Speaker

Dr Willy Oppenheim
Educator, Researcher, and the Leader
Omprakash

Using Digital Learning to Decolonize Social Innovation Research and Action

Abstract Narrative

This presentation introduces “Gender Equality, Digital Learning, and Social Innovation across Differences” (GEDLSID): a new transnational action research initiative involving scholars and practitioners from University of Illinois, University of Ottawa, Omprakash (www.omprakash.org; a US-based nonprofit), and grassroots social impact organizations from Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, and Nepal.
Funded by a grant from the Canadian Government, GEDLSID uses digital learning to support action research that emerges from and informs the everyday work of grassroots social impact leaders in the Global South. The project explores processes of social innovation within organizations that focus on gender equality, and asks how these processes unfold across diverse social contexts and in relation to transnational flows of resources, knowledge, and
power.
Central to this initiative is its intent to amplify participants’ research capacity through ongoing training, reflection, and mentorship occurring via a digital learning platform. The initiative also aims to broaden popular notions of what social innovation research can entail: the emphasis is on rigor, reflexivity, and purposeful knowledge-sharing and consciousness-raising rather than only on formal publications. In these ways, the project challenges the dominant paradigm of North-led research and grounds itself in the everyday work of social impact leaders across divergent contexts in order to enact a praxis in which participants’ reflection and dialogue are deeply intertwined with their ongoing social action.
In presenting this work, we hope to share a replicable model for engaging historically marginalized people in forms of academic research and transnational collaboration from which they are often excluded. The GEDLSID project aims to demonstrate a viable model for using digital tools to a) build research capacity within historically marginalized populations, and b)
amplify their work by connecting them to donors, grants, interns, universities, and each other — all at very low cost. In this way, the model is highly replicable and we expect it will be of great interest to the ICSD network.
Our proposed session will begin by presenting the case study of GEDLSID as a model for how digital learning communities can support and amplify community-based organizations’ capacity for action-research at the intersection of qualitative inquiry and social innovation. Then GEDLSID participants will briefly share examples of social innovation in the context of their own adaptation of gender-focused programs in response to COVID-19. Presenters will share research and innovation projects addressing topics that include violence against women and girls in Malawi; micro-loans supporting women-led agribusiness in Kenya; positive masculinity workshops in Mexico, and the gendered impact of migration and labor policies in Nepal.
After introducing our panelists and their unique projects, we will pivot towards the participatory aspect of the presentation: we will split the audience into ‘breakout rooms’ and ask audience members to reflect on barriers and possibilities for social innovation and action research in their own contexts, particularly with respect to gender-focused work in the wake of COVID-19. Then we will reconvene for a final full-group discussion and Q&A session.

Biography

Willy Oppenheim is an educator, a researcher, and the leader of a social enterprise that works to facilitate relationships, dialogue, and learning between change agents around the world. Willy came up with the initial idea for Omprakash (www.omprakash.org) at the age of eighteen, after serving as a volunteer English teacher in northern India in 2004. The organization began as a platform connecting volunteers with social impact organizations, and has evolved to include a crowdfunding platform and an online learning ecosystem (Omprakash EdGE) that helps students grapple with the complexity of crossing differences of culture and power with the intention of ‘doing good.’

María Rodriguez
Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator
Soldaridad Internacional Kanda (SiKanda

Using Digital Learning to Decolonize Social Innovation Research and Action

Biography

María Rodriguez works as a Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator for Soldaridad Internacional Kanda (SiKanda) in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Stella Wanjala
Lecturer
Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology

Using Digital Learning to Decolonize Social Innovation Research and Action

Abstract Narrative

This presentation introduces “Gender Equality, Digital Learning, and Social Innovation across Differences” (GEDLSID): a new transnational action research initiative involving scholars and practitioners from University of Illinois, University of Ottawa, Omprakash, and grassroots social impact organizations from Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, and Nepal.
Funded by a grant from the Canadian Government, GEDLSID uses digital learning to support action research that emerges from and informs the everyday work of grassroots social impact leaders in the Global South. The project explores processes of social innovation within organizations that focus on gender equality, and asks how these processes unfold across diverse social contexts and in relation to transnational flows of resources, knowledge, and power.

Willy Oppenheim, Omprakash (USA)
María Ávila, SiKanda (Mexico)
Stella Wanjala, Women and Water Natural Resource Conservation (WWANC) (Kenya)
Yubraj Nepal, Center for Migration and International Relations (CMIR) (Nepal)
Caroline Luka, Art & Global Health Center Africa (ArtGlo) (Malawi)

More updates from the GEDLSID transnational action research project: https://www.omprakash.org/blog/group/gedlsid-research-group

Biography

Mrs. Stella. Wanjala is a lecturer in the School of Science, Department of Biological Sciences in Masinde Muliro University of Science and technology in Kakamega Kenya. She is a PhD student at University of Eldoret, Kenya, registered to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Zoology, Ecology, project thematic area, Environmental conservation and management. She holds a Master of Philosophy degree (MPhil) in Zoology (Ecology) (conferred in 2009), a Bachelor of Education Science (Biology major) (conferred in 2003), both from Moi University. She has undertaken specialized professional courses such as Post graduate certificate in Limnology and Environmental Impact Assessment awarded by Austria/Egerton Collaboration and Moi University respectively. In community outreach, Stella is the founder of a Non Governmental, Non- Profit making organization (Women in Water and Natural Resources Conservation), that has reached out to grassroot women through trainings and mentorship with the aim of improving the health and economic status of women, infants and girls. Through the organization, Stella has trained women groups to actively participate in climate change impacts reduction through appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures. In Kakamega County she is involved in training women and Youth groups in Water and Sanitation programs, Basic entrepreneurial skills as well as Environmental Conservation and Green economy programs, after undertaking Short courses/trainings in the said areas in collaboration with global women water initiative and women in water and natural resources conservation Organizations.

Yubraj Nepal
Co-founder
Center for Migration and International Relations (CMIR

Using Digital Learning to Decolonize Social Innovation Research and Action

Biography

Yubraj Nepal is one of the co-founders of the Center for Migration and International Relations (CMIR) where he serves as a Director (from 2015) to overlook the entire organization’s function. He leads all aspects of CMIR’s strategic planning, development, and operations to achieve the long-term mission, vision, and objectives of CMIR.

Prior to CMIR, Yubraj has worked with several organizations working in labor migration issues. He has over a decade of experience work

ing on labor migration and its cross-cutting issues. He holds a Master’s Degree in Humanities and Social Sciences from Tribhuvan University, Nepal. He is also a Community Solution Program Alumni – a leadership program by the Department of State and IREX.

Caroline Luka
Project Assistant
Make Art for Women’s Activism

Using Digital Learning to Decolonize Social Innovation Research and Action

Biography

Caroline works as the Make Art for Women’s Activism Project Assistant for Art & Global Health Africa (https://www.artgloafrica.org/) in Zomba, Malawi.

Caroline became a catalyst of change when she served as a volunteer with CorpsAfrica where she integrated in the community, facilitated projects with the community members. Volunteering sparked her passion for community development, youth empowerment, women and girls’ rights and sexual reproductive health rights. She believes that at ArtGlo she will be able to create change in the communities through the power of arts and embracing the value of inclusivity and togetherness. She was trained at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources where she obtained a degree in Agricultural Extension. A farmer at heart, Caroline writes poetry, enjoys the outdoors and loves cooking and baking.