James is a leader of the Vision, Committment and Action Workshops and a trainer for other workshop leaders here.
Earlier in the blog from Mexico, I described Dr Hugo Gonzales VCA workshops and there are many similar elements here. It is clear that there are also local adaptations such as a focus on the five steps to ending hunger described earlier.
Imagine a totally professional business seminar about empowerment where everyone is asked to share and participate so that alignment can be created and so new concepts can be internalised and agreement can be reached and old mindsets can be changed.
Everyone, women and men, are encouraged to participate and to share their experiences.
A first step discussed is the belief that hunger can be ended and aligning on that vision. Good and bad visions are distinguished and discussed.
Questions are asked like "What makes us believe we can end hunger?" One of our women partners answers that "Because we have changed our mindsets and now women and men can discuss and decide together what actions to take".
James facilitates and leads this rigorous, powerful and existential discussion and it is amazing the think just four years ago he was illiterate and one of the poorest people here.
The workshop has a galvanising effect on everybody here and we are all being called forth to action to end hunger. The process is professional, inclusive and ranks right up there with the best and most effective corporate workshops I have attended.
I can so clearly see how this kind of training over time creates self reliance and personal commitment to better circumstances and thereby end the conditions that allow hunger to persist.
I have seen this sort of education turn failing companies around in the business world. It is this kind of facilitated workshop that many of the worlds best consultancies are founded on.
Here the workshops are lead by local people in the epicentre they built and for an incredibly tiny cost. The effect in the room is tangible and the effect of this work combined with the physical projects has clearly empowered and transformed the community here.
It is also clearly both efficient in its implementation and lasting in its effect. The sense of community bonding here in common purpose is palpable.
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