Impact Connect

Lia, a 17-year-old student, is facilitating problem identification in her village with neighbors, focusing on the health issues they are facing in Dumuria, Khulna. Can we support her in becoming a local, responsible change agent who dares to question the system?

“What we learned from the villagers, who face continuous challenges, is that asking the right questions—and then listening for over 90% of the time—can lead to findings that differ from what was initially planned. Honest listening helped us discover new questions that were not included in my checklist,” said local change agents during a sharing session after the transect walks for SDG Localization initiated by UNDP. The next day, on August 13, 2025, they began mapping the union’s resources and problems in Dumuria, Khulna District.

I had the opportunity once again to apply the participatory approach to transform a community-led initiative. The focus area is SDG localization under UNDP, with The Hunger Project actively involved. They have a proven network of experienced volunteers at the community level. I have just started the orientation for these volunteers, guiding them on how they can act as change agents—identifying the chronic problems faced by last-mile communities, determining their needs, and connecting them with local resources. They will also develop a resource map, which will help them identify gaps, problems, and possible solutions. I was happy to see that they are genuine volunteers, ready to take on the role of change agents. However, I also felt frustrated—and, honestly, disheartened—by the limitations they face. They are boxed in by the typical NGO mindset. They work, move, and contribute, yet they are not fully aware of their own strengths. They lack adequate social recognition, have limited i...