraderie and shared purpose among the diverse participants, laying a solid foundation for collaborative discussions and problem-solving throughout the summit.” Sashikala says.
She further elaborated on her goals to harness the assets and talents within her community to address the challenges effectively: “The primary objectives were to engage with community members, identify their most pressing issues, and collaboratively develop a concise three-month proposal for addressing these challenges while simultaneously constructing an asset map of the community.”
The summit was attended by a diverse group of community members including the Divisional Secretary of Moratuwa, Viharadhipathi Thero of the Rawathawatta temple, Moratuwa’s Probation Officer, the Principal of the Roman Catholic School, the Grama Niladari, the Chief Nursing Officer from the MoH Office, teachers and students from the Roman Catholic School, and as well as other community members. Additionally, respected elders from the community and staff at Sarvodaya, community-based development organization in Sri Lanka, contributed their valuable insights and expertise.
Asset Mapping - A Stronger Community Will for Change
Mapping community assets, a skill learned and discussed during the Fellowship weekly roundtables, proved to be a unique value during this event. Sashikala notes: “During the summit, the asset map that had been initially identified was presented, and participants were actively encouraged to contribute by identifying additional assets within their reach. This interactive approach enriched the asset map and sparked lively discussions among attendees.”
She further believes that because of the enthusiastic participation, the asset map and the summit demonstrated a shared commitment to community development and a genuine interest in identifying and leveraging the resources available to create a stronger, more resilient Sarvodaya and Rawathawatta East.
In addition to the initial asset maps identified before the summit, Sashikala shares how participants eagerly enriched the asset map. For instance, she brings valuable insights from crucial Sarvodaya representatives, enriching the asset map with various resources and services. “The manager of Sarvodaya's End Poverty Knowledge Center emphasized the significance of assets like Sarvodaya Central Library, SDGs Academy, End Poverty Knowledge Center, and Sarvodaya Institute of Higher Learning. These institutions were acknowledged for their pivotal roles in providing essential services to the community, fostering education, skill development, and knowledge dissemination.”
Some other additional assets identified after the summit are Vishva Niketan, Suwasetha Child Development Center, Roman Catholic School, Buddhist Temple, Sarvodaya Store, Probation Office, Grama Niladhari Office, and the engagement of community members, volunteers, children, and youth.
Stakeholders Appreciating the Initiative
At the summit, Sarvodaya's Vice President, Neetha Ariyaratne, highlighted the challenges experienced by low-income families and children due to the economic recession, including the alarming issue of parental drug addiction, which poses a significant threat to child safety in East Rawathawatta. She emphasized that Sarvodaya is actively involved in addressing these issues through orphanages and daycare centers and encouraged attendees to provide information regarding children in need of assistance.
The principal of the Roman Catholic school underscored the pivotal role of schools in identifying and addressing local problems, emphasizing that schools serve as microcosms of their communities, with children from diverse backgrounds and age groups. He advocated for securing the future of school children, expressing concern about the pervasive issue of drug-related challenges affecting their lives. Many disciplinary problems have been identified in their school, and the principal thinks that children and parents should be informed about this. He suggested that the parents in the Rawathawatta area should be made aware of these problems through entertainment programs.
Viharadhipathi Thero said that community support in solving these problems is minimal and that there should be more community participation in implementing programs. The members of Sarvodaya particularly pointed out that the involvement of children is significant in finding solutions to community problems because they are the ones who make decisions regarding the future of the country.
Infusing Positive Change Together
Sashikala emphasized the inclusivity of the event and the strength of a collaborative, participatory approach to addressing community issues. “Importantly, the summit was recognized as more than just another program; it was perceived as the starting point for concrete actions to tackle the challenges identified,” she adds.
Based on the reflections and feedback from participants, a network will be promptly established, including all attendees. “This platform will facilitate ongoing communication, ensuring that everyone remains informed about the program's future actions and allowing for continuous progress monitoring. This collaborative approach will be crucial in turning the identified challenges into actionable programs, driving positive change, and creating a brighter, more resilient future for all residents of the Rawathawatta East area.” She leaves us with a message of unity and hope by highlighting that people can enable change together.
Empowering Youth for Peacebuilding: A Goldin Global Fellow’s Activism
Mohammad Ayatulla Rahaman, 2023 Goldin Global Fellow and the National Director of Nepal Unites, reflects on his learnings from the Goldin Global Fellowship and shares more on the Interfaith Youth Peacebuilding activities he participated in India, Thailand, and Indonesia Assemblies. These experiences strengthened his advocating skills and global connections.
Mohammad emphasizes how these events nurtured dialogue and solidarity among young people regardless of their differences. Speaking to Goldin Institute, he highlights the invaluable role of youth leadership in tackling global issues collectively. He also shares his firsthand experience with the Goldin Global Fellowship and how it offered him a seat at the table among other grassroots leaders worldwide.
