In the past few days, I spent some quality time with organisers, activists, social thinkers, trainers and global change agents gathered from across the world in Berlin for the Porticus Move Gathering and Winter Academy.
As participants arrived in Berlin, they all came with their
expectations and hopes. Anything they could learn? Anything they could share?
Opportunity to engage? Build relationships and have some safe spaces?
It all started with a dinner reception at the heart of
Berlin and sharing a mouth-watering food and laughter. Great choice of a
restaurant that was so accommodative of preferences and life styles of folks.
As soon as the convening kicked off, there was a lot on the
table and lots of food for thought and to process. Packed agenda. Lots to
navigate through. It showed how much the team at the European Alternatives had
done to deliver and excel. Braver Space and the due attention given to
safeguarding is worth mentioning and commending. As someone who has been at
many conferences, workshops, convenings, to see this level of attention for
safety and care is encouraging. It is vital to step back and reflect on self-care
and self-love as we navigate through this testing time.
As the conversations continued and sessions run, all I could
see was participants’ hunger for change. For me, it was all about how we could
channel our Anger to Hope and consequently to Action. It is all about our
actions, not our words. Hence to see actions in place at the move gathering was
gratifying. To practise what one preaches; to go beyond great words, and Walk
the Talk is more than important; and that was what we saw in practice in
Berlin.
This reminds me of a session I led on Organising Lived
Experience and the reactions from Rikko Voorberg, from the World of Neighbours,
on why he is doing what he is doing? As Rikko was sharing stories, I could see
where he was coming from; where his convictions come from, why actions are
important to him. That reminded me of James 2:14-16 in the bible:-
Faith and Deeds
“What good is it, my
brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can
such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and
daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,”
but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
European Alternatives and through them Porticus have done a
magnificent job in bringing folks together; and also sharing with one another.
What we need now is to keep working on the learning and delivering on our
purposes both as organisations and individuals.
If you want to see change, be the change you want to be and
bring others on board through the process. Change is possible!
