March 7, 2011
By Ingrid Zacharias
Recently, I attended the TEDx Manitoba Event here in Winnipeg. It was wonderful to hear such dynamic speakers who had awe inspiring topics that really made all of us in attendance stop and think.
Nicole Buckley, of Canada’s Space Program, told us about the Canadarm 2. You probably are asking yourself what is the difference between the Canadarm 1 and the Canadarm 2. Well while version one helped to repair the space shuttles in space, version 2, actually constructed the Global Space Station that is operating in outer space as we speak. After construction of the space station was complete, the Canadarm 2’s job didn’t end. It now plucks docking space ships up and helps them to dock at the space station.
Just think, if some scientist in Canada had not allowed himself to dream this was possible, when it seemed impossible, the Canadarm never would have come into being.
That’s why it is so important for those in the NGO sector to continue to dream, develop a vision and continue to work towards their dreams.
When I first started out in community development, I worked with a residents group that had a dream. Four years later, through our joint efforts, we were able to actually make a community resource centre come into existence. That organization still continues to this day, providing access to desperately needed community resources. If people in my community had not believed it was possible, that resource centre never would have come into existence either. So hang onto those dreams and visions. Plot your path well in advance and persevere, because of it will be worth it in the long run.
Question of the Day: What dreams have you and your organization dreamed that came into reality?