Youth as Community Changemakers and Peacebuilders
Mohammad, who has over 17 years of experience in leadership as a facilitator and mobilizer, was invited to two significant events: the Pacific Alliance of YMCAs (APAY) Assembly in Chennai, India, and the Peace Conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in September 2023. He shares some valuable insights from these two esteemed programs: “Both programs were motivated by the passion for seeking to contribute to peacebuilding efforts in Asia, particularly in conflicted areas […] The assembly's theme was ‘Journeying Together as a Resilient Community: Transforming Lives Through Vision 2030.’ The 21st General Assembly of the APAY offered a perfect atmosphere for insightful discussions on integrating and enacting Vision 2030 across different grassroots communities in the Asia Pacific region through our actions to bring the vision to existence.”
Aceh, Indonesia.
He acknowledges how vital youth leadership roles are for young people committed to collectively confronting these global issues. “The youth assembly offers young people an environment for fostering dialogue and chances to promote solidarity among young people from various ethnic and social backgrounds.” The theme of the Peace Conference was “Towards an Empowered Asian Interfaith Youth Network for Peacebuilding.”
My team and I opened our booth, where peacebuilders from other countries came to explore how we work on peacebuilding activities. I also learned from their presented engagements. Since most participants were ICF (Interfaith Cooperation Forum) alumni, we discussed issues threatening Asia’s peace and harmony.
-Mohammad Ayatulla Rahaman
Among the lessons, he shares how these activities helped him elevate their advocacy and work while collaborating with other organizations to promote peace at the national and regional levels: “The youths in both the Indian assembly and Thailand Peace Conference events released a collective statement outlining their vision for Asia's conflict transformation and promotion of peace.” While in Thailand, he received an invitation letter from the Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) to be one of their speakers during the International Conference and Assembly that was to be held in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, in October 2023, at the Ali Hasyimi Auditorium. At the conference, Mohammed presented "Reinventing Nonviolent Civil Resistance: Youth Peace Movement and Technology" to 400 delegates from 21 countries.
I spoke on the power of nonviolence, how it coexists with violent and nonviolent protest in the context of Nepal, and the use of technology in advancing peacebuilding. I also highlight the contribution of the Global Unites as a Youth Peace Movement and how it works for peace and reconciliation.
-Mohammad Ayatulla Rahaman
All these conferences and assemblies from India, Thailand, and Indonesia highlighted a teaching of respect and non-discrimination of people regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, and religion. Mohammad firmly believes that norms such as respect, appreciation, and solidarity among different cultures and religions can contribute to a more peaceful world: “These tributes and values also support one another in need and can strengthen community ties.”
the victims of Aceh tsunami in 2004. The prayers were led by the Catholic priest and Muslim leader together with the delegates.
Global Goldin Fellowship a Great Platform for Sharing and Learning
Mohammad, with his team at Nepal Unites and other non-profit organizations, also organized an event for International Youth Day, focusing on the theme "Inspiring Youth.” “Inspiring Youth is a series where we invite the youth motivational speaker or the peace who has a success story that gives hope and inspires the youth to do something for social transformation”, he says.
His experience as a Global Goldin Fellow influenced his role in organizing the event for International Youth Day. “Being a part of the Global Goldin Fellowship was a great platform and opportunity to share our events and activism with our Fellow team members about our social activity and what we all are doing in our countries.” He adds that during the Fellowship, he met changemakers from 19 countries: “Although we are from different countries, our challenges are very similar to each other. We learned and shared the experiences of our countries.”
The Global Goldin Fellowship gave me the responsibility to stand for my passion for social change.
-Mohammad Ayatulla Rahaman
For Mohammad, the GATHER platform was very user-friendly, and it perceived the message of informal learning as a global family. Being a part of other community activists was vital for him, as he believes that social transformation does not happen overnight; it takes time. “For this [to achieve positive social change], all grassroots leaders must continue the initiation with passion and commitment.” Reflecting on his journey, he advises young, motivated people to persevere despite challenges. Conclusively, Mohammad adds: “Building peace is like picking up small pieces of things we build collectively to make it whole.”
Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Building Water Pumps, Peace, and Community
Dr. Susana Salvador Anayatin, a member of the Parliament of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in the Philippines, has partnered with the Goldin Institute since its launch in 2002. Beginning with water pump installations in rural communities, Dr. Anayatin has since paved a path that is a testament to growth, positive change, and tireless activism in helping her community with peace and development initiatives through her community activism, institutional work, and joining forces with the Goldin Institute. Her engagement with the Goldin Institute inspires her to become more passionate about working for the welfare of the orphans and widows of war and the underserved sectors of our society.
