SeeChange Initiative
The SeeChange Initiative (French: Initiative Voir le Changement) is a Canadian nonprofit organization (Business Registration Number: 770200483RR0001) focused on community-led responses to global health crises. Founded in the early 2000s, it employs a partnership-driven approach, emphasizing decoloniality and equity in humanitarian action[1][2].

History

SeeChange originated in response to the tuberculosis epidemic in Inuit communities within Canada’s Arctic, particularly Nunavut. Collaborating with Inuit-led organizations like the Ilisaqsivik Society, it developed trauma-informed workshops to empower local leadership in health responses[2]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization co-created a multilingual CommunityFirst COVID-19 Roadmap, translated into Inuktitut, Spanish, Swahili, and other languages, which was adopted by over 300 leaders across 100 countries[2].

Approach

The CommunityFirst framework prioritizes community co-design in crisis management, partnering with marginalized groups in the Canadian Arctic, Latin America, and West Africa. Projects often integrate medical expertise with localized strategies, such as disaster preparedness plans and culturally sensitive health interventions[1][5]. SeeChange also advocates for systemic shifts in humanitarian aid, emphasizing decoloniality through its D-DEI Charter (Decoloniality, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), which focuses on accountability, carbon footprint reduction, and amplifying marginalized voices[1][5].

Partnerships

SeeChange collaborates with international organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), to pilot CommunityFirst methodologies in Peru, Sierra Leone, and other regions. These partnerships aim to embed community-led solutions across all phases of humanitarian project cycles[2][5]. Its Guiding Youth to Thrive initiative addresses mental health challenges among Inuit youth in Nunavut, reflecting its focus on long-term, asset-based community development[5].

Impact

The organization’s work has centered on enabling communities to mobilize local resources during health emergencies, contributing to narratives that challenge colonial paradigms in aid delivery[1][3]. By prioritizing Indigenous leadership and trauma-informed practices, it seeks to redefine sustainable crisis response models globally[2][5].

[1] https://www.seechangeinitiative.org [2] https://www.seechangeinitiative.org/our-story [3] https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/see-change-initiative-initiative-voir-le-changement/ [4] https://www.instagram.com/seechangeinit/ [5] https://give.charityvillage.com/profiles/seechange-initiative