Impact Hub Network’s annual Global Gathering 2024 in Sesimbra, Portugal was an incredible few days showcasing the magic of diversity, commitment, and purpose. 95 hubs, 140 makers, facilitators, and speakers came together to share, learn, and reflect on community-driven impact and innovation.
Global Gathering 2024
It was our second Global Gathering, and a first for Aarati and I, since we joined the Network in February 2022. It was a time for introspection and connection with our global network of weavers. A remarkable experience designed and delivered by the spectacular Impact Hub Global Team, Board, and facilitators. A safe space to trust and engage with each other and co-create resilient solutions for people and the planet. Immense Gratitude!
Innovate, Integrate and Thrive was the theme for this year’s Global Gathering, using the metaphor of trees forming a forest. In this metaphor “an intricate network of spores and fungi, known as the mycelium network, connects and nourishes the trees, which symbolizes our Network’s interconnectedness and mutual support”.
The sessions explored the value we deliver through varied offerings, the Network’s business model and governance, peer-to-peer learning and collaboration, trans-local business making, and co-creating ways to amplify our vision and work.
Moving forward as an impact community, we made commitments to continue and strengthen the capacity of Hubs to focus on net zero, knowledge and expertise exchanges, access to capital, data and impact measurement, and network involvement.
For Impact Hub Kathmandu and its community in Nepal, what does this mean?
1. Leveraging the global and regional communities and knowledge space to support purpose-driven entrepreneurs and innovators, to be a go-to provider for developing circular solutions and business models, while experimenting and advocating for systemic change.2Creating meaningful global, regional, and local collaborations to design and implement initiatives on net zero and keep integrating DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusivity)2Participating as a team in capacity-building sessions – communications, leadership circles, coaching, and business growth amongst others.
2. Showing up for the Network’s 20th anniversary next year through different possibilities discussed at the Gathering.
3. We are bringing these aspirations to action through some of our key programs.
- -Capacity Building and Leadership Coaching Program for Civil Society program, connects us to grassroots community leaders across Nepal.
- -The Plastic to Ghar (P2G) project, at our digital fabrication lab – FabLab, supports makers working on innovative solutions to upcycle plastic waste.
- -Roots of Circularity (ROC) project focuses on designing circular business models with entrepreneurs.
Our overall Hub’s activities revolve around the sustainability of businesses and communities’ social capital.
After this inspiring Global Gathering, we are now looking forward to hosting the 2024 Regional Gathering between the 19th and 22nd of November in Kathmandu and introducing our regional and global partners to the Nepali Impact Ecosystem!
APAC Group Photo
Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you would like to know more about our work or want to collaborate on any projects at Impact Hub Kathmandu and be part of a global tribe of changemakers!