News from Pioneers of Change - November, 2004

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NEWS FROM PIONEERS OF CHANGE

November, 2004

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“There is a story about a man who wanted to change the world. He tried as hard as he could, but really did not accomplish anything. So he thought that instead he should just try to change his country, but he had no success with that either. Then he tried to change his city and then his neighborhood, still unsuccessfully. Then he thought that he could at least change his family, but failed again. So he decided to change himself. Then a surprising thing happened. As he changed himself, his family changed too. And as his family changed, his neighborhood changed. As his neighborhood changed, his city changed. As his city changed, his country changed, and as his country changed the world changed."

- Adam Kahane, Solving Tough Problems (see book review)

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WELCOME TO NOVEMBER 2004!
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Dear Friends and Pioneers,

We are pleased to bring you the November edition of the Pioneers of Change Newsletter. We are still riding the wave of all of the energy that emerged from our annual global meeting in October. The global office in Johannesburg has been electric with all of the great ideas, questions, projects and energy that the Summer School and the arrival of our new team member Dumisani Nyoni are bringing to the network. We are in a flurry of activity to prepare our new website to should be public in the next couple of weeks.

In the same breath, with all the internal excitement around Pioneers of Change, there is a degree of confusion and heaviness that is hovering above the Earth following the recent US Presidential election. There are a lot of mixed feelings related to the election results--sadness, anger, disbelief, indifference and in some cases joy and excitement. Whatever the case, the outcome of these elections in the US have a strong global significance which we cannot ignore and which we will have to deal with in some form in our work as Pioneers. We would like to invite you to share your reflections, feelings and thoughts on the US election and its relevance to your work and your life by joining the Community of Practice on Politics & Democracy. To do this, send an email to democracy-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net

This newsletter is packed with invitations to learn, share and gather. We hope that it inspires you to continue Pioneering. Please pass along to others anything you see that needs to be shared.

Love and Best Wishes,

The Cultivation Unit (Danielle, Dumi and Sera)

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IN FOCUS: INVITATIONS FROM SUMMER SCHOOL

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On the last day of Pioneers of Change’s Annual Global Meeting “Summer School” 2004 we made a physical enactment of a metaphor we had been exploring all week. “Let’s put our stake in the ground”. Over our week together we looked at what we were seeing in the world. We created a space to discover what was needed by listening to our own inner wisdom and what was emerging from the collective. Out of this came some deep clarity for many of the Pioneers about where they wanted to go as individuals and what they saw as the emerging potential of the Network. The idea of finding a deep place of knowing around our work and committing ourselves to a new way of being was explored in many conversations in many ways.

In the closing circle of Summer School Pioneers looked at the question “where are you willing to act” and wrote invitations for others to join them. Sitting in a circle on the top of a hill in the sand dune forests of Kozi Bay, many us placed a brightly colored paper with a written invitation on the ground and staked it down with a long metal nail, we then spoke our commitment and invitation to others.

At the end the ground was scattered with many brightly coloured invitations, a vibrant display of our commitment to learn and work together. Some of these invitations may be an opportunity to engage that you are looking for. See “invitations” and “events” below to find possibilities for collaboration.

INVITATIONS

>Pioneers of Change Map Book
>Invitation to contribute

Please join us if you would like to contribute pictures or text to the PoC "map book" which will serve as a guide for pioneers to navigate change. Guidelines for contributions are available and we expect to complete a first draft by year end 2004. Contact Mille Bojer at mbojer@pioneersofchange.net

>African Treasures:

To nurture the treasures of Africa, especially the cultural and philosophical jewels, and share the with the world – using them as a tool to redefine Africa on the global stage. Dumisani Nyoni is interested in supporting the African Treasures community in linking the existing projects (Arts for Social Change, South Africa, African Treasures Caravan, the African Treasures Learning Journey in Zimbabwe and others) and exploring the potential.

>From November 17, to December 1, Dumi will host a two week long conversation on the topic of African Treasurers and their global linkages on the African Treasurers email list - to join, send an email to Treasures-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net

Contact Dumi Dumisani@pioneersofchange.net if you are interested in collaborating.

>Pioneers in Government : An invitation to explore
Maikel Lieuw Kie Song Maikel@dpw.gov.za
A Pioneer who is working with an innovative programme to create a million jobs, using labor intensive methods in the Department of Public Works of the South African Government.

What do we see as the role of Government as Pioneers in creating a better world for all?
What do we see as the process for:
-facilitating change within government?
-redefining the role of government
-investing in governance and democracy

Join an email discussion:
-This conversation will take place on the Politics and Democracy Community List.
-Maikel will write a document to kick off debate
-participants need to commit to a period of two weeks of active conversation (mid-January)
-To join email democracy-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net
-Send an email to the list introducing yourself and why you want to engage.

