Train and Activate Inspired Leaders in Nepal

Janet Sanders, Social Artistry international coordinator, and Evelyn Philbrook, Social Artistry trainer, have recently returned from a Social Artistry teaching/training mission to Nepal working in partnership with ICA Nepal.

A quick snap shot of the trip includes:

• Six Social Artistry workshops with over 145 folks. Three of the six workshops were held with Social Artistry trainers in their local geography and organizations. 
• The second Social Artistry summit with reports from 18 social artists, which was great inspiration to the next group of social artists coming from the last few public courses and the on-going training program of ICA Nepal.  The 2008 group of Social Artistry trainers are active in HIV/AIDS movement, education, peace building, governance, organic farming, and community development.
• Fifteen young people who have embarked on becoming Social Artistry trainers.  All fifteen had teaching assignments in the training program.
• Three new trim tabs initiated.
• In-depth work with Durga and the community leadership development workshop in Devdaha.  We were able to visit the community and see the wonderful work being done on organic farming and development of local markets.
• Initial formation of a formal Social Artistry team headed by Amba, with an executive group of 5 additional folks and 12 additional members.
• Initial research into the power of ‘trimtabs’ to create social change in Nepal.   This is building upon the small grants program initiated in 2008.

The group in Nepal has selected Amba Datta Bhatta to serve as full time coordinator of the Social Artistry program in Nepal.  Amba has been a human resource trainer in Nepal for over 20 years, a yoga teacher and has been working with Social Artistry principles since he met the team in 2001.

Dr. Tatwa Timsina has initiated a challenge to the North American social artists.  He feels that the full-time initiative will need outside support for the next 2 years and then it will run on its own.  A program with at least one full time staff person will cost $500 a month.  Tatwa and Amba are committed to funding $200.00 a month and would like to request that North America support the program at $300 a month for 2 years. 

How You Can Help

I have made a commitment of $50.00 a month.  Are there others willing (and able) to stand with our Nepali colleagues through a financial commitment?  Amba has already begun to work 3 hours a day. 

1. You might consider funding one month--$300
2. Perhaps your group or community would make a monthly commitment of $25, $50 or more monthly for a year
3. Or, right now consider a one-time commitment. 
4. Perhaps you can help put the program on very solid footing and fund one year for $3,600.

Additional money raised beyond the $300 a month goes to support training programs and the trim tab work in Devdaha.   

Supporting Each Other

This is not just about the funding but also about globally supporting each other.  One day, perhaps Nepal will be able to fund expanded work in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India or Africa.  Trainers from India, Tibet, Bangladesh, USA and Taiwan have already come to the Social Artistry programs in Nepal.

Help us put a solid foundation under the work of Social Artistry and Leadership Development in Nepal at this critical time of nation building.   

Links:

• Story of community development in Nepal using Social Artistry