To the AYLG Alumni,
I would like to share the photo of our strategic planning last year (November 29-30, 2009).
Hana
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Saturday, August 02, 2008
Few Pages from the India Pilot Diary
27 July 2008
We make our way from Delhi to Pune, for the India leadership pilot training, landing up in a ‘business’ hotel. A hotel which forgets to pick us up at the airport and Maha begins to feel like an orphan, a Pakistani orphan in the hustle bustle of India!
Swathi has arrived from Hyderabad early morning also to join Kapil for the delivery of the leadership training. It's raining here and we've been told that we've brought the rains with us. We meet over a piping hot South Indian meal to learn more about the pilot training and prepare for the week ahead.
28 July 2008
The next morning, after getting lost on our way to the training, possibly making it half way to Mahabaleswar or Lonavala (which could have been nice but we were here to attend the training), we arrived at the venue set on a short hill, amidst dense foliage. The special thing about the venue is that it is an eco-friendly building, built in sync with the landscape with a rustic charm, using materials from the location only. There is no air-conditioning as the rooms are built to take advantage of the natural direction of the wind. A cool breeze sweeps the conference room throughout the day.
30 July 2008
By the way, Maha is still not registered in Pune, and we have been here for a few days already. None seems keen to take an undertaking to take responsibility of her actions during her stay here (wonder why), so she is going to try and get an arrival and departure stamp on her permit at the same time (right before she leaves for the airport). Until then, who knows what she does! Actually I (Rad) do, she has spent a large chunk of coffee breaks and lunch time in calling customer care that really doesn’t care much about whether she is or is not able to use her phone.
01 August 2008
So much for getting an arrival and departure stamp on the same day! I went to see the registration officer today, (who was, picture this, a pan chewing, venom spewing, bitter (possibly battered) government officer who takes out is revenge on life against hapless citizens (like myself)). He denied to have made any such assertion to give me both stamps on the same day. He manipulated the situation to extract a late fee out of me, which he insinuated that I pay him instead of at the bank to make the registration process "faster". A bit taken aback by this suggestion, as in my innocence all this time I thought he was being kind to me by letting me get an arrival and departure stamp on the same day, as tactfully as possible I urged to pay the fee in the bank. Not so pleased with this outcome he pointed me to a bank on the other side of town, where I stood in queue for over an hour, battled chaotic Pune traffic, inhaling caustic fumes and dodging curious stares to pay the late fee. (In fact the late fee was completely unjustified as I had already reported my arrival in Pune in writing the first day I arrived!) When I was in queue to pay the late fee, I considered for a moment if I should have just paid him the “fee” instead of spending half a day going through the system! Anyway, after a few hours when I returned to his office, I witnessed something I have heard of but never seen myself. Another hapless citizen who needed the registration officer’s approval or stamp for his residential permit dropped a bundle of rupee notes in his drawer to expedite the request, after which the officer was very cordial to him. In fact, I don’t know if I can blame that man for dropping a bundle of notes in that drawer if it saves him the headache and time to at least get the job done! At the same time if everyone continues to placate such government officers with “private fees” the system will remain crippled? Any thoughts?
02 August 2008
The Natural Resource Module is running today. The participants seem to be sponges absorbing everything the resource person from CEE is talking about. This is a very important session for them as it introduces them to the legislations in place for tribal communities and the legal mechanisms they can harness to protect their communities and natural resources. A case demonstrating the successul use of recent legislations for tribal communities is analyzed. The day concludes with an overwhelming response from the participants. They share their apprehensions before coming to the course and also to a big city like Pune. For most participants it was the first time they had left even their sub-district. They appreciated the opporutnity to meet young leaders from other parts of the state and expressed their joy at having made some good friends! They were keen to take back the learnings to their organizations and community groups. Most shared that they always felt leadership was the role of politicians and thought that's what they would be trained for in Pune as well but they were pleasantly surprised by the approach of the leadership course and are taking back with them new conceptions and styles of leadership and new approaches to problem solving.
Congratulations to Kapil for making this a success!
Radhika and Maha
P.S More reflections on the course on the AYLG Network
We make our way from Delhi to Pune, for the India leadership pilot training, landing up in a ‘business’ hotel. A hotel which forgets to pick us up at the airport and Maha begins to feel like an orphan, a Pakistani orphan in the hustle bustle of India!
