Conference Theme Reports
Here you will find extracts from the six Conference theme reports and various photos from the Conference. For further information on these themes visit http://www.conference.ica-nepal.org
Prepared by the Theme Leadership Teams

Click link to go directly to each theme
Reshaping Education for the 21st Century
Promoting Peace Building and Good Governance
Building a Viable Future Planet Earth
Building Strategies for Comprehensive Development
Resourcing Human Development
Note: all pictures enlarge if clicked

Growing a New Sense of Leadership
Prior to the conference a learning community was taking shape surrounding the exploration of the emerging of new understanding of leadership and ways to maintain the associated core competencies.
Over 50 folks gathered in Nepal to further that exploration. During our time together we moved forward on the following accomplishments:

• Recognition of the fullness of the title of leadership and core competencies
• Expansion of the current, dominant authoritarian perception of leadership to include alter alternative models
• Cross-fertilization of leadership approaches
• Collaboration on design of way to mainstream programs associated with core competencies

After discerning the dimensions of New Leadership (beyond attributes, qualities competencies to a ‘way of being’), a small team wove them into a mandala. The outside circle holds the external dimension and the inside circle the internal dimensions.

We are not in a hurry to finalize this model but see that it will continue to grow and develop throughout the year as we continue to have virtual dialogues on our understanding of the new leader and how to create the environment for the development of these leaders.

Action Arenas include:
•    Training and Research
•    Transparency and Accountability
•    Networking and Extension
•    Innovation and Commitment
•    Enabling Environment

The Resolves for our group included:

1. To create enabling Environment for leaders to emerge from different sections of society including youth, women, people of different backgrounds and cultures.
2. To each one participate in growing a new sense of leadership, stay connected and document our learnings.
3. To incorporate a new sense of leadership in all our programs, trainings and research.

The on-going facilitation team for this community of practice will be Kevin Balm, Ram Aresee, Staci Kentish, Mark Pixley, Nadine Bell, Larry Philbrook and Jan Sanders.

External Dimensions
•    Mobilising for deep collaboration
•    Inciting an inclusive vision for sustainable life
•    Awakening people to their significance
•    Action aligned with internalised values

Internal Dimensions
•    An outlook of possibility
•    A capacity for boldness and innovation
•    Building uplifting relationships of shared power
•    Celebrating diverse and widespread leadership

Throughout our time together we drew upon the ToP facilitation skills, appreciative inquiry, social artistry, in-depth conversation   and the enjoyment of the diverse cultures present in our community. Staci shared the ‘courage to lead’ practices in the early morning. 

Reshaping Education for the 21st Century

Education for the 21st Century Theme area included about 40 participants from across the globe. There was a real buzz as we visioned, and wrestled together around the key global issues for the future of education. The first two days of workshops focused on our vision of education for the 21st century, a fundamental systemic issues analysis and shared innovations and approaches. The workshops demonstrated using a participatory problem solving approach using the ICA ToP workshop methods. The participants felt that using this approach made for a trusting, safe atmosphere in which we discovered a common shared vision of education for the 21st century, common problems, and exciting innovative solutions.

The critical role that private education plays in Nepal was experienced in site visits on the third day of the conference to Samata Shiksha Niketan Secondary School and the University of Kathmandu. These institutions are leading the way in Nepal with innovative approaches to affordable and quality education for all Nepalese.

The workshop design itself was a key breakthrough for us. We built a common memory and context in the workshops that structured our vision, issues, and new models of innovative learning while the site visits was our concrete lab experience. We were a complete model of the collaborative classroom – learning from each other – virtual and actual. Our group experienced the amplification of rich individual participant resources in the diversity of our group. Through the four days of the conference we became a global community of teachers and learners. http://www.samataschool.org.np

Eight virtual presentations based on submitted full papers and abstracts were created and shared for the conference. These are all available through the conference Virtual Dialogues site.

