Train and Activate Inspired Leaders in Nepal

Relections from Lauren Jinshil Oliver, who resides in California and heads the organization, CirclesWork.  She went to Nepal as part of the visiting Social Artistry training team.   

Dear Fellow Social Artists,

We can make a difference half-way across the world! Let me tell you a story of significant change we have already begun, and what is still needed.  We can support the amazing work being done in Nepal by local social artists.

 I had the great good fortune of visiting Nepal to help teach teach Social Artistry. The Nepali social artists already trained had projects going all over the country. With the support of Dr. Tatwa Timsina, each one had selected a different population to work with, and all set high goals. They offered Social Artistry on all 4 levels of the psyche, and had integrated it into the culture of Nepal in astounding and fascinating ways. What energy! What devotion they brought to their projects.

 Jan Sanders, Evelyn Philbrook and I had the opportunity to make a number of field visits. I will never forget the women’s agricultural collective. They returned from a march in the city to celebrate, and to call for more agricultural collectives. All were dressed in pink and green traditional clothing, billowing in the breeze like flags of pride, as they drove up in a large truck, packed tightly in the truck bed. Then we all met for a couple hours, getting reports on the crops planted and harvested, the building projects (a large storage area, in which we met), the new plans to extend sales, and the challenges ahead.

 After Jan gave a presentation on Social Artistry, all the women were challenged to consider a gigantic new step: selling their harvested crop through the collective. This flew in the face of strong tradition: the women plant, tend, and harvest; but their husbands sell the crops, and bring home whatever monies they are inclined to. First one woman stood and took the challenge. She would confront her husband and sell the crop through the collective. Slowly a second woman came forth. Then a third. Finally five women stood – bravely and determinedly before the 60+ collective members, and declared their willingness to change this cultural pattern: bringing money to support the future of the collective, and bringing more money home. They could then assure the healthy diet and educational resources for their children by holding the purse strings.

These women cannot make such changes on their own. They need to support one another, and they need our support. They got one of the grants given by Social Artistry. Can we promise them another grant to help them take the next brave step?

This is a report of one of the trainings that was conducted when Janet Sanders and Christ Harrington traveled to Nepal to do advanced training with the Nepali training team, to provide them with additional community building and leadership skills.

Background:

Realizing the needs of leadership development for its mentors, block heads, management team and teachers, DAV Sushil Kedia Vishwa Bharati Higher Secondary School, Jawalakhel organized a two-day Social Artistry leadership training on May 23 & 24, 2014. The key trainer for the training was Ms Janet Sanders and co-facilitated by Kris Harrington, Amba Datta Bhatta, Pramila KC and Ishu Subba. The medium of the training was English. Objective of training with Social Artistry is the art of enhancing human capacities in the light of social complexity. It seeks to bring new ways of thinking, being and doing to social challenges in the world. The training purpose is to use multiple styles of thinking and expand the contemporary leadership challenges to manage complex social and organizational issues.

Specific Objectives:

a) To develop a wide range of innate, but previously undiscovered human capacities.

b) To create innovative solutions to critical issues confronting their communities and societies

c) To formulate models of change that can be utilized in a broad range of circumstances.

Expected Outcome

a) All participants will have a good understanding of the Social Artistry approach.

b) Participants will have increased their ability to work cooperatively with others and raised their level of self-esteem.

 Methods: 

The training was based on adult learning principles. In order to ensure an active learning atmosphere; interactive participatory methods were used to conduct sessions.  Information and related messages were delivered through presentation and experience sharing. To develop common understanding on important issues were also emphasized. Small groups work methods were used to enhance the understanding of participants on specific issues and subject matters. Participants actively engaged in open discussion and experience sharing.

Overall Conclusion: 

The training was a great success. Participants realized the enormous power of potentialities they have within themselves. The needs had been well identified and addressed thoroughly. It is not just due to the facilitator’s skills and inputs, but the enormous amount of enthusiasm and experiences all the participants showed and shared among the groups. It must be noted that in every session, facilitator encouraged participants to engage in group exercises and create a workable vision for the association. It is recommended to do an annual refresher training to continue the progress.

Links:

• Social Artistry in Action