World YMCA’s Post

Randomly thinking how strategic partnerships, long regarded as the cornerstone of sustainable development, has been *key* in my career success stories. I know first hand how collaboration amplifies impact exponentially. Recently, I was inspired by UNICEF USA's partnership with Airbnb.org to support children and families in Ukraine. It's a powerful reminder that when we join forces, we can create real change. Curious if anyone else often thinks about how partnerships can transform their work and deepen impact. #StrategicPartnerships #SustainableDevelopment #Collaboration #SDG17

🌍 As we approach the end of 2024, it's crucial to reflect on our shared responsibilities toward refugees and host communities. This year has been a testament to the resilience and strength of these communities, as well as the pressing need for sustained efforts in fostering peace and coexistence. 🤝 The challenges faced by refugees are often compounded by the struggles of host communities. However, through sustainable engagement in livelihoods, we can create opportunities that benefit everyone. By investing in education, skills training, and inclusive economic initiatives, we pave the way for harmony and mutual growth. 💬 Let's amplify the voices of those who have been displaced and support proactive measures that encourage integration rather than division. Together, we can build bridges of understanding and cooperation, ensuring that all community members thrive. ✨ As we look towards the future, let’s commit to promoting peace and sustainable solutions that empower both refugees and their hosts. After all, a peaceful future is one built on shared prosperity and collaboration. #Peace #Coexistence #RefugeeSupport #SustainableLivelihoods #CommunityEngagement #2025Goals

For the second year in a row, we're at #AidEX Connect with my colleague Imane Chouadli if you're interested to learn more about our work in #CVA, #AI, and #blockchain.

Reflecting on two impactful events I attended in September, I find myself questioning how we can better bridge global challenges with local action especially when it comes to peacebuilding, migration, and community resilience. At the Overview of Refugee and Migration Issues in Europe panel organized by International Visitor Leadership Program U.S Department of State in Wisconsin, the conversation explores the complexities of migration and refugee resettlement. Discussions focused on the challenges and innovative solutions being implemented to support migrants and refugees. This experience deepens my understanding on how global migration patterns affect community resilience and the importance of developing holistic approaches to integration, mental health, and well-being. It made me think: How do we ensure that the policies we create not only support refugees but also foster resilience within the communities they join? Can we create a model that addresses not just immediate needs, but long-term integration, mental health, and well-being? At the International Day of Peace Celebration by International Visitor Leadership Program U.S Department of State hosted by Masters of Sustainable Peacebuilding at School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee , I listened to 12 African journalists discuss peacebuilding in their regions. Their stories about cultivating peace in often challenging environments left me pondering: What role can we all especially young people play in sustaining peace and addressing the root causes of conflict? How do we build cultures of peace, not just in regions plagued by conflict, but in our own communities? Both events were interconnected by the theme of resilience, whether it's for displaced people or communities seeking peace across the world and leaves me asking: Are we doing enough to prepare the next generation to navigate and address these global challenges? How can we be more intentional in building peace and resilience locally while keeping a global perspective? As I continue my work in community development and youth engagement, these questions will stay with me. What do you think? How do we bridge these complex global issues with real, local solutions?

👥 24 interactive workshops 🌍 Three cities: Grenoble, Clermont-Ferrand, and Lyon 🎉 That's a wrap on the training phase of the Resilient Cities program! From March to June 2024, we conducted training sessions for mayors, deputy mayors, elected officials, municipal councillors, mission officers from various departments, and social workers from public and civil society institutions. Thanks to design thinking tools, we addressed vital issues including prejudices against migrants, equality within public policies and institutions, and best practices for integrating newcomers into local democracies while fostering trust. The interactive and collaborative training sessions provided them with new perspectives and tools to fulfill their public roles and responsibilities, fostering a deeper understanding of their potential contributions to their communities. We were also delighted to train 3 cohorts of newcomers from diverse cultural backgrounds and nationalities, such as Syria, Kenya, Colombia, Afghanistan, Congo, and Myanmar residing in the three cities. Participants were equipped with interactive methods to help them develop practical strategies to address community challenges and boost their self-confidence as leaders. The training expanded their grasp of municipal responsibilities, enabling them to participate more confidently in civic life. 🎯 What's next? Both groups of participants will come together in the policy-labs phase where they will work collaboratively to co-create solutions for community challenges within local democracies. 🙏🏾 Thanks to the City Halls of Grenoble-Alpes Métropole, Ville de Clermont-Ferrand, and Ville de Lyon, along with our partners at Maison de Project in Lyon and Forum Réfugié in Clermont-Ferrand, for their contributions! Robert Bosch Stiftung Ismail Alkhateeb Helay R. Shawgi Ahmed Catherine Raad #ResilientCities #InteractiveWorkshops #CommunityLeadership #DesignThinking #InclusivePolicy #LocalDemocracy #CivicEngagement #MunicipalTraining #CommunityBuilding #PublicPolicy #EmpoweringLeaders #Grenoble #ClermontFerrand #Lyon #SocialInnovation #CollaborativeSolutions #CivicParticipation #TrainingPrograms