They are as follows:

• Douglas Druckenmiller –Reshaping education in a 21st century flat world – Full paper
• Gita Sitaula and Loren Weybright – Teachers’ Voices: Coaching Teachers for Sustainable Change in Nepal – Full Paper
• Elise Packard and Katy Kreutzman – L.E.A.R.N approach to family literacy- full paper
• Dasarath Neupane – School Bullying in Nepal – abstract
• Dhruba Bhattarai – Role of private higher educational Institutions in Boosting the Economy of Nepal – abstract
• Gopal Lamsal – The Case of Empowerment of Dalit Community in Nawalparasi District, Nepal – abstract
• Kushmaker Bhatta – Technical Education and Vocational Training – abstract
• Bijaya Nepal – Impact of Infrastructure facilities on learning environment of

Community and Institutional schools of Nepal – abstract
These virtual presentations were part of the pre-conference preparation and work and were a highlight of the conference. The presenters were incorporated into the conference workshops as panelists and participants. This unique blend of academic and practitioner conference styles was a key highlight for the theme.
As a theme we resolved to continue innovation to reshape education, to share and to collaborate though:

• Establishing practical partnerships between Nepal, India, USA, Australia, Malaysia, as a start, as a collaborative teaching and learning community with global stake holders using both face-to-face and virtual modes.
• Developing a Community of Practice, around relational inquiry-based learning for abandonment of punitive practices/adoption of restorative practice.
• Initiate innovative projects that focus on equitable access to education for all and that emphasizes real education (perceive, understand, and apply) that is relevant, practical and continually assessed, evaluated and renewed. Communicate and consult on such on a peer-to-peer basis.

Anyone interested in being a part of these initiatives or dialogues should contact the team below.

Doug Druckenmiller, Evelyn Philbrook, Robyn Hutchinson, Education Theme facilitators in Nepal

Promoting Peace Building and Good Governance

Our overall intent as a theme was to explore before, during and after the conference that good governance and peace building are outcomes of empathy, when a member of society recognizes their own wellbeing is interdependent with how well others are doing in the society, and we begin to think about how we can live together in a way where all parts of the system flourish.  We discerned as a “theme team” in our pre-planning that we wanted to give new language to peace building and good governance, to achieve clear articulation of a compelling way forward that inspires meaningful action and to create new social architecture design capability.  This would then inspire a genuine change of mind and openness to live the image of a peaceful world; and to develop inner motivation to joyfully leap forward in productive action through personal and collective synergy.

We held four pre-conference Virtual Dialogues:

• 32 Critical Conditions for Peace Building, with Jean Watts in New Orleans.
• Peace Building in the Middle East –- Turkey and Iraq, with Christina Fidan in Istanbul.
• Peace Jam: What is the New Story About Peace? with Christopher and Sheila Cooke in Minneapolis.
• The Journey of Forgiveness, Restorative Justice and Reconciliation:  Using the Circle Process Method, with Tom Porter of Just Peace in Boston.

The top 5 Critical Elements selected via the Poll on the Human Development Website, taken by 100+ people, are as follows:

1. Peace Efforts Sanctioned and Supported – Participants need to clearly recognize... (6%)
2. Aware and Skillful Leaders – Skillful leadership by people whose professional training... (6%)
3. Resources Clearly Committed – The commitment from reliable sources of sufficient... (5%)
4. Providing an environment of Safety and Respect – Adversaries must feel safe and... (5%)
5. Mutual Story Telling – The sharing of stories between former enemies can open... (5%)
   

Twenty+ participants gathered for the Peace Building and Good Governance theme during the conference in Nepal from across the world that included Australia, Bangladesh, USA, UK, India, Sri Lanka, China and Nepal; along with Theme Team Leaders:  Wanda Holcombe, (Texas) USA, Catherine Tornbom, (Arizona) USA, Sheila and Christopher Cooke, (Montana) USA and (England) UK, and Anita Shrestha, ICA Nepal Staff.