> Network Caravan (of love) :)
Moraan Gilad moraan@pioneersofchange.net

The Network Caravan is a virtual and physical project where people are invited to post sustainable change projects on a web site. Later a physical caravan will drive to the selected places (starting in South Africa) and document the projects by film, photo, texts or other material. With this documentation material the ideas can be shared with the rest of the world. Networks can be formed, leaders can get inspired, projects can be analyzed, and there are probably many more possibilities.

You can get involved by joining the preparation meetings in Johannesburg, joining the mailing list or joining the physical caravan, please let me know if you're interested in any or several of these options.
At this stage we are looking for input on
- selection criteria for projects
- what and how to document
- funding and organisation of the project

>Peace Education Community of Practice

Mohamed El Mongy and Moraan Gilad invite you to join the peacebuilders mailing list to exchange our knowledge about methods for building peace and resolving conflict. We would like to hear about dialogue practices, methods
which use creative processes such as arts and music, ideas for curriculum development, relevant books, materials, document & articles. We are also planning to meet with a small and diverse group to practice these tools and
have a dialogue on peace. Please join this community of practice by contacting Mongy at mongislav@hotmail.com or sending a message to peacebuilders-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net from your email address.

> Dream Zimbabwe: The Self-reliance Opportunity

Join Marianne Knuth Marianne@kufunda.org in an action learning project into the lessons and innovation into self-reliance that are going on in Zimbabwe and how we can help further.

Email dreamzim-join@pioneersofchange.net, write an email to the list introducing yourself and why you want to participate.

> Conservation Conversation
Mohamed El Mongy Mmongy@nsce-inter.com
"Mongy" works for North South Consultants Exchange, An Egyptian based NGO that supports the conservation of: culture, nature, heritage and life style.

He will host a conversation on the Sustainability list.
Email sustain-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net
Send an email to the list - share what you do, connect and learn about Conservation

>Sustainable Agriculture
Silas Lugasi Silas silas@kufunda.org is the permaculture teacher at Kufunda Village in Zimbabwe www.kufunda.org

He wants to know if you have Advice, questions and Ideas about pioneering and sustainable agriculture – Join a global network of people who are involved in Sustainable Agriculture (organic etc.). To join email orgfarm-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net introduce yourself and what you'd like to network to be.


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KNOWLEDGE SHARING

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>>EVENT QUEUE

> UtvecklingsBar (DebelopmentBar),
> Stockholm 1st of December



40-50 persons from governmental departements, universities, NGO:s and business met the 27th of October in a central bar in Stockholm with the simple but important purpose to meet and discuss the state of world - problems and possibilities. Structured conversations about the world need to take place more often and across different sectors. Therefore UtvecklingsBar has been created. An ongoing meetingplace for people to learn, discuss, get new contacts and inspiration about how to make this world a little better. The next event will be on the 1st of December at “Halv Trappa plus Gård” at 6.00 PM. Contact Harry McNeil <harry@mcneil.se> for more info. If you’d like to join the Stockholm list email Stockholm-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net

>Pioneers New Year
>Denmark, around December 30, 2004– January 1, 2005 (tentative)

Based on experiences from the last two years, a “Pioneer New Years” retreat is offered in Denmark. We will explore the year that passed by. Explore hopes for the new year and celebrate both. The so called U-model, will be used as a kind of structure for the retreat which will be a mix of serious celebration with good ?food and drinks, and a safe field to explore meditation techniques and other practices like Tai Chi, Flowgame, all dependent on the people who shows up.

If you are interested, then email why, and what you could possibly bring. Contact person: carsten@pioneersofchange.net

> Learning Journey on Sustainable Development
> Brazil, 13 – 26 February, 2005

Pioneers of Change in Brazil is offering a Learning Journey on Sustainable Development to be held in early 2005. A learning journey is about creating an experience - through a physical journey that is also a real journey into other mindsets – that enables participants to develop and improve their practice as a change agent. The Pioneers of Change learning journeys support a process whereby participants are exposed to a different practice or perspective and are supported in their re-integration and development of critical consciousness in understanding that different practice or perspective. The aim of a learning journey is to provide a deep learning experience on a specific theme or practice, facilitate connections with others who share an interest in the theme and enable participants to put ideas into practice upon return to his/her country, community or place of work.

The learning journey on sustainable development is a 14-day experience, starting (optionally) in Rio to participate in one of the Samba School floats to convey messages of ecology and social responsibility through art, music and dance. The learning journey will begin in an ecological centre close to São Paulo to set the context for personal, organizational and societal sustainability. We will travel to Curitiba, a city famous for its integrated social, economic and environmental actions to deepen our understanding of sustainability in a municipality and in education. We will then spend a few days in São Paulo to participate in a cross-sector dialogue on sustainability and to visit companies and non-profits to deepen our understanding of their practices. We will end our journey in an eco-village close to São Paulo for an experience in deep ecology and to explore how we can personally live more sustainably. Throughout the journey there will be space for personal and group reflection, sharing experiences, action planning and cultural events.