Swathi has arrived from Hyderabad early morning also to join Kapil for the delivery of the leadership training. It's raining here and we've been told that we've brought the rains with us. We meet over a piping hot South Indian meal to learn more about the pilot training and prepare for the week ahead.
28 July 2008
The next morning, after getting lost on our way to the training, possibly making it half way to Mahabaleswar or Lonavala (which could have been nice but we were here to attend the training), we arrived at the venue set on a short hill, amidst dense foliage. The special thing about the venue is that it is an eco-friendly building, built in sync with the landscape with a rustic charm, using materials from the location only. There is no air-conditioning as the rooms are built to take advantage of the natural direction of the wind. A cool breeze sweeps the conference room throughout the day.
30 July 2008
By the way, Maha is still not registered in Pune, and we have been here for a few days already. None seems keen to take an undertaking to take responsibility of her actions during her stay here (wonder why), so she is going to try and get an arrival and departure stamp on her permit at the same time (right before she leaves for the airport). Until then, who knows what she does! Actually I (Rad) do, she has spent a large chunk of coffee breaks and lunch time in calling customer care that really doesn’t care much about whether she is or is not able to use her phone.
01 August 2008
So much for getting an arrival and departure stamp on the same day! I went to see the registration officer today, (who was, picture this, a pan chewing, venom spewing, bitter (possibly battered) government officer who takes out is revenge on life against hapless citizens (like myself)). He denied to have made any such assertion to give me both stamps on the same day. He manipulated the situation to extract a late fee out of me, which he insinuated that I pay him instead of at the bank to make the registration process "faster". A bit taken aback by this suggestion, as in my innocence all this time I thought he was being kind to me by letting me get an arrival and departure stamp on the same day, as tactfully as possible I urged to pay the fee in the bank. Not so pleased with this outcome he pointed me to a bank on the other side of town, where I stood in queue for over an hour, battled chaotic Pune traffic, inhaling caustic fumes and dodging curious stares to pay the late fee. (In fact the late fee was completely unjustified as I had already reported my arrival in Pune in writing the first day I arrived!) When I was in queue to pay the late fee, I considered for a moment if I should have just paid him the “fee” instead of spending half a day going through the system! Anyway, after a few hours when I returned to his office, I witnessed something I have heard of but never seen myself. Another hapless citizen who needed the registration officer’s approval or stamp for his residential permit dropped a bundle of rupee notes in his drawer to expedite the request, after which the officer was very cordial to him. In fact, I don’t know if I can blame that man for dropping a bundle of notes in that drawer if it saves him the headache and time to at least get the job done! At the same time if everyone continues to placate such government officers with “private fees” the system will remain crippled? Any thoughts?
02 August 2008
The Natural Resource Module is running today. The participants seem to be sponges absorbing everything the resource person from CEE is talking about. This is a very important session for them as it introduces them to the legislations in place for tribal communities and the legal mechanisms they can harness to protect their communities and natural resources. A case demonstrating the successul use of recent legislations for tribal communities is analyzed. The day concludes with an overwhelming response from the participants. They share their apprehensions before coming to the course and also to a big city like Pune. For most participants it was the first time they had left even their sub-district. They appreciated the opporutnity to meet young leaders from other parts of the state and expressed their joy at having made some good friends! They were keen to take back the learnings to their organizations and community groups. Most shared that they always felt leadership was the role of politicians and thought that's what they would be trained for in Pune as well but they were pleasantly surprised by the approach of the leadership course and are taking back with them new conceptions and styles of leadership and new approaches to problem solving.
Congratulations to Kapil for making this a success!
Radhika and Maha
P.S More reflections on the course on the AYLG Network
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Namaste from India
KASSA AAHAT……… confused? Am just asking how you all doing in Marathi. .thats one of the languages in India and more importantly in which the leadership training is being held now. I am surprised to see the talent of Maha and Rads who can very well understand Marathi and also reciprocate. I often see Maha nodding her head to what our master trainer Kapil says to the participants and Rad seriously thinking about the course and the new inputs by Kapil. While I am enjoying the session doing energizers and helping them in making graphs and stuff…oh yeah I have forgotten to tell you…we just played the speed catch and We Indians are fast catchers when compared to Bangaldeshis..lol..we did it in just 3 seconds…hhahahaa…(no offence please!!!)
