We Are One: Learnings from Community Engagement
In 2024, Dr. Balsari’s lab presented their research on the impact of the pandemic on the lives of the Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) and their response to it as an immersive multimedia traveling exhibition, first hosted at the Center for Government and International Studies at Harvard, and next at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.
In this session, Dr. Balsari shares key findings from the research that inspired an interdisciplinary team of graduate students from across campus to explore novel ways of knowledge dissemination. Engagement with these poor, disadvantaged, but extremely empowered women set in motion a series of projects where scientists and policy makers responded to research priorities set by the community. Hum Sab Ek (We Are One) is the rallying cry of the 3 million strong organization, SEWA, comprising street vendors, home based artisans, farmers, salt pan workers, ship breakers and construction workers, amongst many others. It is also the name of the traveling exhibit that is now invited to the World Bank in DC and the ILO in Geneva.