Making Waves

Making Waves

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A Caribbean Social Innovation Guide

Starting with a Problem Step 1 What are you really trying to change?

03 . The Caribbean Social Innovator’s Guide

Things to Consider You may be tempted to begin with your first idea. Perhaps you have already imagined the programme, product, app or organisation you want to create. But before deciding what the solution should be, pause and look more closely at the problem. Imagine that young people in a community are struggling to find work. It may be easy to assume that they need more training. But what if training is already available? The deeper problem may be transport, childcare, a lack of work experience, limited professional networks or employers who are struggling themselves. The first problem you notice is not always the problem you need to solve. Consider asking more questions like • What evidence do I have? • What assumptions might I be making? • Whose perspective is missing? • Who experiences this problem differently from me? • What part of this challenge am I well placed to influence? • What can I realistically contribute?

You have probably noticed something that needs protecting, feels unfair, frustrating or unnecessarily difficult. Before jumping into a solution, take some time to understand what is really happening. What are people experiencing? Why does the problem keep occurring? What may be causing it beneath the surface? Who is affected, and how might their experience differ from your own? Remember that no two people experience a problem in exactly the same way. What you see may not be what others experience every day. Listening with curiosity to better understand the problem can reveal perspectives, barriers and opportunities that you may not have considered. This step helps you move beyond what you can immediately see and explore the deeper causes of the issue. It also helps you consider where you are best placed to make a difference. Not every solution requires changing government policy or solving the entire problem. Sometimes meaningful change begins by asking,