How community-led research drives social change | Monica Malta
Jan 4, 2025
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Monica Malta, a TED Fellow and human rights activist, passionately discusses the power of community-led research. She shares her journey from victim to advocate, emphasizing how traditional policymaking often leaves out crucial voices. Malta highlights participatory research as a game-changer in tackling health issues like HIV/AIDS and violence. Her work with the queer community in Brazil showcases how collaboration and innovative solutions like the Rise app can empower individuals and drive real social transformation.
Community-based participatory research empowers marginalized groups by involving them directly in the creation of tailored solutions to social challenges.
Monica Malta's personal experiences motivate her advocacy for inclusive research practices, emphasizing that communities are active agents of change rather than passive recipients of aid.
Deep dives
The Impact of Participatory Research
Participatory research emphasizes the importance of involving affected communities directly in the research process. This approach enables researchers to better understand the unique challenges faced by individuals within marginalized groups, ensuring their voices are heard. For example, Monica Malta transitioned from traditional research methods to community participatory strategies, which resulted in more comprehensive data and effective solutions tailored to the needs of the communities. By prioritizing collaboration, this method seeks to empower individuals, allowing them to act as experts in their own experiences.
Addressing Social Challenges through Community Engagement
Malta's work illustrates how community engagement can lead to significant improvements in social outcomes. By working closely with the queer community in Brazil, her team identified critical issues such as bullying and mental health struggles, which led to the development of targeted programs like the Preparanen course and the Rise app. These initiatives were co-created with community input, demonstrating the effectiveness of participatory strategies in tackling real-world problems. The results showed that over 80% of participants in these programs either continued their education or started new businesses, highlighting the positive impact of collaborative efforts.
Personal Experience as a Catalyst for Change
Malta's personal journey as a survivor of domestic violence and HIV/AIDS significantly shaped her approach to research and advocacy. Her experience underscored the need for more inclusive practices in research, driving her commitment to ensure that marginalized voices are central to the solution-making process. By recognizing and acknowledging the unique experiences of different communities, she emphasizes that they are not passive recipients of help but active agents capable of bringing about change. This perspective fosters a sense of empowerment within communities, leading to innovative solutions that reflect their specific needs and realities.
What's the best way to develop and implement solutions to social problems? TED Fellow and human rights activist Monica Malta discusses why traditional, top-down policymaking often fails by excluding key voices and missing root causes. She shows why community-based participatory research — a method that empowers communities to co-create solutions to their own challenges — taps into the resilience and strength of everyday people to be leaders of change.