By Jacob Omondi

The One World Community Building Summit 2024 was a unique event that provided an opportunity for various partners to explore different strategies for building strong communities through advocacy, utilizing the Community Spaces platform as a tool for online advocacy and solidarity. Bringing together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, the Community Building Summit 2024 facilitated insights sharing, networking opportunities, and the development of a roadmap towards stronger and more resilient communities.

Partners of the summit included Muungano wa Wanavijiji and Slum Dwellers International-Kenya, Play It Forward, Raising Futures Kenya, Community Savers, and CLASS. The One World Together movement prioritizes community interests by transforming funding for equitable and impactful global development.

Scope of One World Together Partners

Community Savers: A network of place-based and women-led community groups and networks, Community Savers brings communities together to share ideas, experiences, and strategies for reducing poverty and inequality in their local areas and across neighborhoods, towns, and cities.

Raising Futures Kenya: A charity organization dedicated to working with young people, Raising Futures Kenya provides opportunities for rewarding futures by offering hands-on practical trade and business skills training alongside tailored well-being support. The organization aims to help young people overcome past traumas and realize their ambitions to end the cycle of poverty and inequality.

Muungano wa Wanavijiji: A social movement of slum residents and urban poor people in Kenya, Muungano wa Wanavijiji advocates for land, housing, and services, prioritizing community needs by involving community members in decision-making processes. Supported by Slum Dwellers International, the movement receives technical expertise on urban planning.

Play It Forward: A charity organization in Zambia, Play It Forward provides opportunities through education and health activities for young people. Utilizing a 'sport for development' approach, the organization aims to achieve sustainable social change. Their vision is a world in which every young Zambian has the opportunity to reach their full potential and thrive.

Recognizing the crucial role of youth in shaping the future of communities, sessions at the summit were dedicated to exploring ways to empower young people as agents of change. Discussions included the importance of youth leadership, mentorship programs like Know Your City TV provided by Muungano wa Wanavijiji, engaging young people aged 14-25 through sports by Play It Forward, and providing access to economic opportunities.

The summit showcased inspiring success stories and best practices from partner organizations, highlighting the use of sports for development, savings initiatives to address livelihood challenges, grassroots and citywide advocacy campaigns, innovative solutions to address climate change effects, and collaborative initiatives making a tangible difference in the lives of people living in informal settlements in Zambia, Kenya, and the United Kingdom.

The Summit 2024 served as a testament to the power of collaboration, innovation, and collective action in tackling challenges facing people experiencing socio-economic inequalities. By coming together to share ideas, celebrate successes, and learn from one another, the partners reaffirmed their belief in the transformative potential of community building and laid the groundwork for a brighter, more sustainable future for generations to come.