On a personal level, as a global associate of the Goldin Institute, Dr. Anayatin learned to become a global citizen by engaging with people from different countries. In this interview, she dwells more on these and how her motivation stems from personal tragedy, which she turned into strength and courage. She also touched upon impactful initiatives in the Philippines, emphasizing her transformative journey and dedication to peace-building efforts.
Journey with Goldin: Installing Water Pumps and Community Development
At the beginning of our conversation, she acknowledged that she gained education and skills in engaging with the Goldin Institute since partnering with grassroots communities. “I had a change of mindset. I now believe that peace and development are shared responsibilities between governments, private sectors, and grassroots communities, as they are all stakeholders of peace and development.”, she says. “I learned that through partnerships, we will yield more resources and services for the unserved and underserved in the communities.” Her values for volunteerism were also strengthened, alongside a more vital willingness to share skills to change lives, especially the out-of-school youth and illiterate adults.
She speaks about one initiative that evolved as part of the Goldin Institute’s work and its impact on helping the community with water pumps. “I was able to participate in a Goldin Institute Event in Taiwan about the provision of clean water, after which our team partnered on a project to provide water facilities in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao", she says.
Since that project, Dr. Anayatin has taken the installation of water pumps into her own hands. In three years, her organization installed about 430 water pumps in different schools, serviceable to school children and the adjoining communities. “This time, as a Member of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament, I could sustain the water project by saving some funds from our office. Since last year, we have constructed five water sources with hygiene and sanitation facilities in remote villages.”
She is fortunate to have attended another Goldin Institute event about child soldier prevention in Colombia. “As a war orphan, I have been passionate about sharing some basic needs with war orphans here. We solicit food, school supplies, medicines, and clothes and bring them to orphanages. This time, since I have some sources, we take care of four orphanages, one home for older people, and a dormitory for disadvantaged students.” She further adds: “We are taking care of these war orphans because of their vulnerability to being recruited as child soldiers if they are left unschooled and homeless.”
Turning a Personal Tragedy into Community Strength
Her motivation to get involved in peace and development work has its roots in a family tragedy- to which she did not surrender. “I am the daughter of activists who fought alongside the Americans against the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. I became a war orphan because our father was killed in front of us in our house at the early stage of the armed conflict here in Mindanao.” Life has not been easy for her. “I had to work hard for my high school and college education at the backdrop of the armed conflict.”
Her brother, a policeman, was also killed brutally at the height of the kidnapping in Mindanao. “Despite poverty, I was able to finish college and landed a job in government. The loss of a father and a brother inspired me to join groups that advocate for peace, justice, human rights, and peaceful resolution of conflicts.”
Sharing Decades of Learning: Peacebuilding as a Shared Vision and Dream
Dr. Anayatin shares with us also a key lesson she learned during her community-led peacebuilding work and efforts. There is a particular reaching that stands out to her as transformative. “I learned that peace is possible and that peacebuilding must not be dictated but a shared vision, dream, and passion where the stakeholders walk together along the journey.” She highlights that peace could be a lifetime process as a way of life.
Speaking from her experience, she shares a mindset from which individuals and organizations working in peace can benefit. “Consultation must be conducted in project and activity planning. The environment of the communities is vital, from planning to implementation and monitoring of projects/activities to establishing ownership and sustainability.” she says. She draws attention to a crucial matter in the peace-building process and collective efforts to achieve that. “Peacebuilding is contextual. Culture, traditions, behavior, values, arts, et cetera matter and should be considered. Further, peacebuilding is a crucial factor for the success of peace initiatives.”
Spreading a Message of Hope and Unity
As the Goldin Institute recently celebrates its 21st anniversary, she notes the organization's most significant achievements. “The Goldin Institute created a platform for peace practitioners, academics, students, youth, and women to share knowledge, articles, and experiences in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and post-conflict reconstruction. It established connections and reached people far beyond borders, especially in countries experiencing armed conflict and violent extremism. [...] People are interrelated regardless of creed, religion, ethnicity, political beliefs, and orientation. My experiences at the Goldin Institute allowed me to overcome the feeling of victimhood.” Concluding on a positive note, she recalls that now she enjoys a more peaceful life and is willing to journey and walk together with people from all walks of life.
About Dr. Susana Salvador Anayatin:
Dr. Susana Salvador Anayatin pursued postgraduate studies in Peace and Development that enhanced her peace-building skills. She currently teaches Peace Education, both formal and informal, and one of the subjects is Conflict Resolution and Prevention of Violence Extremism. Most of her students and participants are youths, and she partners with local NGOs and the military since violent extremism is still an issue in Mindanao.