Society may regard the trans-gender, sex workers, men having sex with men as outcast but a group of 28, recently had the privilege to visit these communities, have unearthed gems and many were touched and transformed in the process.  “Respect, resilience, resourceful, honor, sacrifice for common good of others” is strength we identified at the recent International Salt Visits at Yogyakarta.   

We would never think we could learn so much by simply being present to them,…

 International Women’s Day for me is an opportunity to pause, reflect and celebrate the great strides and achievements by women - past and present.…

Little drops of knowledge,

Added to our work;

Will put us on a ledge,

And give us all the perk!

Around half past three on Saturday 3 Mar 2012, I realized it was the last but one session of the The National Knowledge Fair, that SIAAP, and India Competence were facilitating in the serene and spiritual environment of DMI Training Institute, at the Hilltop of Saint Thomas Mount, in Chennai, India.

I was to introduce the concept of Peer Assist,…

GLoCon is travelling this year to many communities throughout the world, to say thank you for the courage, faith and resilience each has demonstrated, in the face of serious challenges to life and health. In 25 countries, over 30 communities will be visited, for up to a week.  The team that forms is drawn from AFFIRM facilitation associates and other people who want to explore the vision and direction of GLoCon. In short, every…

[ I documented the AAR on five SALT visits done during National Knowledge Fair held from 1st to 3rd March 2012 in Chennai, India.

An interesting thing was that two of the AARs were done in presence of the community. The community found AAR useful and helped them understand what SALT is. The SALT…

Do you have a colleague that just won’t shut up about the fight he’s having with his sibling over their family's vacation home? Or one who dressed way too provocatively when you were on that field visit last week? What about the person who constantly blames everything that doesn’t go their way on the incapacity or corruption of “the locals”?

We have all worked with these people. Perhaps we have even been these people at times. We didn’t know any better…until we did.…

[ This is a story from a community member captured during the recently concluded National Knowledge Fair organised by Siaap and India Competence. Maya from Siaap translated the story in English for the group. Theme of the story was Care leading to change. The experience of many local communities confirms th link between care and sustainable change at individual and community level. The capacity of people to respond to that sense of care can be integral to prevention in the global…

Ever since I was a little girl, books were travelling with me everywhere. Not easy upbringing perhaps was the reason why I was drowning myself in the stories of others wanting to be someone else, live in a different world. Walking on the tragic path of Wallenrod, I was facilitating other peoples’ dream, not mine. It took me a long time, but certain life-changing facts and situations, made me realise that my dream is closer than I thought. In every busy day it is not easy to notice, what is…

The grand-uncle of   2 children aged 11 and 9 years old immediately took them into his home when he realised that their mother had much difficulty caring for them.  “I will definitely have strong words for her when we meet the next time  but for now, the children’s well-being come first”  he told us.  Mother spends most of her time with 3 younger children and these 2 children often have too much time on their own.  The tough talking aside, this grand uncle shared that he has no hesitation…

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/world/europe/spanish-village-in-debt-relies-on-volunteers.html?_r=1&smid=FB-nytimes&WT.mc_id=WO-E-FB-SM-LIN-TMR-022912-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

“My problem is that as a social worker, I sometimes think that I am a better human being than those I serve.” A colleague humbly admitted her shortcoming in the presence of 50 other teammates as we grappled with what it meant to be a member of a community. Her sharing reminded me of an important lesson I learnt when I was training as a counsellor. My teacher stressed to me that this work is about “who” we can be for people rather that “what” we can do. Doing something for…

Re-posting this series from the early days of how-matters.org…

The Constellation uses "Building The Dream" as one tool in its Community Life Competence Process, working with communities to develop a common vision for their future.  Instead of a Needs-Analysis, common in traditional development approaches, this approach employs a "Vision-Analysis", working from the strengths of the community to hope for a future better…

This Sunday morning in Yogyakarta, the power of SALT is at work. For 45 minutes, participants stand in a circle to share their reflections from the visits we had made to three communities: Vesta, a community of men having sex with men, Kebaya a community of transgender persons who welcome their friends of all ages, many of them living with HIV and AIDS and Bunga Seroja, a community of sex workers. On surface, the day consisted in a perfectly organized ballet of visits. But after a few…

Cum au influenţat vizitele SALT asupra oamenilor?

Primul lucru care m-a frapat la aceasta comunitate a fost modul prietenos de abordare a oricarei situaţii.În timp ce am început să lucrez într-o organizaţie non profit,cu opt ani în urmă,am vizitat diverse site-uri.Toate păreau la fel,după un timp.Întradevăr oare vizita oaspeţilor de peste hotare in costume si cravate consta în aceea ca sa vadă agricultura locală, unde noi toţi am discutat despre situaţia disperată a…

• Originally posted by Zenita Nicholson
• Original link to the blog An Intimate Conversation - How has SALT affected you?
• Translated by Maria Streletskaya

2 декабря 2011 года,…

• Originally posted by Ruqayyah Boyer
• Translated by Maria Streletskaya
  
  

Well Rituu, I recently had some personal issues with my room mate and our troubles have been prolonged for some time now primarily because of miscommunication. So I swallowed my pride somewhat…

Обмен в коммунах означает делиться знаниями, идеями и опытом на пути к надежде, заботе, лидерству и обмену от сообщества к сообществу. Это также включает в себя обмен образами мышления и приближение ситуации к реальности для всех благодаря работе в группах и участию.

Меня зовут Юкеми Окон, я из Нигерии. Я принимаю активное участие в процессах коммуны, которые касаются ВИЧ/СПИДа. Я хочу, чтобы каждый из Вас присоединился ко мне, чтобы достучаться до местных коммун. Преследуя…