Please contact the Learning Journey team at ljsust@ellerni.org for further details.

> Arts for Social Change
> South Africa, February 22 to March 5

WELCOME!! We invite YOU to the Arts for Social Change Learning Journey
in the City of Gold, Johannesburg, South Africa

“Art flourishes where there is a sense of adventure.”
Alfred North Whitehead

The Arts are stronger than the languages we speak in words. They have a direct and immediate effect on us, they go straight into our hearts where they speak to us of universal themes that we all understand. Participation in the arts is participation in life - it connects us again to life and reminds us that we are all creative beings. Creativity and creative expression is natural and instinctive. It nourishes us in a deeper way than intellectual pursuits alone. ?The Arts for Social Change programme is exploring the role of the arts in social change. ?Our intention with this programme is both to understand the power of, and generate commitment to, working with the arts in social change, and to build motivation and practical capacity of participants to apply creative tools and processes to issues of community transformation.

Please email nicole@pioneersofchange.net for an application form and/or a funding proposal, or to subscribe to the Community of Practice list on arts for social change, email arts-join@lists.pioneersofchange.net

> Learning Journey: Integration in the 21st century
> The Netherlands, May 2005

Do you have a passion and sense of inquiry for the position and integration of immigrants? If you are willing to share and challenge your wisdom and knowledge and have an active commitment to the issues related to integration of immigrants, we invite you to this learning journey in The Netherlands. The focus of this Learning Journey will be to discover the practices and principles of a society that works for more than one culture.

Dutch society has been an immigration country for a long time already. Because of the variety of immigrant groups and experiences with different times and ways they merged into Dutch culture, The Netherlands can be regarded as a rich field to challenge and deepen current perceptions and understandings. By learning from and with each other, while using all the perspectives available we aim to uncover the root causes of the current situation and identify what positive contributions each of us could make to the future.

This Learning Journey aims to bring together participants aged 25 to 35 who are involved in the issues of immigration and integration within the business, government and civil society sectors. Over the course of five days, participants will engage in three learning spaces (Observation & Inquiry, Retreat & Reflection, and Practice) to explore integration and diversity.

Please contact Moraan Gilad on moraan@pioneersofchange.net <mailto:moraan@pioneersofchange.net> for a more elaborate invitation, application form or other information.

> Art of Hosting & Convening Conversations (North America)
> British Columbia, December 5-8, 2004
> Whidbey Island, March 3-6, 2005

The Art of Hosting is designed for those who see themselves gathering others to shape and greet the future in our communities, organizations, and lives. It is also a conference for all of us who are practicing and continuing to discover the art of convening conversations in a variety of settings.

One comment from Susan Neden on last springs event:

"I asked for a night’s lodgings and was given the keys to the kingdom! I experienced one of those precious times in life when the pieces which have been worked on consciously and unconsciously over many years come together in the right environment, at the right time. An opening appears and in walking through one’s life is altered."

Tuition - $550 USD, Accommodations & Meals -$345-445 USD
For Information or to Register contact:
Teresa Posakony (teresa@berkana.org; 206 372 3405)
Or Tenneson Woolf (tenneson@berkana.org; 801 376 2213)

If you wish to come as an individual (not sponsored by an organisation) and the price is too challenging, let us know and we'll reach an agreement together. It would be great to have you with us! If you know of others who are ready and would be inspired to join us please pass on the invitation. ?

> Come to Kufunda – www.kufunda.org
> Art of Hosting, 27th-29th January, 2005
> African Treasures Learning Journey, August 2005 (exact dates TBA)

from Marianne Knuth marianne@kufunda.org

Art of Hosting, 27th-29th January, 2005
See Above for a description. This in an Art of Hosting for Pioneers and community builders in Southern Africa and beyond. Contact Marianne if you are interested in joining.

African Treasures Learning Journey, August 2005
It feels like the time has come for us to open our doors to friends of Kufunda from around the world. It is therefore our immense pleasure to invite you to join us for an African Treasures Learning Journey based out of Kufunda in August 2005 (exact dates to be announced). The event will be an opportunity to experience the richness of African community, culture and wisdom as well as the mundane, but somewhat special, every day life in the village. We will be spending time living and working at Kufunda, we will visit and engage with some of our partner communities, exploring with them the learning that they are going through as they are pursuing sustainability, working off traditional knowledge and wisdom, and we will take a few days visiting a game reserve to also connect with the beauty and magic of the African land and wildlife. The journey will seek to explore what Kufunda and more importantly Zimbabwe and Africa have to offer the world – what can we learn as we venture into Africa? We are just in the early stages of planning this journey, so more information will be forthcoming. Please do let us know already now if you might be interested in joining us for around 10-14 days in August of next year.

