By Lorianne Dueck, International Justice Mission

World Renew, Citizens for Public Justice and IJM Canada have a combined 145 years of experience activating communities to help end injustice, poverty and inequality – both in Canada and around the world. On February 5-6, 2024, these three organizations hosted their first collaborative event as a part of International Development Week (IDW). IDW was launched by Global Affairs Canada in 1991 to spotlight Canadians’ contributions to eradicating poverty and building a more peaceful, inclusive, and prosperous world. Held annually the first full week of February, IDW is a unique opportunity to inform, inspire, involve, and celebrate Canadians’ global impact on international development.

This year, the three organizations approached Redeemer University and Centennial College to convene a conversation around agency as part of their IDW celebrations. The panel consisted of Joash Thomas / Cheryl Hotchkiss from IJM Canada, Dena Nicolai from World Renew, and Asvini Uthayakumaran from CPJ. The conversation and Q&A were brilliantly moderated by the host institutions, with strong engagement from the audience. Redeemer and Centennial College welcomed the initiative and appreciated the clarity, collaboration and care within the project team.

We know that when development programs are built in partnership with and informed by the lived experience of communities, they will result in sustainable and dignified solutions that work for everyone. Our intent was to share why international development efforts must be localized and informed by – and when possible, led by – the intended beneficiaries. We look forward to exploring further collaborative moments like this together.

Read a full statement here.

Photo credit: Centennial College