Success!

Marc Orel and Cledor
Originally uploaded by John Engle.

Cledor Myril (right) met Marc Orel (left) at last year's Annual Open Space meeting and recruited him as campaign director. Cledor was recently elected into Parliament as a "Depite" of Port-au-Prince, which is equivelant to member of Congress. To see more photos from Annual Open Space 2006, go to Photos of Haiti Annual Open Space 2006

July Update

I am writing this letter the day before my departure. These past two weeks in Haiti have been incredibly encouraging.

70 people from regions and organizations throughout the country convened last week for the Fifth Annual Haiti Open Space. Teachers, community organizers, and leaders skilled in Circles of Change methods, were joined by others wanting to learn more.

The rich dialogue, relationship building, and fun during these two and a half day gatherings keeps people coming back. Exciting new projects always emerge. This year we launched Facing Our History with Haitian award-winning photographer, Daniel Morel, which is a photo exhibition and booklet as part of a community conversation project. We also celebrated Cledor Myril’s being elected into the parliament. Marc Orel, who Cledor met at last year’s meeting, served as his campaign director.

It was Louis Henry’s first time with us. He was so excited by the people and ideas that he invited a number of us to his monthly prayer breakfast the following week. Attendees included the Ministers of Education and Commerce along with 20 other interesting people. Louis spoke publicly about his experience at the Open Space gathering and how eager he is to learn more about these methods and to collaborate with us. He distributed the Living Words participatory Bible study guide.

This work is touching thousands of people. It feels like we’re on the verge of touching tens of thousands more and we’re excited.

johnengle.net
circlesofchange.com
john@johnengle.net

June update

Nearly every day one Haitian colleague or another shares with me something exciting. I called Fremy this past Saturday and discovered that he was facilitating an Open Space meeting with 60 women who convened to deal with the subject of rape, domestic violence and aids.

Today I received a report from Jude which included these words from Magalie Calixte’s, (26) who recently learned to read and write in a Beyond Borders literacy center on the island of Lagonav: “This experience has changed my life. I never had the opportunity to go to school. In addition to learning to read and write, we used methods like Reflection Circles and Living Words, which have helped me to develop new attitudes and to show people greater respect. I have so much more self-confidence.”

I have enclosed an article that recently appeared on front page of Hershey Chronicle. Abner Sauveur, who is pictured, is a highly motivated teacher and leader. Like others in our network, he has touched thousands of lives using Reflection Circles and Open Space.

You will also find a two-page evaluation of students at Oklahoma University who used Reflection Circles (referred to as Touchstones Discussions in US). It provides a great summary of outcomes.


johnengle.net
circlesofchange.com
john@johnengle.net

May Update

I want to share some recent experiences of my colleague, Jude Apollon. Jude works with groups and trains people in literacy instruction, Reflection Circles, Open Space, and the Lectio Divina participatory approach to Bible study.

“People were shocked last week to see how Voudouizan (people who are part of Voudou religion,) Catholics and Protestants could engage together in Biblical reflection and dialogue without offending one another. They’ve begun calling the method ‘Manje a kwit, chak moun pran.’” [This is a slight variation of a popular Haitian proverb that means, “When the food is cooked, EVERYONE shares in eating it together.”]

Another participant expressed to the group how fascinated he is by the habit of self-assesment that these sessions develop. “While no one criticized me in the meeting, I go away evaluating myself and discovering behavior that I want to change.”

One participant pulled Jude aside immediately following a Reflection Circle session and said, “Here’s the question I want to discuss with the group next time we meet: ‘How is it that in these session each one of us is sharing different opinions on the issues, often in disagreement of one another, yet when the session is over, we leave without being frustrated?’ ”

Haiti is known for division and conflict. Thus, when you multiply these experiences by the hundreds and even thousands--there are thousands using these methods--you’ll see why we’re so committed to this work and so hopeful.


johnengle.net
circlesofchange.com
john@johnengle.net

April Update

Here are just three among countless positive initiatives:

• Colleague Jude Apollon beginning a new Circles of Change training with “Hands Together” community organization toward, in their words, “gaining knowledge which will help us take control of our destiny.”

• The convening of more than 50 teachers to learn and explore ways to discipline students without using corporal punishment.

• A community wide day-long open space convening over 100 people toward fostering dialogue and trust and gaining clarity about their collective needs and priorities. Below is an excerpt from the message Kathy Gross, who is with Richmond Diocese, sent my colleague, Fremy Cesar, who facilitated the meeting:


Thank you so much for all you did in Cerca Carvajal. It was all very wonderful. And I think it also helped to bring the village of Cerca Carvajal together. One young man who spoke some English approached me and told me that he was a Seventh Day Adventist. He wondered, "Will you still talk to me?" This told me that there are major barriers between people who are parishioners at Holy Family and those who are not. We would love to do what we can to break through those barriers. Open Spaces is certainly a way to do that.


johnengle.net
circlesofchange.com
john@johnengle.net