>>IDEAS >>ON THE WEB

Happiness

Pioneer Melissa Andrade andrade@terra.com.br wrote her MSc in Social Policy dissertation on the use of Subjective Well-being and Happiness Indicators in Developing Countries. That basically has to do with addressing what makes people really happy and is more related to soul like matters than to economic progress or even social development. It is interesting because there is a lot of research in the area. This makes our life easier in giving sound arguments on how relationships, altruistic work and meaning in life are fundamental elements to make people happy as opposed to having more income or even more education.

Some links about the roll of well-being that might be of interest:

www.bhutanstudies.org.bt/ - Center for Bhutan Studies – Information on Gross National Happiness
http://www.grossinternationalhappiness.org/ web page from the recent Conference on Happiness in Bhutan
www2.eur.nl/fsw/research/happiness/ - World Database of Happiness
www.neweconomics.org/ - Click in environment, well-being
www.gpiatlantic.org/ - Genuine Progress Index - A project in Nova Scotia, Canada which is creating alternative measures of what makes a genuinely healthy society

>>IDEAS >>BOOKS

Solving Tough Problems: An Open Way of Talking, Listening and Creating New Realities
By Adam Kahane

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Adam is an amazing storyteller, inviting the reader into his very human journey; seeking to address a range of complex and difficult conflicts. Adam’s profound learning about fostering deep transformation in groups and the power of diversity, is illuminated by his fascinating work in the corporate world, the Shell Scenario Planning process and attempts to resolve deep conflict in cross-border conversations in Columbia, Guatamala, Argentina etc.

The book gives an insiders view on the Mont Fleur Scenario planning process, which brought together Apartheid leaders and leaders of the ANC and other key players in the struggle in the same room. The thinking they did together and the scenarios they developed, influenced the peaceful transition out of apartheid in South Africa.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in systemic change and the power of conversation. I was left with the profound and simple realization that it starts with me, and my ability to be truly present to others. It also strengthened my faith in our collective ability as human beings to find new ways of being together as we face tremendous complexity in all of our communities.

-Sera Thompson

>>IDEAS >>SLAM POETRY

Check out www.kongska.com for one of Tim Merry’s slams put to music ...
it is called Tortoise and the Hare - Dalai Lama Mix

>>ANNOUNCEMENTS

> The Shire – A call for Volunteers

Call for Volunteers at the Shire, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Shire is an experiment and training ground in the best of human potential. We are currently looking for volunteers in the period of late May - Late October 2005. People are welcome to come for a few weeks of a few months. The key areas would be in supporting the Shire Learning Centre programmes, helping building and maintenance on the land and setting up organic/permaculture and bio-dynamic gardens. Looking forward to hearing from you - contact Tim - tim@engage.nu

> Inter-sector dialogue and forms of cooperation

Pioneers in Brazil are starting an inter-sectorial dialogue as well as a concrete form of cooperation among different cultures and sectors. The concept is to link programs on social corporate responsibility with the know-how and innovative methodology that the NGOs already have in the social field, create multipliers and communities of practice and evaluate the programs in an integrated manner. Gatherings bringing these different communities of practice are also part of the project.

For further details, contact Patrícia Sogayar at patricia@ellerni.org

>> FINANCIAL MATTERS

Pioneers of Change is an independent network that believes it is critical
to retain a free and unbiased position. We also believe that financial
barriers should not be a constraint to learning and engaging. As such we
work hard at ensuring that our learning is available to as wide and
diverse an audience as possible.

We invite you to make a donation to support us in our work. We encourage you to think of this donation as an investment into learning that has the potential of enriching all of our lives. If you have any ideas of individuals or organizations that might like to support us, let us know. sera@pioneersofchange.net

>> SMALL PRINT

What is Pioneers of Change?

Pioneers of Change is an emerging, self-organising, global learning
community of committed, young people, in their mid-20's to mid-30's,
from diverse cultural, social, and professional backgrounds. Pioneers of
Change numbers over 1000 individual pioneers in over 70 countries, who
have made a personal commitment to continuous learning and contribution.

Pioneers organise in learning teams, project groups, and local networks as
part of the flexible structure of the organisation. A series of learning
programs form the core of our activities.

For more information on Pioneers of Change, see

http://www.pioneersofchange.net

To learn more about the background beliefs and philosophy of Pioneers
please visit:


http://www.pioneersofchange.net/pioneers/default.asp?a=about/philosophy.htm
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