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Would you like to be member of The Constellation’s board?
The Constellation is looking for two new Board members to serve until the remainder of the current Board’s term, i.e. until October 2017.
For more information, read Eric Ngabala’s letter and contact him at the following address: ericngabala@yahoo.fr.
To apply for the position, send Eric Ngabala your application letter before the 10 October 2016. Eric Ngabala is member of a group of three voting members that is leading the nomination process.
To be part of this task force, also contact Eric.
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SALT visits
“I would say that it is more important to look at the people themselves, not at what they are doing, not at their place in the system. What is important is the type of interaction they have with the people around them.
I would say that when you go on a SALT visit, the informal interaction and the search for what makes people happy is a good starting point for the discussion.”
Luc Barriere-Constantin
“I believe that 'separate' SALT visits can add to awareness in general and improve the practice of the After Experience Reflexion, that is, if you do not have a local response to a certain issue (yet), you can in the meantime learn.”
Yvonne van Oorsouw
“Contacts with communities are always uplifting events where we reconnect with our inspiration.”
MariJo Vazquez
SALT visit to truckers in Nagaland, India, 2009. Courtesy of Rituu B Nanda
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NETHERLANDS – Connecting with future possibilities in SALT visits
Sharing Adam Yukelson’s experience (Theory U), Birgitta Schomaker proposes that members of a team preparing a SALT visit explore their assumptions and intensions.
“Are we only confirming conscious or unconscious beliefs we already had? Are we listening for something that might disprove what we hold true?”
Team members could share their assumptions to encourage one another to let go of these assumptions and to remind one another to stay curious. Open Mind: seeing with new eyes.
“Are we empathizing with those we meet?” Open Heart: connecting from human to human, compassion.
“Are we going to pay attention to emerging future possibilities – that which is possible, but not quite there yet?” [Generative listening]
Open Will: Embracing what comes up, not forcing one's own agenda onto the situation, sets the stage (a prerequisite) for ownership that is the key of success of SALT/CLCP.
“When we listen for strengths, when we bring to the surface strengths, in a way we are also connecting with future possibilities. Future possibilities that are still too delicate and fragile to say out loud... Listening for hopes and desires, even when not yet expressed.”
“I think what it comes down to is to help each other in a team to let one be surprised.”
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MAURITIUS – The effect of cumulative strengths in Group A
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SALT visit experience with the question: "what are you most proud of?" Photo courtesy of Autry Haynes.
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In August, Pouba Esso and Autry Haynes introduced the approach to the Lacaz A shelter. Participants wished to share it with volunteers of the three other different components of the NGO called Group A which activities are devoted to the local prevention of drug abuse, to detoxification and rehabilitation of users, to AIDS prevention and to family support. Accordingly, the 10-11 September 2016, Pouba and Autry facilitated a SALT training for volunteers of Groupe A.
Activities included SALT visits from one of the NGO groups to another. “Our first impact of the power of SALT comes from a SALT visit where we experience what is like to get response from the question: “What are you most proud of?” and how we responded to the same question.”
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MAURITIUS − Accustomed to thinking of others, women of L’escalier took the time to self-reflect
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“I had no idea of what my friends thought about me and it was a surprise to learn about all this” said a participant during the after experience of appreciation reflection.
Photo courtesy of Autry Haynes.
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After reinforcing their bond with Pouba Esso and Autry Haynes facilitating appreciation of strengths, exploring what group members are proud of, sharing hope and concerns, fourteen women took the first step of CLCP: “Where do we want to go?”, 8 September 2016.
A participant concluded: “We are used to think of and look after others. Today we have reflected on ourselves.”
At the second SALT meeting, 16 September 2016, four new participants join the group for the second step: “Where are we now?” The group did their self-assessment on two practices: economic empowerment and family strengthening.
The women have been meeting regularly for over nine months having conversations on several common concerns. While they met in L’escalier, they came from different communities, as Souiliac, Camp Diable, and L’escalier.
Reports by Autry Haynes
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SALT in the Family: Why would I need to be the SALT expert?
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SALT in Netherlands! This is our facilitator Joke D'haese's dad, Leo D'hease, who went on to become a SALT facilitator as well. When facilitator internalizes SALT and transfer to her family! Photo courtesy of Joke.
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“When we realise we are not the expert, we are ready to start learning from SALT in the family!”
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News from the Global Support Team (GST)
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“Students of the school interact with SALT visitors and share their day's of educational engagement as they seek to fulfill their individual dreams. We were surprised of the natural circular seating arrangement of engagement. In the centre of the circle is the 'peace tree'. Any student [ of the 10 ranging from ages 3.5 to 10 years] can request of the lone teacher to have a candid conversation on any subject or to resolve conflict / tension / reason through some issue. There was contribution from each student during the two hours spent around the circle. The strengths we observe were discipline, respect, jovial spirit [teasing each other sometimes during the conversation], smart and knowledgeable.”
Autry Haynes
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GST reconnecting face to face in Redon
From 19 to 23 September 2016, the GST met in Redon, France. We discussed our strategy to get closer to our dream in the years to come and self-assessed where we are at the moment. The process easily led to the start of a work plan for 2017. We also exchanged learnings from the trial period with Blended Learning Triads. And we enjoyed the beautiful region in Bretagne during our morning walks.
