Can fishermen and farmers become researchers? YOU BET!

From 2012 - 2015, in a partnership with CGIAR and the World Fish Centre, the Constellation shared SALT and CLCP with fishing and farming communities across 5 countries: Zambia, Solomon Islands, Phillippines, Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Our joint challenge was to incorporate SALT and CLCP with approach known as "Research in Development".

At the ground level, the initiative was an opportunity for local community…

 Today, my last day as Facilitator Transfer in the Global Support Team (GST), I am reflecting on the wonderful people that make up our Constellation family. And to me, that’s exactly what it is – a family. Made up of brilliant and courageous people. It seems that when we come together in the Constellation, the best is brought out in us. What a joy it has been to be part of this.…

Last week I had the pleasure of facilitating a large learning event, alongside Dusit Duangsa and Thuom Nary. We had 47 participants, ranging from farmers and fishermen to local government representatives and NGO staff. About 30% were bi-lingual, the rest speaking only Khmer language. 

The experience was a rich one, and our daily AAR revealed many areas…

I wish to share with facilitators and communities around the world about the incredible strengths of the people in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. This week I have had the privilege of accompanying a new facilitation team through a process of “Visioning” in 3 villages – Santey (a farming village), Muk Wat (a fishing village on the banks of the Tonle Sap, houses raised on stilts above the water) and Peam Ta Ou (a floating village, pictured…

Occasionally it's a good idea to look back and celebrate the achievements. In 2011 and 12, the Global Support Team has expanded. Today, more and more members of the Constellation from all around the world are rolling up their sleeves and getting involved in the day to day functioning of our wonderful organisation, as well as the transfer of CLCP to new communities.

Transfer, as many of us have experienced, occurs in a few…

Fabian, a member of BelCompetence in Belgium, has asked me to share his story with the participants of the Global Learning Festival. He tried to post a video but had technical issues, so below is a written summary.

Feel welcome to share your comments,…

In early 2012, a group from the Global Support Team came together to see how we could help equip Constellation members to carry out fundraising to fund their travel and attendance at the Global Learning Festival. One of our strategies was to encourage groups to come together and hold creative fundraising events - anything ranging from dinners to fun runs to flash mobs!

We were lucky enough to come across Michael, an artist based in UK who had a dream to build his first…

I was contacted by Eva-Lena, who comes from a community of 800 people living in a rural village in the Arctic Circle, in Sweden.

It's hard to write an intro to such an incredible video except to say - be warned... YOU WILL BE INSPIRED AND ENERGISED! What a community!

The community are not yet members of NING, but have said that they'll join us very soon. I promised to share this blog for the Global Learning Festival so that we can start some dialogue with…

This is a video shared by Constellation Coach and GST member, Virgilio, who is based in Mozambique. Virgiio talks about the application of SALT and Community Life Competence in his context, and some lessons learned from Mozambique.

http://youtu.be/fly-yrVewsk

Not going to the Global Learning Festival?

 Well you can still be part of it!

 The GST invites all Constellation communities to participate virtually through a Ning SALT Visit!

As you know, the Constellation, IndiaCompetence and SIAAP (South India AIDS Action Programme) are organising the Global Learning Festival in India from 20th-24th Nov 2012.  During the festival, 80-100 participants from all over the world…

Sometimes pictures speak a thousand words.

But here is some background on the partnership which has led to this beautiful process you see in the photo-documentary:…

Millions of people around the world are dependent upon aquatic agricultural systems for their livelihoods. In fact, all of us are, in some way or another. 

In Zambia, there are communities living within the Barotse Flood Plain who must deal with seasonal flooding patterns that saturate the surrounding fertile land. Each time the Zambezi river floods, these communities must pack up their belongings and move to higher ground. They have been doing this for centuries, but the…

We are equipped! We are empowered! We are inspired!



Transfer is the T in SALT. It is how we spread the Community Life Competence approach to new partners, new communities and new places.

It does not require an expert approach, nor complex "sales" or "communications" strategies. Transfer is simple. It starts with a simple conversation.



The Constellation’s ability to connect local responses requires that we learn from new communities and engage with new…

We all get it sometimes. Writer's block. It can be crippling. But the worst part is that it stands in the way of someone else hearing your story. It stops others from learning from our experience. 

 …

"There are no rules. Just follow the principles of being human," he said. 

And, suddenly, I realised why this centre - a Government Run Drug Rehabilitation Centre in the snowy forest of Siberia, Russia - was so successful. 

"Just follow the principles of being…

Yesterday I met with Sirinate, a constellation member with a long history of applying ACP and CLCP in many different contexts. We met in the beautiful city of Bandung, where we were joined by Wiwin. Our meeting was to discuss the facilitation of some upcoming events for a partnership the Constellation has entered into with World Fish Centre, around livelihoods and aquatic ecosystems. But, for me, the meeting was much more than…

I want to share with you this article, which has inspired me today. It is about the International Dialogue for Peacebuilding and Statebuilding, which is a series of multi-stakeholder meetings led by the g7+ (not to be confused with the G7), a group of fragile countries (including Liberia, South Sudan, DRC, Afghanistan and others).  This group are advocating for peacebuilding and statebuilding to be placed at the forefront of international development.

What I like about this…

It's not every day that I get this excited. But today I heard about something which embodies all the elements of community development that I believe in - and, believe it or not, it is happening right here in my new home of London, UK!

TRIBE! http://www.allthetribes.co.uk/

Tribe is a new breed of extra-curricular activity for youth in UK. It will bring together young people in small groups, known as Tribes,…

Dear friends,

Olivia%20Cawthorne%20Essay%20T2%20marked%5B1%5D.pdf

I share with you my thesis (attached) which documents and reflects upon the journey of mainstreaming CLCP and SALT at UNFPA in Indonesia. I hope you enjoy reading it.

• Section one gives an outline of the journey, from the history of CLCP (and ACP) in…