A crash course in changing the world.
Listen to the Right people
Too often in development work we assume too much too quickly. We open our ears to too many and close our minds to those who are different and unresourced or not influential. There is much value in 'listening to the right people' - mostly by just BEING in their presence and observing.
The skills of observation, appreciative enquiry and (simply) the ability to be silent should never be underestimated in development before attempting to change what one does not fully comprehend. In Africa, there is much need for respectful development approaches that recognise indigenious knowledge. Our team here in South Africa uses our organisation's own instrument (iPekX - indigenious peoples' knowledge exchange) before any solution is imposed on communities.
Listen Listen Listen... How? By not talking. And then - Advocacy. Then: Talk and don't stop Talking. ;)
The skills of observation, appreciative enquiry and (simply) the ability to be silent should never be underestimated in development before attempting to change what one does not fully comprehend. In Africa, there is much need for respectful development approaches that recognise indigenious knowledge. Our team here in South Africa uses our organisation's own instrument (iPekX - indigenious peoples' knowledge exchange) before any solution is imposed on communities.
Listen Listen Listen... How? By not talking. And then - Advocacy. Then: Talk and don't stop Talking. ;)
Views: 1
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Comment by Bruce Haynes on March 4, 2010 at 11:05am -
WOW you seem like a south african evoker to follow! nice post, I power voted you one for local insight due to your respect for indigenous knowledge, I look forward to investigating the organisation you are involved with:)
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Comment by Bruce Haynes on March 4, 2010 at 11:06am
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wild! http://uthango.org/ keep us posted:)
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Comment by Dean Shankle on March 5, 2010 at 9:24pm -
As you made clear in your post, listening to the right people means listening to all people. Misunderstandings and poor communication happens even within our own families; why do we think that we can so clearly see what people from other cultures (or next door) are feeling, thinking, or needing?
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Comment by Brian Ballsun-Stanton on March 8, 2010 at 11:45am -
can you tell us more about your iPekX methodology?
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Comment by Alanagh Recreant inSL on March 17, 2010 at 7:15am -
Brian, iPekX is an IT-based tool we developed over the past six years into a refined engagement instrument with local communities. We train fieldworkers to use methodologies such as appreciative enquiry and communicate with local residents on development issues. Uthango then facilitates a process of exchanging views and information to get to a list of priorities for development - bypassing 'gatekeepers' and hidden agendas - and then finds the investment partners to make a difference in community.
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