The first day, SALT visits on the programme. With SALTy friends from les Mutuelles de Redon, we visited programmes that contribute to general health and wellbeing in and around the city of Redon. “On Monday, we had the opportunity to visit 3 communities (Montesori school; Gem, an organization of handicapable people; and the municipality of Redon). Contacts with community are always uplifting events where we reconnect with our inspiration, so these were no different.” MariJo Vazquez
We ended our stay in Redon on Friday with a joyful meeting with the COmité LOCal, a group of actors and organisation including local governments in Pays de Redon who encourage ‘Tous ensemble pour la santé pour tous’. Highlight of the meeting was an exchange of experiences with the Belgian based international charity AIC who witnessed about the results of using the SALT approach in their work with 150.000 volunteers in the world.
Triad Blended Learning trial adventure 2016
The format of a group of three with a facilitator works to support deepening of the understanding and internalizing SALT as a Way of Thinking and Way of Working. Once you had a taste of SALT there is the eagerness to go to the next level. Time zones, language, cultural differences were, really, no barrier to desire and commitment. 4h in one time zone, 10h and 14h were the times individuals Skyped on what SALT Blended Learning meant for them.
Autry Haynes
First of all I’d like to say that I’m very grateful for the chance of following this program and this way of learning. When you first told us it would have an impact on our whole life, I could imagine… Now I know. The modules are very delicately composed and have a good balance between reading and hearing about experiences with CLCP in different communities on one hand, and having own experiences by walking through the modules. Also the balance between learning individually, in triad and in practice is useful.
Suse Meffert
Overall, I would like to thank the Constellation for providing this marvelous opportunity to deepen our practice in this format. I made two precious friends, learned a lot from them, and this exercise definitely helped me get a deeper understanding not only of the process, but also of the philosophy behind. […] I also agree with Suse that the learning we gained in this process has been and continues to be of immeasurable value for all other aspects of our lives.
Anita Sheehan
How to become a facilitator? You can enrol for the Triad Blended Learning modules on CLCP facilitation that will start early 2017. Contact Luc Barriere-Constantin to express interest.
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BELGIUM – Facilitators attest to the potential of the approach at BelCompetence’s training
From 16 to 18 September 2016, BelCompetence held its 15 th SALT training, the 14th at Marie-Christine and Philippe Swennen’s home. BelCompetence has trained 167 people since 2012.
During the weekend, the 10 participants met facilitators who came to share their experience.
Celicia Theys told her experience in Madagascar (English in comments) to strengthen and harmonize the methods to facilitate community dialogue in the context of the fight against polio with UNICEF, and she shared about her project with the association "Talent for Humanity" (Training report, page 28).
Mado Tumsifura and Fabien Manirakiza told about their encounter with BelCompetence at the asylum seeker centre in Beho, Belgium, and how it changed in their lives. Fabien also presents the project "Et Après?" (“What’s next?”) renamed Umuvukano (brotherhood). (Training report, pages 12 and 30).
Tayde of Callatay participated in a BelCompetence SALT training with a colleague, and enthusiastic, they have gradually transferred the approach to all the structures of the AIC secretariat, board, national associations and to volunteers. The specifications for the training of facilitators, inspired by SALT, are sent all over the world. (Training report, pages 12 and 30).
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UGANDA – Health Nest Uganda recognised for its contribution to addressing issues and concerns of older persons
HENU - Health Nest Uganda has been awarded the first prize for Jack Watters Memorial for its contribution to addressing issues and concerns of older persons in Uganda more especially for using a strengths based approach. This happened in Thailand on 12th September 2016. Thanks to the EasyCare Foundation and the Constellation for the CLCP (Community Life Competence Process).
Arthur Namara on Facebook
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What else is happening in The Constellation?
The Mauritius Council of Social Service (MACOSS) applied to the Mauritius Qualification Authority for registering the SALT training.
The Local Support Team in Sankuru together with RDCCompetence and the Global Support Team are getting ready to crowdfund raise to support the SALT process for community management of Monkeypox.
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Upcoming events
From 14 to 15 October 2016, the Constellation (Jean-Louis Lamboray and Anne-Lies Van Den Eynde) facilitate a SALT visit in Guinean communities around Conakry with partners Sylli and the Belgium Chambre de Commerces.
The 17 Octoberr 2016, in partnership with Difaem, Pasteur Edmun Noramu and Ibrahim Kamara will present the SALT/CLC process as a beginning of a journey towards trust building between Health structures and communities in the border area of Liberia and Guinea.
The 8 and 9 October 2016, BelCompetence hosts a meeting G30 in Maransart. "The project "Dreaming Maransart” is a citizen and apolitical initiative led by about thirty people of all ages, activities and trainings. The goal is to encourage the people of Maransart to meet to give birth together to all the projects that we take to heart: environment, culture, sports, youth, and many more."
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This Newsletter is produced with input from members, facilitators and coaches of The Constellation.
The blogs referred to in the Newsletter are posted on the Constellation’s online community at: http://aidscompetence.ning.com
Previous Newsletters are posted on the Constellation’s site:
http://www.communitylifecompetence.org
Some articles of this newsletter have been translated with the help of Google Translation and Linguee.
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