A “Live Streaming” was held during our theme time presented by Catherine Tornbom on the Peace Vision of Wayne Ellsworth, ICA Japan of establishing 16 Innovative Radiant Peace Centers in the future.  See website for link to live stream

A paper was also presented by Pranaya SJB Rana on Refugee Resettlement: A Collaborative Effort on Human Security and Development which was posted on the website before the conference and presented at the opening session of the Peace Building and Good Governance theme.  Contact information and paper can be found on the website under the Peace Theme.

Throughout the theme time together we used both Respectful Dialogue and Participatory Decision-Making Technology methods to produce the documents shared on the website.  
The following are the three resolutions produced by the theme:

1. The connection between good governance and peace is critical. We observed that there are many problems in Nepal due to poor governance. When there is poor governance there are many levels of conflict – within families, the community and political bodies.
2. The current leadership of the Nepalese government is discovering the challenges of the task of creating good governance. There is much to learn by all involved. What is needed now is inspirational and practical thinking, and leadership skill, that will create the “Life Conditions” for human emergence in Nepal. This will lead to peace and prosperity for all life.
3. There is a need to promote equity and social harmony between all citizens in practice. The empowerment of women and disadvantaged and marginalized groups is critical to have equity.

The closing video can be seen at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26625500

Building a Viable Future Planet Earth

Theme Highlights
Environmental development through participation of all (castes, women and children) together without distinction in creating a more viable planet
Community-based participation in teaching and learning to answer health and environmental issues
Renewable energies such as: Hydro, Bio-gas

Insights
Invite people to join as holistic environment system in flexible-flow oriented ways
Work cooperatively and interdependently, not linearly
Open and honest constructive engagement is needed at all levels of society about: what is happening, what lead to it and what can be done?

Recommended Actions
Facilitate “constructive engagement” between ALL stakeholders (people, CSOs/NGOs, government, internal/external donors, environmental scientists, etc.) to promote good governance and ensure accountability
Identify and develop incentives of a sustainable lifestyle and community (i.e. organic farming)

Advocate systemic change through environmental and social justice education and community leadership training

Building Strategies for Comprehensive Development

This stream underlines how participation in local decisions that affect people’s lives is at the core of all human development. Participants came from 12 nations and held focused discussions that outlined key strategies for all forms of development. Participants were affected by the Nepali people and, in turn, created a product outlined in the long term legacy portion of this report.

Intents and participants of the stream
This stream will create a comprehensive proposal for use by practitioners of all forms of development. Participants would be able to address topics of personal and joint interest, ground their discussions in real situations and existing projects. The stream would use “on-the-ground” Nepali initiatives to illustrate concepts, peer reviewed presentations to add academic rigour, case studies to ensure comprehensiveness and focused discussions to create the final product.
Kathy McGrane of USA laid the foundations for virtual participation in this stream, providing facilitation support for the team before the conference and encouraging international dialogue and input during the conference. She was supported by Carolyn Evans, Alan Gammel and Spence Morley all of the US. Jane Stallman provided on-site documentation during the session.

The Nepal conference organizers, including Tatwa Timsina and Ishu Subba, invited fifteen participants from Nepal to provide the core of the stream. About half of these were Ph.D scholars. Some Nepali participants were involved in community development.

Each international participant was involved in development directly or in a supportive capacity. They provided comprehensive perspectives and tested the global validity of the discussions.

Impact of the stream
The biggest impact on participants was Nepal and the development work of Nepali participants. Bhavani Dhungana laid out a 50 year history of development efforts in Nepal and the many important initiatives across the 75 regions of the country.
Participants visited the Women for Empowerment and Preschool Organization. It serves as a training centre for women across Nepal and includes water infrastructure, building, drinking water, women’s economic projects, micro credit and community celebrations. Their methods have been replicated in other parts of Nepal. Teams also visited the Nari Jagaran Saving and Credit Cooperative, a 1400 person women’s bank cooperative.