Day 1 started off well with intros and some late comers. Kapil made a huge effort in translating all the modules in Marathi and is doing really well. Day 2 is half way and now Maha, Rad and me are eagerly waiting for the lunch. (the hot rotis and curries with steaming rice in this cool weather)
The participants are smart enough and guess what, they made the tallest towers ever during the tower building game and followed the rude and fast instructions during the paper tear game. That gives an evidence to say they are way too smart. Hmm..
Now Kapil is busy explaining the BOT graphs while Rad is busy writing a blog on Maha and Maha is busy trying to figure out why her phone is not working on roaming!!! (I am sure the Maharastra mobile company will file a case on her… for she has been torturing the customer care people since 3days. Ghosh!!!!….
The weather is quite cool here and it has been drizzling since we came. So, we are enjoying the Indian version of Leadership training in our own way and I bet, we are going to have fun in the coming days as well.
So, stay glued to hear more updates from us…..
SAYANORA!!!!!
Swats……….
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Hill Tracts Blues
Have you ever heard the Hill Tracts Blues? I guess only those from CHT-Bangladesh have. Maha and I were lucky for being invited to a Chakma wedding dinner on 14th where we heard the CHT Blues. We were offered local drinks and entertained with songs. Too bad that when we were asked to participate I could only scream while Maha sang one line of a Bengali song and left the rest to others.
We are now on the second day of the in country pilot in Bangladesh. While we are writing this, the speed catch is going on. The participants really enjoyed the activity and one of the groups got a record time of 0.31 seconds!
There is a frail old lady in the participants also. We call her the youngest leader in the group. She is a member of the women’s village development group. Due to a misunderstanding by the group she was nominated for the course. However, she is still a keen participant and showed up on the next day also, much to our surprise.
The facilitators are doing a great job! The preparation of materials and contents is great! Gitanjali would be proud! And to think that they have only been trained as participants at the national roll-out by our Leadership Fellows, Amlan, Mathura, and Mary (Chiang Mai, 2005). The modules have been customized and translated to the local context and seems to be resonating with the participants.
We will meet Taungya, one of the partner organizations for the training today and discuss possibilities for future trainings.
More to follow and for now we leave you with the Hill Tracts Blues …
I wake up in the morning
I’m in my bed alone
My wife’s gone a walking
To get water and wood…
If somebody knows the rest of the song, please complete the lyrics :)
Rukka and Maha
Monday, July 14, 2008
From the Chittagong Hill Tracts!
Dear Leadership Fellows,
Rukka Sombolinngi (Chiang Mai, 2005) and I write to you from the Chakma Rajbbari (Palace) where we are staying while we attend the leadership training in the Chittagong Hill Tracts(CHT), Bangladesh!
We landed in Chittagong airport and were impressed with the efficienct and chatty security officers. One of the friendly officers wanted to know if Rukka was Muslim and married?!? He insisted that Rukka was Muslim. And asked me what are my feelings about Indonesia as I was travelling with Rukka, who is an Indonesian. By the end of the this "friendly" conversation, Rukka had three children and I had been married for one year with no children! We guessed that was the only way to get out safely of this interrogation!
The drive to Rangamati was rainy. We decided to stop on the way and enjoy the weather. Prabol, our driver offerred us fresh milk tea from a small roadside stall. The tea was made on wood fire, served in small blackened cups. We had to stay in the car as it was raining. The tea was served with extra cream, which I did not particularly want so exchanged with Rukka who was only too happy to do so. The tea was piping hot and very tasty indeed. It's the local stall that UNDP staff from CHTDF frequent on their visits to and from Chittagong or Dhaka.
As we entered Rangamati, we were taken first to the military check point (for foreigners only!) to register our entrance to the region. The military had not received clearance for us and we were made to wait for almost an hour, while they made inquiries through radio communication to verify our permission to enter Rangamati. Thankfully, it turned out that their headquarters was the one who had not informed them of our arrival and we had indeed actually been cleared by the authorities. They were very apologetic and welcomed us very warmly and the officer kept saying "sorry shishter, sorry shishter" for making us wait.
