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Past Projects

Maharati: a design education program

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Maharati grew from a small idea that design has the power to transform a life.

Concept: Build an educational program for women in Northern Iraq that uses design as a methodology to deepen critical soft skills.

Process

  • Engage communities in initial dialogue around content, needs and pains that could be addressed through the pilot program. 

  • Practice soft skills that are being taught as a team. Stayed playful, communicative, joyful and visionary. 

  • Develop multiple options for women to choose including photography and graphic design. 

  • Bring the two tracks together in collaboration. 

“We have been through so much in this country and our town. We must continue to see the possibility of what we can design - not just a business card or a wedding invitation but our lives and our community.” - Maharati Graduate

Pilot Learnings: Intentional learning design is the most impactful aspect of the program. Learning good design from good design. Community is critical. 

Iteration Learnings

  • Online spaces are an opportunity in disguise. More access for different communities. 

  • Co-creation of design education is a critical step to learn-by-doing. 

  • Play is under-practiced and takes vulnerable spaces in order to flourish. 

Ouput: 5 iterations in English and Arabic. 100+ graduates. 92% retention rate. 

This project was completed in my capacity as a Senior Program Manager of education start-up Re:Coded.

Photograph by Lena Dawood. 

All Systems Connect: Make Change Sprints

Make Change Sprints engaged multi-stakeholder groups to deepen their conversations and move towards real solutions. 

Concept: Explore real solutions to WASH National Systems Strengthening in Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal and Ethiopia during the All Systems Connect Symposium. 

Process

  • Adjust the Design Sprint methodology to fit onto very wicked and complex issues. 

  • Design an experience that can be simultaneously engaged with as a national delegation and as a cross-sectoral knowledge group of experts.

  • Collaborate with multiple partners and contributors. 

  • Create something that is outside of the normal "symposium" box. 

Outcome

  • It was fun. 

  • Participants challenged themselves to critically approach the questions they were asking themselves and their teams. 

  • Participants investigated core bottlenecks in their WASH systems through interactive and creative methods from the Design Sprint toolkit. 

  • Participants engaged in rapid ideations and refinement practices which challenged them to think differently about how to come up with and accept possible ideas. 

  • Participants knowledge shared across regions and countries to support each other

  • Participants left the session with documentation of their questions, bottlenecks and potential solutions. Since the sprint, two country delegations have planned to continue strategy and planning workshops in-country.

This project was completed in collaboration with Changemakerxchange and IRC:

Photographs by Robert Tjalondo and Illustration by Danibal. 

Changemakers for the Planet
2023 (Germany)
2024 (Sweden)

Changemakers for the Planet connects, supports and amplifys the work and voices of hundreds of young changemakers, activists and innovators from all regions of the world who address the planetary crisis.

Project: Facilitate ChangemakerxChange's CM4P European Summits in 2023 and 2024.

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Process

  • Adapt ChangemakerXchange's methodology to fit the audience for this summit. 

  • Integrate relevant frameworks such as Emergent Strategy into the flow in order to support growth. 

  • Tailor summit flow to location, weather, facilitator strengths and interests. 

  • Facilitate in a consent-based way that centers the needs and knowledge of the Changemakers. 

  • Support Changemakers in navigating difficult feelings such as a grief, anxiety and fear. 

  • Respond to the learning journey of the collective group, making necessary adjustments throughout the experience.

Overall Experience

  • Transformative for all. 

  • Changemakers were actively engaged in deepening their connections with each other, their purpose and the planet.

  • Changemakers took steps to understand their whole-being needs and resources. 

  • Changemakers came together to consider potential collaborations amongst their organizations. 

This project was completed in collaboration with Changemakerxchange and Apple:

Photographs by Alex Kleis

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