Have you ever wondered how success is empowered when we seek inspiration and creativity in the moments we unite? Cooperating within local communities isn't just a concept—it's a movement reshaping the future. Take Rizoma Cooperativa Integral in Lisbon, for instance, where a community grocery store evolved into a multi-sector cooperative, giving everyone a voice and place to contribute. Then there's Dark Matter Labs, tirelessly reconstructing institutions, instruments and infrastructures through community collaboration for a real equitable future. We believe community engagement isn't just a buzzword. These are real examples of fostering a collective approach to tackling public issues, resulting in impactful projects and partnerships with local authorities. But our reach extends a bit further. Teaming up with IOM - UN Migration Portugal, we've pioneered programs bringing together employers and resettled refugees, redefining integration in the labor market. And our collaboration with Give Something Back to Berlin e.V. in Berlin reinforces our commitment to inclusive innovation, designing events that empower local migrant communities. This should be clear: by fostering community-centric models, we're rewriting the world. It's a future where purpose transcends profits, and collaboration implies participation. We are all individuals but we look so much better and are so much stronger together. Join us in reshaping the future today—read more here: https://lnkd.in/d-yuN8RF #transformativedesign #futureofwork #future

Celebrating Transformed Lives. Common Good is a developmental organisation that is proving that transformation is possible within the current context of South Africa. Explore the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d6GT2YP3 #SouthAfrica #WeCanChangeOurWorld #Growth #CommonGoodSA #TransformationPossible #ImpactStories #EarlyLifeIntervention #EducationForAll #EmploymentOpportunities #JobJourney #SupportForGrowth #YouthEmpowerment #SocialImpact #CommunityDevelopment #InvestInTheFuture #ChangingLives

#FoundersFridays | Meet Nick Pfeyffer and Abdullah Alharbi For this #FoundersFridays, we spoke to Nick Pfeyffer and Abdullah Alharbi, founders of UNSEEN | unseen talent, a social impact start-up that supports newcomers with a refugee background by helping them navigate the complex Dutch system. Pfeyffer and Alharbi talk about how they met, their Big Hairy Audacious Goal and the way UNSEEN has evolved over the past couple of years. "As Nick and I worked on setting up UNSEEN, we discovered that the issues were much more profound than we initially thought. Many individuals are in debt, struggle with the complexities of the Dutch system, and fall into poverty. These challenges put people at a significant disadvantage from the start. Over one-third of newcomers are in debt, and this figure is likely an understatement. Realizing the need for a sustainable solution to these deeper issues, we came up with the initial idea for iSettle." 👇 https://lnkd.in/eHSncPRk

Meaningful change requires us to hear youth voices and their lived experiences. Our efforts to address Africa’s displacement crisis have taken on new urgency, ambition, and focus in recent years. Through our partnerships, we are working to empower and enable refugees and displaced youth in education, entrepreneurship and research. Listening and continuously learning from those who know the context best is essential. Learn more about our work here: https://ow.ly/sVkP50R9Miq Pictured: Akuol de Mabior, Filmmaker and Rights Activist at the Africa Forum on Displacement 2023

From Refugee to Changemaker: Ansiima Rolande’s Journey in Community Development Day 5 of celebrating my amazing beVisioneers: The Mercedes-Benz Fellowship fellows shines a light on Ansiima Casinga Rolande , a dedicated leader and innovator from the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently living in Uganda. Her story is one of resilience, passion, and an unwavering commitment to creating a better world. Ansiima’s work in community development focuses on fostering a more sustainable way of life through permaculture—a powerful tool she uses to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her approach is holistic and transformative, addressing three core principles: 🌍 Caring for People: Promoting gender equity, education, food security, and healthy relationships. 🌱 Caring for Nature: Creating sustainable infrastructure and a balanced economy that works in harmony with the environment. 🤝 Sharing: Encouraging kindness, mutual support, and community health. Ansiima’s dedication to her community has taken her far beyond borders. She is currently in Taiwan, speaking at the 15th International Permaculture Convergence, where she is sharing the impacts of permaculture in refugee camps. Her voice is amplifying the importance of sustainable solutions in vulnerable settings, demonstrating that even in the face of adversity, meaningful change is possible. Ansiima’s journey inspires us all to think about how we can use the resources and knowledge we have to care for people, protect the planet, and foster a spirit of collaboration. She is a true example of turning challenges into opportunities for transformation. Let’s celebrate her resilience, vision, and incredible impact as she continues to change lives and advocate for a more sustainable and inclusive future. Ansiima Casinga Rolande AARON NUWAMANYA Gilbert Niyonsaba Chiedza Mutsaka Skyum lennox mugumira Denis Wembi Crispus Mwemaho Phionah Nagaba Joyce Zhang Maximiliano Cortes Sotomayor Nihal Ahmed Seán Gallen #Permaculture #SustainableDevelopment #CommunityImpact #Resilience #Bevisioneers #Leadership #Sustainability #EmpoweringCommunities