Rangamati welcomed us with lush green hills, dotted with rivers and lakes and friendly people.
We will soon be meeting the Fellows from Bangladesh as they organize the national roll-out. Mathura Tripura (Chiang Mai, 2005) is leading the pilot.
More on Rukka and my adventures from CHT to follow...(depending on internet connectivity)
Rukka Sombolinngi (Chiang Mai, 2005) and I write to you from the Chakma Rajbbari (Palace) where we are staying while we attend the leadership training in the Chittagong Hill Tracts(CHT), Bangladesh!
We landed in Chittagong airport and were impressed with the efficienct and chatty security officers. One of the friendly officers wanted to know if Rukka was Muslim and married?!? He insisted that Rukka was Muslim. And asked me what are my feelings about Indonesia as I was travelling with Rukka, who is an Indonesian. By the end of the this "friendly" conversation, Rukka had three children and I had been married for one year with no children! We guessed that was the only way to get out safely of this interrogation!
The drive to Rangamati was rainy. We decided to stop on the way and enjoy the weather. Prabol, our driver offerred us fresh milk tea from a small roadside stall. The tea was made on wood fire, served in small blackened cups. We had to stay in the car as it was raining. The tea was served with extra cream, which I did not particularly want so exchanged with Rukka who was only too happy to do so. The tea was piping hot and very tasty indeed. It's the local stall that UNDP staff from CHTDF frequent on their visits to and from Chittagong or Dhaka.
As we entered Rangamati, we were taken first to the military check point (for foreigners only!) to register our entrance to the region. The military had not received clearance for us and we were made to wait for almost an hour, while they made inquiries through radio communication to verify our permission to enter Rangamati. Thankfully, it turned out that their headquarters was the one who had not informed them of our arrival and we had indeed actually been cleared by the authorities. They were very apologetic and welcomed us very warmly and the officer kept saying "sorry shishter, sorry shishter" for making us wait.
Rangamati welcomed us with lush green hills, dotted with rivers and lakes and friendly people.
We will soon be meeting the Fellows from Bangladesh as they organize the national roll-out. Mathura Tripura (Chiang Mai, 2005) is leading the pilot.
More on Rukka and my adventures from CHT to follow...(depending on internet connectivity)
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Applying Leadership Skills
Dear Leadership Fellows,
I am pleased to launch the first phase of the AYLG Network E-discussion series on Applying Leadership Skills.
The AYLG Leadership Course introduced several leadership skills deemed essential for effective leadership. These include recognition of different Leadership Styles and attributed, Systems Thinking for Transformational Change, Cross-cultural Communication, Negotiation, Team building and networking.
To briefly recap, the Systems Thinking for Transformational Change module introduced the idea of radical or breakthrough improvement in reaching our goals. So innovations or alternative approaches may help us yield better and faster results. Keeping the bigger picture in mind and not fixating on the parts was another element of the systems thinking approach that encourages us to look at the system as a whole. Leverage points- when small actions yield large results. And finally, the three central systems thinking insights, Exploring Behavior Over Time, Facilitating Self-sustaining Change and Anticipating Resistance.
In Negotiation, the Mutual Gains Approach (MGA) was introduced that provides an alternative to the hard bargaining approach and encourages players to seek out interests and not focus on positions. Creating value, analyzing your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA) and distributing value fairly form the main elements of the MGA. We negotiate in our lives daily and may be using negotiation concepts intuitively but the MGA provides a structured approach to reaching a mutually beneficial resolution.
The application of some of these skills require what are sociologically termed soft skills that are not sector specific but relate to, for example, personality traits, openness, optimism, empathy, responsibility and integrity. For instance, cross cultural communication demands openness and respect for other cultures. While self awareness and knowing your own culture if the first step, being non-judgmental and recognizing the values behind different behaviors is equally important when communicating with diverse cultures. Even for the Mutual Gains Approach to yield effective results, there has to be sincerity and openness when creating value (coming up with alternative solutions). This e-discussion will focus on how you have applied these leadership skills in your professional lives.