Participants also made an impact. The Nari Jagaran Cooperative was promised practical assistance by various participants. Participants interviewed each other about their development work. These included the CBO Alliance for Family Health and Social Welfare; the Girl Power project in Dhaka protecting young women against violence; the Joyful Cotton initiative near Kathmandu making reusable sanitary pads; the Elder Shelter in Siraha District; The World Camp in Naxal for youth values and responsibility; The 100 Valleys Project in Peru facilitating self-development; Nepal’s Indigenous Forest Resources project; Chicago’s Greenrise Uptown Learning Lab; Tharu Education Project in local government in West Nepal; and Ecoweek hands-on activities in classrooms.

Discussions of importance
Four themes constantly recurred in stream discussions: women’s empowerment, health, program sustainability, and a comprehensive strategy matrix.
To empower women, especially in projects designed to protect them against abuse and violence, ways must be found to change the behaviour of abusive men. It is necessary to find male supporters or staff who can model ways to support women.

Several presentations by Ph.D. scholars were about personal health in community development. Heart Health Education, Profit to Whole by Roshan Adhikari, Occurrence of Dental Caries and its Association with Nutritional Status by Sujita Shrestha, Ethnomedical Health Care Practices: Propelling or perpetrating human development by Lal Mani Adhikari, and The Role of the Family in Human Development by Ritchel Jalipa.

Program sustainability was a topic of interest. Funding may be lost but if local leadership is trained, project benefits may continue through local innovation. Replication of a project can assist in the sustainable funding of the original program. One should aim for 60% local government funding and 40% from private partners. If funding dries up local government may pick up the tab.
A donor recipient relationship can be shifted by involving several donors, building public/private relationships, increasing the number of projects to create administrative economies of scale, involving the community in analysis and pilot phase, and by operating through a 100% self-sustaining, social enterprise approach. Knowledge developed by a project can itself be a business.

Discussions about past ICA Global Conferences on Human Development helped the stream build a comprehensive strategy matrix. The 1984 conference in India determined the aim of rural development: economic self-sufficiency, political shared leadership and cultural self-identity. The 1992 and 1996 conferences in Czechoslovakia and Egypt led to a typology of community development strategies: crisis relief, material support, basic infrastructure, advocacy, development education, human resource development, local solutions, capacity building, systems development. The conferences in 2004 and 2008 in Guatemala and Japan collected data on various ICA projects. This Nepal conference incorporated all this into a communication tool and matrix.

Legacy of the Stream
The conference stream refined an online Comprehensive Development Matrix and database to help practitioners, community leaders and funders, and community development initiatives by sharing inspiring information online.
There are three components to this legacy that can be viewed online at http://top-global.org

1. An online, constantly-growing, global database of project descriptions. Conference participants can add their own projects and edit them.
2. An online set of project proposals that successfully generated project funding.
3. An online matrix that links to projects and proposals.

Resourcing Human Development

Resolution 1

Self Help:
Build self-reliance through effective local resource mobilization and training.

Local Empowerment:
Best resources come from partnership and training through leadership development and creating people institutions.

Social Accountability:
Raise awareness through training and partnering with local government CSO s, CBOs, and local community to create transparent and a catalyst social agents towards empowerment.

Resolution 2
The involvement and empowerment of women in adoption of solar and bio-gas technologies because:
1.   They conserve the environment
2.   They are cost effective
3.   They save time
4.   They promote carbon reduction to the atmosphere.
5.   They are not harmful to our health.

Resolution 3

• Must use radio, Television, word of mouth to educate workers about working overseas
• Role of timely, accurate and relevant information is essential for human development. For that, advertising message and media must be used properly.
• Local Government must use different models to mobilize local finance for local development
• Competencies of local organizations like chamber of commerce must be utilized for human development