RISE: Solutions to Extreme Poverty in Rural Villages

Hosted by Wade Griffith

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to RISE: Solution to Extreme Poverty in Rural Villages. I'm Wade Griffith from Shanta Village Partners, and I'm joined by my co-host Jaipreet Kaur from All We Can. This Podcast is a space for practitioners, funders, change makers, and anyone committed to eliminating extreme poverty to share their passion and knowledge on long-term approaches to rural development that center on community leadership. Each episode features practical strategies, lessons learned, and case studies from initiatives that are re-balancing power, prioritizing local knowledge, and building systems that last. At RISE, we're committed to advancing community-led development and rethinking the role of international actors through a decolonial lens. Special thanks to Fort Lewis College's radio station, KDUR, for their recording expertise and live airing of RISE.

Listen to episodes

38 recent

June 7, 2026Episode 3831 min

Episode 38

In this episode of RISE, Wade and Jai discuss decolonizing international development and spotlighting locally-led solutions, with Jai sharing updates on All We Can's work, including an upcoming supporter event called "Local Voice, Lasting Change" featuring a partner organization in Sierra Leone doing advocacy around FGM and domestic violence. The episode reflects RISE's broader mission of amplifying local practitioners and rethinking how international development is done.

May 8, 2026Episode 3729 min

Episode 37

In this episode of RISE, the conversation moves beyond funding challenges to examine what comes next. As traditional aid models face increasing uncertainty, we explore how development can evolve, centering local leadership, redefining success, and building systems that don’t rely on external support. This discussion offers a forward-looking perspective on what sustainable, community-led change truly requires.

April 3, 2026Episode 3630 min

Episode 36

In this episode of RISE, we examine the impact of shifting global funding priorities, including the loss of USAID support, on rural development efforts. Through firsthand experience, this conversation explores how communities and organizations are adapting, and why strengthening local leadership and long-term, community-led solutions is more important than ever in the face of uncertainty.

March 9, 2026Episode 3528 min

Episode 35

Wade and Jai sit down with Sudhanshu Shekhar Singh, founder of Humanitarian Aid International, to rethink what development really means. Together they ask: Does true progress require consumption and materialism, or can we define devleopment in more equitable ways?

February 10, 2026Episode 3429 min

Episode 34

What if the most powerful development leaders are the villages themselves? This episode highlights Shanta’s Villages Leading Villages pilot and the shared approach Shanta and All We Can take to peer-led development and women’s empowerment.

January 9, 2026Episode 3328 min

Episode 33

Meet Janet Nyoni, Program Manager in Zambia with the People's Action Forum, Shanta's partner on the ground, implementing life-changing work through true community-led development. How does she empower the people of these rural areas to believe in creating real change to rise out of extreme poverty?https://pafzambia.com/

December 5, 2025Episode 3229 min

Episode 32

In this episode, Wade Griffith and Jaipreet Kaur speak with Mwesigye Kwarimpa-Atim, Uganda Country Representative for All We Can. Together, they explore how locally led development, capacity-building, and long-term partnership can create lasting change in vulnerable communities. Mwesigye shares insights from her work across Uganda and offers a grounded look at what true community empowerment requires — and why it matters now more than ever.

November 7, 2025Episode 3130 min

Episode 31

Who's developing who? Wade and Jai discuss what constitutes successful community-led development.

October 3, 2025Episode 3029 min

Episode 30

Jai and Wade introduce guest speaker, Tom Menjor, Country Representative in Sierra Leone. What does genuine partnership look like? Let's listen.https://www.allwecan.org.uk/team_member/tom-menjor/

September 5, 2025Episode 2929 min

Episode 29

Wade and Jai delve into mental health in the rural areas where both Shanta and All We Can operate, with limited access to help and support for mental health needs. Wade shares an update on a recent project that implemented a robust water/solar installation in the Siyowi "campus" and explains how the Shanta model works as a long-term community-led development solution. All We Can is preparing to unveil its new 5-year organizational strategy, which will further enable the organization to charge ahead with its updated sustainable development efforts.