Can you share with us an experience, or anecdote, where you applied one or more of these skills in your work? Did the MGA allow you to work out more amicable solutions with your government counterpart or local community leader? Has the Systems Thinking insight into facilitating self sustaining change helped you create a lasting impact in your organization? Have you run some of the leadership course sessions for your own organization?
Following this broad template, please share with us your experience in applying these leadership skills:
Leadership Skill: (Skill applied)
The Story: (How and in what context you applied this skill?)
Results/ Critical factors: (What difference did it make?)
We plan to compile your responses and potentially publish them as Leadership Skills Action Briefs.
We look forward your active contributions in capturing the application of the leadership course skills.
Thank you in advance for your contributions.
I am pleased to launch the first phase of the AYLG Network E-discussion series on Applying Leadership Skills.
The AYLG Leadership Course introduced several leadership skills deemed essential for effective leadership. These include recognition of different Leadership Styles and attributed, Systems Thinking for Transformational Change, Cross-cultural Communication, Negotiation, Team building and networking.
To briefly recap, the Systems Thinking for Transformational Change module introduced the idea of radical or breakthrough improvement in reaching our goals. So innovations or alternative approaches may help us yield better and faster results. Keeping the bigger picture in mind and not fixating on the parts was another element of the systems thinking approach that encourages us to look at the system as a whole. Leverage points- when small actions yield large results. And finally, the three central systems thinking insights, Exploring Behavior Over Time, Facilitating Self-sustaining Change and Anticipating Resistance.
In Negotiation, the Mutual Gains Approach (MGA) was introduced that provides an alternative to the hard bargaining approach and encourages players to seek out interests and not focus on positions. Creating value, analyzing your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA) and distributing value fairly form the main elements of the MGA. We negotiate in our lives daily and may be using negotiation concepts intuitively but the MGA provides a structured approach to reaching a mutually beneficial resolution.
The application of some of these skills require what are sociologically termed soft skills that are not sector specific but relate to, for example, personality traits, openness, optimism, empathy, responsibility and integrity. For instance, cross cultural communication demands openness and respect for other cultures. While self awareness and knowing your own culture if the first step, being non-judgmental and recognizing the values behind different behaviors is equally important when communicating with diverse cultures. Even for the Mutual Gains Approach to yield effective results, there has to be sincerity and openness when creating value (coming up with alternative solutions). This e-discussion will focus on how you have applied these leadership skills in your professional lives.
Can you share with us an experience, or anecdote, where you applied one or more of these skills in your work? Did the MGA allow you to work out more amicable solutions with your government counterpart or local community leader? Has the Systems Thinking insight into facilitating self sustaining change helped you create a lasting impact in your organization? Have you run some of the leadership course sessions for your own organization?
Following this broad template, please share with us your experience in applying these leadership skills:
Leadership Skill: (Skill applied)
The Story: (How and in what context you applied this skill?)
Results/ Critical factors: (What difference did it make?)
We plan to compile your responses and potentially publish them as Leadership Skills Action Briefs.
We look forward your active contributions in capturing the application of the leadership course skills.
Thank you in advance for your contributions.
wow....
Ok.. So I am here with another blogging address of mine. I always feel that blogging is something which let you speak whatever you want. Now, I know i have to restrict myself in this AYLG blog. But, I am sure I can come up with more fun and enthusiastic information.
So, what are you waiting for? Start penning down your experiences, learnings, jokes, info and whatever you feel like....
I am always there to help you out...
Yes do visit my blog at www.swatsblog.blogspot.com
See you soon!!!!!
Monday, July 07, 2008
Never Give Up
Never give up,
There are chances and changes,
Helping the hopeful, a hundred to one;
And, through the chaos,
High Wisdom arranges
Ever success, if you’ll only hold on.
Never give up;
For the wisest is boldest,
Knowing that Providence mingles the cup,
And of all maxims, the best, as the oldest,
Is the stern watchword of ‘Never give up!’”
Be firm; one constant element of luckIs genuine, solid, old
Teutonich pluck. Stick to your aim; the mongrel’s hold will slip,
But only crowbars loose the bull-dog’s grip; Small though he looks,
the jaw that never yields
Drags down the bellowing monarch of the fields!
Holmes
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