Be the Change!

When you think of our world 5, 10, 15 years in the future, what change would you like to see? A universal agreement on sustainable development, world peace, a cure for cancer, or HIV? In cases like these, it seems that change takes time, and unfortunately, a whole lot of it. But in some way, can we make meaningful change happen overnight?

At Interchange Colombia, we create change through focusing on community development. We work to create an exchange of knowledge through workshops, but through this we look to provide so much more. Our workshops have an important role for the communities we work closely with. They give opportunities for individuals to be exposed to things they otherwise may not have had the chance to be in contact with; they educate; they strengthen community ties; they empower; they demonstrate an agency for change; they open minds. And its not only what the workshops provide for the communities, its what they give in return. For Interchange Colombia it’s more than just educating in our workshops, it’s exchanging it. The communities welcome us, offering knowledge and insight about their livelihoods, surroundings, customs, and culture. Both sides benefit from an equal exchange.

Now how do we hope to make meaningful change overnight? Too often we underestimate the power of the small acts of kindness, the little things that don’t take much effort but can have the potential to turn around someone’s day. It’s this mindset that helps us make a difference. It's not the size of the gesture, or how much money was put into it, but it is the impact it has.

So when you think of change, remember the power is in your hands. There is nothing too big or too small one can do to make a positive difference in our communities. And as Mahatma Ghandi would say, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

So what change will you work towards?

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