Catalyst for Change at the DIZ Partner Workshop 2025

From July 21 to 24, Catalyst for Change Vietnam (C4C) had the opportunity to participate in the DIZ Partner Workshop 2025 in Nagpur, India. This highly anticipated event brought together partner organizations from Vietnam and India who are deeply committed to international volunteering, grassroots collaboration, and women’s empowerment.

More than just a series of meetings, this workshop was a space for honest conversations, strategic reflection, and community-centered learning. The four days we spent in Nagpur became a milestone in our journey of building stronger, more equitable partnerships across borders.

Opening Conversations and One-on-One Dialogue

The first day of the workshop set the tone for what would become a deeply collaborative and thoughtful experience. After a warm group welcome and orientation, C4C sat down for a one-on-one discussion with the DIZ team. This space allowed us to speak openly about ongoing challenges, celebrate shared successes, and address key issues with clarity and mutual respect.

These individual conversations were a vital part of the workshop's structure. Rather than waiting for feedback loops to travel through multiple channels, we were able to bring real concerns and practical questions to the table directly. For Catalyst for Change, it was a powerful reminder of the importance of transparency and direct communication in sustaining long-term volunteer partnerships.

Workshop venue

Role-Play, Reflections, and Volunteer Realities

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in interactive sessions that encouraged self-awareness, empathy, and critical thinking. A standout moment was a role-play activity, where we stepped into the shoes of international volunteers navigating unfamiliar cultural and logistical contexts.

This exercise prompted powerful conversations around how volunteers adapt, communicate, and build relationships while serving abroad. As an organization rooted in cross-cultural volunteering, C4C found this deeply resonant. We left the session with renewed understanding of how to support volunteers both practically and emotionally.

Showcasing C4C’s Impact: the Bazaar Booth

As part of the partner showcase, C4C set up a bazaar booth featuring our organization profile and handcrafted products from our women in our HerCraft program.

Each workshop attendee received a lovely hand-crocheted keychain, made with care by the women in our community. These gifts symbolized the spirit of empowerment and the tangible impact of sustainable, skills-based support. We also shared special thank-you gifts with DIZ family, expressing our appreciation for years of collaboration and trust.

In return, DIZ gave each attendee a meaningful gift, a gesture that highlighted the organization’s culture of mutual respect and care.

Showcasing our Baazar booth and exchanging gifts

A Visit to IIM and Entrepreneurial Inspiration

During the workshop, we also had the opportunity to visit the prestigious Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur. There, we met a group of brilliant young entrepreneurs who are solving local challenges through innovation and socially driven business models.

From climate resilience projects to education access platforms, the ideas shared at IIM inspired us to think more boldly about how innovation and empowerment can go hand in hand. The visit reaffirmed that our missions, although shaped by different cultural and geographical contexts, share common goals.

A visit to IIM Nagpur

Listening to Stories from South–North Volunteers

One of the most moving moments of the workshop was a session with two former South–North volunteers. They shared their personal journeys, how their time volunteering abroad shaped their worldviews, deepened their connection to global issues, and inspired continued contributions in their home communities.

Their reflections captured something we believe deeply at C4C: volunteering does not end when the program does. The experience stays with you, becomes part of your identity, and often becomes the seed for long-term civic engagement.

Final Reflections and Moving Forward Together

On the last day, small group discussions brought all our insights together. We tackled important questions about equity in volunteer programs, volunteer training models, and how to ensure long-term impact across regions. These discussions were honest, challenging, and necessary.

As we said goodbye with hugs, exchanged contacts, and future plans already forming, it was clear that something meaningful had taken place. The connections made, the questions raised, and the stories shared during the DIZ Partner Workshop will continue to shape the way we at C4C approach our work.

Why This Workshop Matters to C4C

For Catalyst for Change, this experience reaffirmed that strong partnerships are built on dialogue, trust, and shared values. The DIZ Partner Workshop reminded us that we are not alone in our work. We are part of a broader movement striving for dignity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to DIZ and all partner organizations who made this journey so rich and inspiring. Together, we are not only building programs, but nurturing a global community committed to dignity, equity, and hope.