Team CSF Global: Supporting nutritional improvements for children with cerebral palsy in Bangladesh

Children with cerebral palsy in low-income areas, such as rural Bangladesh, experience a greater risk of malnutrition. Factors such as affected motor skills, increased time to eat, difficulty eating independently, and a lack of education around nutritional needs can negatively impact their health. 

Given that the South Asian population often eats with their hands, traditional plates and utensils may not accommodate the unique needs of children with cerebral palsy, making mealtimes challenging and, at times, discouraging for both children and their caregivers.

In response, CSF Global has created an accessible plate and accompanying educational materials to support children with cerebral palsy in South Asia and those who care for them. 

 

Part I: Making the most of an exciting opportunity

In the Summer of 2024, just before joining FUSED, this student-led M-HEAL team traveled to Sirajganj, Bangladesh, to meet with their NGO partner, CSF Global. 

As the first in-person collaboration since the team’s initial needs assessment trip in 2019, this visit gave CSF Global the valuable opportunity to reinstate their connection with community stakeholders and share the prototype for one of their assistive feeding devices: the corrugated plate. 

Since hand function is greatly impacted by cerebral palsy, the corrugated plate is specifically designed to support children’s ability to feed themselves. The plate features multiple grooves, allowing children to scoop their food more easily and keep different types of food separated. A large, raised back wall provides a supportive surface to help bring

food up to the mouth, especially when eating with hands. To further assist with stability, the plate is made with a non-slip material on the bottom, ensuring it stays securely in place during mealtimes.

By sharing the plate with children, their families, caregivers, therapists, and physicians, CSF Global was able to receive important feedback on the effectiveness of their prototype as well as the educational materials that accompanied it.

Sahana Raja, the Team Lead of CSF Global, describes the impact of this practice, saying, “It helped us design more thoughtfully and with more cultural and practical relevance. It wasn’t just us bringing ideas to them but a real exchange.”

Having gathered essential feedback, CSF Global then faced the giant undertaking of having to sift through it all – a challenge that left them at a bit of a standstill. 

That’s when they were introduced to the Functional Uses of Socially Engaged Design (FUSED) Program at the Center for Socially Engaged Engineering & Design. 

 

Joining FUSED

Eager to dive in but unsure of where to start, CSF Global realized that FUSED’s support could be just what they needed. 

According to Sahana Raja, “FUSED came at the perfect time. After our trip, we had so much feedback but didn’t quite know how to organize or act on it. The FUSED program gave us the structure and tools we needed to move forward intentionally.” 

Bringing their questions, ideas, and a strong desire to support their stakeholders in Sirajganj, the Core Four members of Sahana Raja, Anna Wattenbach, Esha Bingi, and, Peyton McCaslin, decided to join the very first FUSED cohort.

 

Part II: Refining their approach 

As part of the FUSED Program, CSF Global began to intentionally adapt the socially engaged design process model.

From meeting with mentors to completing curated modules and reflecting on thought-provoking questions, CSF Global took full advantage of the many resources offered through the FUSED Program.

 

Utilizing the FUSED Modules 

Choosing from a list of options, CSF Global selected four modules that were directly relevant to their particular challenge: Product Definition, Contextual Factors, Needs Assessment, and Prototyping. 

Since the 17 members of CSF Global come from a variety of disciplines, Raja and the rest of the team’s leadership saw the modules’ potential to bridge any gaps in knowledge for members. 

Because student teams are ever-shifting in membership, the FUSED modules can also create a throughline that defines and supports their goals. For example, CSF Global completed a Needs Assessment for their stakeholders in 2019, but none of the 2024-2025 members were involved in that assessment. 

However, the Needs Assessment module allowed current members to train in stakeholder interactions by exploring what questions to ask, how to ask them, and how to respond to them – steps that are central to supportive and sustainable design. 

Ultimately, the FUSED modules allowed CSF Global to practice techniques of socially engaged design with the full support of the FUSED mentors.

 

Applying feedback from stakeholders 

During their time with FUSED, CSF Global explored how to further incorporate their community partner(s) into their design process as well as identify overlooked considerations. 

With increased attention to detail, the three sub-teams of CSF Global (Business, Education, and CAD/Design) all worked to synthesize the feedback and create new goals. 

Ultimately, the team identified the need to further explore more needs of caregivers and children with CP in South Asia, consider establishing a patent, look into device expansion, and increase their education and outreach efforts with their existing partners, along with new partnerships. 

By centering their stakeholders throughout this intentional and in-depth process, CSF Global could respond to real-life challenges rather than perceived problems. 

 

Redefining what it looks like to “help” 

As part of the socially engaged design process model, CSF Global was encouraged to consider the assumptions or beliefs that they brought to their work as designers. 

This reflection prompted Sahana Raja to go all the way back to the basics by earnestly examining what it means to “help” others.

“We all come into these projects with ideas and assumptions, and FUSED reminded us to step back and really listen,” explains Raja. “One of the biggest challenges was learning to let go of our own expectations and to embrace community-driven solutions, even when they looked different from what we originally envisioned. That shift in perspective was difficult, but ultimately so rewarding.” 

 

Re-evaluating their perceptions of children with cerebral palsy 

As they processed their stakeholders’ feedback and needs, CSF Global began challenging the assumption that children with cerebral palsy should be perceived primarily for their limitations. 

“Kids with cerebral palsy are so motivated,” says Raja. “They have a deep desire to improve their motor skills and be active participants in their communities. They’re not defined by limitations—they’re full of potential and creativity. It’s really important to shift the narrative from ‘what they can’t do’ to ‘how we can support what they can do.’” 

By addressing assumptions, prioritizing stakeholders, and being willing to stay flexible, CSF Global will continue to increase the health and well-being of children with cerebral palsy and the caretakers who support them. 

 

Part III: What’s next? 

As they move forward with their exciting work, the enthusiastic, caring, and passionate CSF Global Team will continue to be cheered on by the Center for Socially Engaged Engineering & Design.  

With continued access to FUSED modules, CSF Global will be able to support new members and returning members alike as they expand. 

“It [FUSED] made me a much more thoughtful designer,” says Raja. “I now focus on iteration, reflection, and making sure that we’re co-creating with, not just for, the people we’re trying to serve.”

From creating new translations of booklets to securing funding for future travel and developing more accessible feeding devices, CSF Global seems to be on a clearer and exciting path. 

As Sahana Raja graduates, she is confident in those who will come after her, saying, “What excites me most is the opportunity to expand our intervention — whether that’s refining the design, creating more assistive devices, reaching more families in South Asia, or integrating new forms of therapy. Getting to travel and see how simple activities in the clinic, like bracelet making, served as therapy for these kids was incredibly eye-opening. It showed me how therapy doesn’t have to be clinical or rigid; it can be joyful, creative, and deeply engaging. This isn’t just a short-term project; it’s part of a long-term commitment to global health equity.” 

Want to learn more about CSF Global and their incredible work?  Check out their website or Instagram @csfglobal.umich for more information and updates.