International Development day

Working on the project, " A Journey Back to Sedika from Winnipeg" was a great learning experience for me. I was able to meet many wonderful people along the line. I was able to learn about people and organisations who work in the area of development.

That is how I was connected with the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation (MCIC). The MCIC basically is a government-funded organisation supporting development projects designed here in Manitoba. I was told to contact them by an acquaintance in 2016. I learned that they have some programs specifically designed to support Manitobans who are engaged in development project. I wrote a project proposal and applied for a grant through one of their programs - the Community Solidarity Fund.

Thankfully, MCIC approved my proposal and provided me a grant of $6000 through the community solidarity fund. Sedika is grateful for the support they received for the implementation of the project objectives, which is to provide school supplies and other educational aid materials, and to establish a support system to support students coming to Sedika School.

This week I attended an event organised by Manitoba Council for International Cooperation at the Manitoba Legislative Building. This event was organised to kick of the International Development Week 2019.

It was a great event for many organisations, and people who work on development projects shared their experiences, and the stories that came out of their work. It was very inspirational because of all those great stories. It was great to hear the spoken word of Fort Richmond Collegiate Students at the event. These students were selected by the MCIC Youth Engagement Program. MCIC engage youth on sustainable development issues, and provide opportunity for youth to perform using the platform. This year the students from Fort Richmond received the opportunity to prepare a spoken word piece on gender equality. These students came up with a concept, and spent time developing the spoken word piece with the support of professionals. It was great to see all that work and deliberation to pay off.

It was great to hear all the stories from people who engaged in International Development. I said to myself after all these, together we can do more!