Hello مرحبًا Bonjour Hej Ola
As we wrap up our journey with Development Disrupter, we want to take a moment to reflect on this incredible experience and thank you for joining us on this journey.
When we launched this blog, our goal was bold: to disrupt conventional narratives about development. We wanted to explore global power dynamics, decolonize communication, and reframe conversations about geopolitics and aid. We came from different parts of the world, speaking different languages and bringing unique perspectives, but we were united in our shared passion for challenging the status quo.
Through this blog, we set out to uncover the contradictions in academia and development discourse and provide fresh insights into a field that needs rethinking. Writing in English and our mother tongues—عربي, Français, Svenska, and Português—allowed us to make our reflections more accessible and inclusive, a small step towards the decolonial ideals we advocate for.
What We’ve Learned
This journey has been nothing short of transformative. Communicating about development in a rapidly changing world is no small feat. From questioning the relevance of blogging in the social media age to navigating our collective unease with platforms like Instagram and Twitter, we’ve faced challenges that pushed us to think critically about how and where development conversations should happen.
Blogging gave us a platform to experiment with our ideas, sharpen our critiques, and dive deep into the complexities of development. Working as a team has been one of the most rewarding parts of this experience. The warmth of collaboration, the exchange of ideas, and the freedom to express our views through this blog have been invaluable. While we started out as colleagues in our final year of pursuing a Master in Communication for Development, we end this journey with a sense of sisterhood, friendship, and mutual respect. We have learnt from one another, and explored our diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives. We have supported one another through challenging times.
Looking Ahead
While this marks the end of Development Disrupter, it is far from the end of our journey. This experience has inspired us to explore new ways of engaging with these critical issues. We’re especially excited about the possibility of starting a podcast—a medium that allows for dynamic conversations, interviews, and oral storytelling. The interviews we blogged about have already given us a glimpse into the potential for meaningful exchanges that this format can foster.
We will carry forward the lessons, ideas, and collaborations from this blog into whatever comes next. Our commitment to disrupting development narratives remains as strong as ever.
Thank you for being part of this experience. For reading, engaging, and sharing in our mission to decolonize development. We truly enjoyed interacting with our readers in the comments, and are grateful that our readers pushed us to explore topics further. We may be signing off here, but the dialogue continues.
Warm regards,
The Development Disrupter Team
Goodbye, مع السلامة, au revoir, adjö, adeus
