On April 9 and 10, 2026, World Renew participated in the Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) Symposium 2026, “Strengthening Global Citizenship Through Collective Action.” The gathering brought together leaders from across the sector to reflect on how collaborative, locally grounded approaches can advance sustainable development and global citizenship.
During the symposium, Kohima Daring, World Renew’s Senior Country Director of Bangladesh, and Catherine Rina Guda, Assistant Project Director with World Renew’s partner organization SATHEE, took part in the panel session “Scaling Community-Led Models for Transformative Global Citizenship and Girls’ Education.” Joining panelists from Acted Canada and Good Neighbours Canada, they shared practical insights into how community-led development models can shift power, strengthen local leadership, and ensure that decision-making remains rooted in the priorities of local communities. Their contributions highlighted World Renew’s long-standing commitment to working alongside communities as partners, supporting processes where local voices lead the way toward sustainable change.
At the core of World Renew’s approach is a belief that communities are best positioned to define their own development pathways. Through participatory learning and action, World Renew walks alongside communities as they identify their strengths, articulate the challenges they face, and lead the change they wish to see. The panel discussion emphasized that transformative global citizenship begins with listening, and that meaningful change happens when power is shared and local leadership is strengthened.
Reflecting on the symposium, World Renew Grants Program Manager Maggie Zeng expressed appreciation for the collaborative spirit of the gathering: “Thank you, OCIC, for organizing this successful symposium and bringing old and new friends from diverse organizations together. Looking forward to continuing our collective learning and collaboration in the future!” The event created space for thoughtful conversation, honest questions, and mutual learning across organizations committed to advancing dignity-centered development.
The OCIC Symposium served as a reminder that building a more just and equitable world requires collective action grounded in partnership, humility, and a shared commitment to empowering communities. As these conversations continue, World Renew remains committed to fostering development that is locally led, collaborative, and rooted in dignity, trusting that lasting change emerges when communities are supported to lead their own transformation.
