Kolkata Convening: A Beautiful Gathering of Strengths, Dreams, and Conversations

[Shahrukh Atpade]

A three-day convening was organized in Kolkata by Global Fund for Children (GFC) under the Addressing Root Causes (ARC) project for Facilitators, Documentation Officers, and Project Coordinators. Around 40 participants from 10 different organizations across India attended the event. People came from different regions, speaking different languages and belonging to different cultures. However, we were all connected by our shared commitment to working with communities. GFC arranged our stay at a beautiful and peaceful place. Our Smile team traveled for one day to reach Kolkata. I always enjoy traveling, meeting new people, and talking with them, so I was very excited about this convening. I had already met some participants in person, while I knew others only through Zoom meetings. This was a great opportunity to meet everyone face-to-face. The first day started with a SALT conversation. This made me very happy because SALT is not just a method; it is a beautiful way of discovering people’s strengths and understanding them. During the introduction session, everyone shared information about themselves and their organizations. Later, we were divided into groups for SALT activities. These activities helped us learn about each other’s life journeys, experiences, and strengths. During the three days, I sat with different people every day, shared meals and tea, and had many conversations. Our discussions were not limited to work. We talked about our families, dreams, challenges, and life experiences. It was surprising to see that although we came from different states, many of our feelings, struggles, and hopes were similar. Through these conversations, strangers slowly became friends. On the first day, different organizations presented success stories from their fieldwork. Listening to these stories helped me realize how much strength exists within communities. The changes people created through their own efforts, their determination, and their leadership were truly inspiring. Every photograph had a living story behind it. As facilitators shared those stories, the events came alive in front of our eyes. We also got an opportunity to present experiences from AVANI. I spoke about changes that happened at the individual level, while my colleagues shared examples of change at the community and organizational levels. These presentations reminded me that even small conversations can create big changes. On the second day, a Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) session was organized. At first, I was curious about what the experience would be like. As the session continued, everyone became fully involved. Through dance, movement, and creative expression, we felt our stress becoming lighter. The session reminded us that while we spend our time caring for communities, it is also important to care for our own emotions and well-being. In the afternoon, we discussed the difference between Community-Led Development and Service Delivery, the importance of supporting community-led initiatives, and the challenges faced in the field. Listening to people from different organizations helped us understand many new perspectives. Some challenges were new to us, while others were similar to what we experience in our own work. One thing became clear through all these discussions: communities already have the ability to create change. Our role is to recognize that ability and encourage it. The cultural program in the evening was one of the most enjoyable moments of the convening. We experienced a beautiful mix of languages, songs, dances, and traditions. At that moment, we were not representatives of different organizations. We were friends enjoying each other’s cultures.

Convening Video Link 🔗 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FFUVQmInBsAdTv3vNdq7ZRdgb-2Ey7sk/v...

On the third day, we imagined what communities could look like in the future. We explored the question: “What will a truly community-led future look like in 2035?” Different groups expressed their ideas through poems, drawings, dances, and short plays. These presentations reflected hope, dreams, and a strong belief in the power of communities. After that, we divided into groups based on our roles and developed action plans for the future. We shared our dreams, goals, and ideas for working more effectively with communities. This process gave us a clear direction for our future work. For me, these three days were not just a training program or a meeting. They were a journey of understanding people, learning from them, and seeing myself from a new perspective. Forty people from different cultures, languages, and working environments came together, and after three days, we were no longer just participants—we had become a connected community. The Kolkata convening once again taught me that real strength does not lie in projects; it lies in people. When people listen to each other’s experiences, learn from one another, and trust each other, the process of change becomes stronger. And perhaps this is the true meaning of being community-led.

[Moumita Kayal]

Speechless 😶