Inclusive Conversations for Responsive Policies 🗓️
NEWSLETTERInclusive Conversations for Responsive Policies | December 2023
Trina and Bharath share the 'why' and 'how' behind FoV's leadership transition, at an ISDM Conference in New Delhi.
Tales after Transition
FoV in Public Forums: Open Talks
Opening about fears, vulnerabilities, and recurring nightmares in the face of pivotal change is not only courageous but also a radical act challenging traditional definitions of success.Bharath, our co-founder who transitioned out this year, and Trina, part of the new leadership that transitioned in, shared insights at Dialogues on Development Management '23. The panel discussion, 'Kal, Aaj, aur Kal: Cultivating Successors,' was a candid exchange resonating deeply at the Indian School of Development Management's premier conference in September in New Delhi.
Srinidhi showcased our work at the Malaysian Simulation and Gaming (MASAGA) Conference in September. In her session, "How's of Public Policy through Experiential Tools," she presented the impact of simulations on decision-making and policy experimentation, featuring FoV's City Game.
Karthik and Sandesh represented FoV at the 'Accessing Democracy Conference' by the FLAME Universityin September. Using a scenario play from Solemnly Resolve, they engaged civic tech professionals, highlighting the gap between policymakers and stakeholders. Sukanya's session, "Who can be a designer? Design in the Context of South Asia," with Sanrachna Foundationin the same month, challenged design perceptions, featuring FoV tools for local experiential learning.
Customized version of FoV's City Game at Ambedkar Reading Circle's workshop provided a perspective on urban interactions between formal and informal settlements through a blend of design principles.
Creative Dialogues
FoV at Play: Serious Games for Participatory Visioning
In October, Trina and Sukanya played the City Game online with the Global Dialogue Collective. During the debrief, participants wished they had played for cohesive participation with a shared vision and prioritized improving existing circumstances over pursuing an idealized vision. Karthik emphasizes FoV's commitment to innovative work cultures grounded in equity and justice in a Deccan Herald article by Jacob Cherian. Akanksha Foundation's School Counsellors from Pune sought insights from FoV for student well-beinginitiatives in their schools, engaging in interactive sessions with Made to Order and Solemnly Resolve games.
Incorporating creativity and thoughtful design in November,FoV's City Game, augmented by Sumit and Karthik's inputs, proved to be a transformative tool at the Ambedkar Reading Circle's workshop in Cubbon Park. Collecting valuable data on perceptions of dynamics and political visions, the workshop engaged with 45+ participants. In the same month, Hasiru Dala Housing team explored participatory planning and data collection through City Game and Rubbish sessions to navigated policymaking for urban waste management with a reflective approach.
FoV Team was moved by the Akanksha Pune Team's adaptation of Made to Order, resonating with their school community in Pune through thoughtfully crafted scenarios in December. Following the Pune Team's suit, Akanksha Foundation's Mumbai School Counsellors also explored FoV Tools, engaging in discussions on potential collaborations and exchanging insights on school work and FoV's methodologies.
Beyond the Boundaries
Collaboration for Collaborations
Since late November, we, in collaboration with others, have been formalizing modes to foster increased collaboration among organizations. Acknowledging the complexity of societal challenges, this collective effort aims to bridge the gap between research and practice. As the collective takes shape, it is also employing its own tools and skills to address challenges in collaborative environments.
Imagining a world where everyone participates in policy planning, using accessible tools and methods, we aim to bring about systems change through partnerships with educational institutions, civil society, and government.
Tools for Tomorrow
FoV's Vision for the Coming Year
With rigor, guiding principles, and a touch of fun—and turning our methods of enquiry and futuring on our selves— FoV team returned from our Annual Planning Meeting in Sakleshpur, Karnataka in December. The time away is as much a time for reflection as it is to renew our commitment to ensuring the relevance of our work. In the coming year, as we work on tools to engage everyone from children to policy makers in understanding the tradeoffs made society, we also aim to build more long term meaningful pathways to making our work more accessible. As people fighting top-down approaches towards growth and development, we are discovering, what scale and growth means for an equity led method.
