A Celebration of Collective Strength and Hope: My learning from the ARC Convening in Bangladesh

[shristi joshi]

I had the privilege of attending the Addressing Root Cause (ARC) Convening in Bangladesh — a vibrant and heartfelt gathering where partners from the Bangladesh cohort, Pyaro Bandhan, and team members from Thailand, the USA, Mexico, India, and Nepal came together. It was more than just a convening; it was a shared space of purpose, reflection, and solidarity, where we learned from one another’s journeys in community-led development and deepened our commitment to shifting power to the people.

The Power of SALT: Voices from Bangladesh, Nepal, and India

At the heart of every conversation was the SALT approach, developed by The Constellation — Support, Appreciate, Learn/Listen, and Transfer. It’s more than just a method; it’s a way of seeing, listening, and being with communities.

What touched me most were the deeply personal stories of transformation shared by partners across Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. A common thread wove through every experience: SALT is not just a tool — it’s a mindset and a way of life.

• Community Level: Growing Acceptance and Inclusion

Rural Aid shared an inspiring story about how a simple dream sparked real change. Initially offering tuition support to vulnerable children, they used SALT’s dream-building activities to envision free education for every child. This dream struck a chord within the community — and soon, community members themselves took ownership, setting up and running free tuition centers. What started small blossomed into a vibrant, community-driven movement - a reminder that when communities believe in a shared dream, they can make it a reality.

Similarly, Arshirbad Mohila Unnayan Samity shared how SALT conversations helped the community break down long-standing discrimination against the Dalit community. Through open dialogue and reflection, biases began to crumble, and a spirit of inclusion began to grow. Today, the Dalit community is being embraced in ways once thought impossible — showing the powerful impact of honest, respectful conversations.

• Organizational Level: Shifting Power and Transforming Leadership

The Ethnic Community Development Organization (ECDO) shared a powerful shift in their leadership journey. Moving away from a centralized, top-down approach, they began holding weekly meetings where junior colleagues were encouraged to share ideas and perspectives. This shift sparked innovation, ownership, and pride within the team. For the first time in their history, they elected a female president of their executive committee and achieved a 70% female staff representation — a powerful testament to what inclusive leadership can achieve.

Avni shared another inspiring ripple effect: by applying a community-driven approach, they transformed relationships across teachers, parents, the child welfare committee, and even the government. What started as a small dream - providing mid-day meals to 300 children — eventually inspired the government to scale it up to 70,000 students. A true celebration of what’s possible when institutions and communities dream and act together.

• Cohort and Personal Level: Deeper Connection and Shared Ownership

Within the ARC cohort itself, something beautiful happened - a deep sense of collectiveness bloomed. Members moved beyond formal collaboration to build soul-to-soul connections. Trust, friendship, mutual respect, and support became the fabric of our work together. SALT shifted our mindsets from asking, "What is wrong?" to celebrating, "What is strong?"- creating a space where hope, resilience, and collective action could truly thrive.

• Family and Community Level: Building Stronger Families and Safer Spaces

The Grow Your Reader Foundation’s work in Hijilpara reminded me how much change starts at home. After conducting SALT conversations, mothers realized they could actively support their children in tackling internet addiction. They began teaching their children themselves — stepping into roles they hadn’t imagined before. Similarly, grandparents also stepped up and took a new role, by conducting story telling sessions for children, which helped deepen the intergenerational bond. The community realized the important role grandparents could play. By recognizing the power of collective dreams, the community was able to move beyond recognizing their strengths to address community challenges- from child marriage and eve-teasing to gender-based violence and caste-based discrimination. Through SALT, BRED also helped communities prevent child marriage, a powerful step toward creating safer futures for children.

The convening in Dhaka was so much more than an event — it was a celebration of collective strength, resilience, and hope. It reminded me why we do this work: not to bring outside solutions, but to walk alongside communities as they discover their own power.

We returned home not just with action plans, but with renewed energy, deeper friendships, and powerful stories of transformation — stories that will continue to guide and inspire us on this shared journey of shifting power to the people.

 

 

[Tasnim Chowdhury]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful reflection, Shristi.

[Manira khanam]

Thanks for the influential and forceful reflection Shristi. Thank you so much.❤️

[Bayazid Bostami]

Brilliant reflection! Thanks a lot for sharing!!!!

[Shahrukh Atpade]

What a powerful reflection. The stories of transformation through SALT are truly inspiring especially how communities are leading their own change.

[Santi rambari]

Thank you so much for sharing, Shristi. Your insightful writing touched me deeply. As I read it, it felt like we were once again united in a strong bond, sharing the knowledge.

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks for the powerful reflections Shristi. You brought a lot of energy in the convening!

Congratulations on your first blog. I look forward to many more:-)

[Sadia Jafrin]

Thank you so much for sharing, Shrishti. Your writing touched me deeply—it gently reminded me to pause and look inward. In the rush to showcase our work, we often forget to truly see it, to feel its meaning and roots. Your words brought me back to that space of reflection and authenticity. It grounded me, reminded me why we do what we do—not for the applause, but for the connection, the purpose, and the quiet impact.