By Md. Abul Kashem, 2nd year MDP student
This year, I had the incredible opportunity to complete my second field placement with the Winnipeg Boldness Project, an Indigenous-led, community-driven social innovation lab based in Winnipeg’s North End. This project aims to address systemic issues impacting children and families by empowering the community to co-create meaningful, sustainable solutions. Working with the Boldness Project has allowed me to see firsthand the power of community-driven change and the profound impact it has on shaping development initiatives that prioritize the needs and voices of the people they serve.
At the Winnipeg Boldness Project, I collaborated on various initiatives, including writing a project proposal for the Baby Basket Project, an essential support program for new mothers. I also conducted environmental scans and performed data entry for the Community Helpers initiative, ensuring that crucial information was organized and accessible. Participating in guided group meetings and community programs enriched my understanding of the project's holistic approach, where community members are placed at the center of the development process.
One of my key takeaways from this placement has been the significance of co-creation. Through the Braids and Proofs of Possibilities (POPs) model, I learned how innovative, community-led prototypes can bring about impactful, long-lasting change. Seeing the role that Indigenous leadership plays in fostering social innovation has deepened my understanding of the importance of community involvement in development work. This experience has shifted my perspective and reinforced my belief that development efforts must be driven by the community to ensure effectiveness and sustainability.
In addition to the hands-on work, I reflected on several readings, including Looking Back and Living Forward: Indigenous Research Rising Up and You Are the Medicine: 13 Moons of Indigenous Wisdom. These texts provided me with theoretical foundations for community-led development and enhanced my understanding of Indigenous knowledge systems, which are vital in shaping meaningful social innovation.
This placement also highlighted a contrast with my previous work in Bangladesh. While many Bangladeshi NGOs focus on top-down approaches, the Winnipeg Boldness Project’s community-led model showed me the profound benefits of empowering local voices. This experience has inspired me to advocate for participatory development in future projects, both in Canada and Bangladesh, and to emphasize cultural sensitivity and local knowledge in all my work.
Overall, my time with the Winnipeg Boldness Project has been transformative. It has deepened my commitment to community-led, culturally-focused development and reinforced the value of collaboration and innovation in addressing systemic challenges. I look forward to applying these insights in future development projects and continuing to advocate for approaches that prioritize the needs and leadership of the communities they aim to serve.
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