[Ailist] The first Metafari has now finished in Tanga Tanzania.... Please let us know what you think

[Leif Josefsson]

W are sorry for anyone that have been expecting live reports from the
Metafari.  Technology and mobile networks did not live up to expectations.
Or should we say, dreams.  Lousy 3G Network coverage, the networked harddisk
broke down.  Even my computer broke down.



But the Metafari Protytyping Team still was an absolutely wonderful learning
experience in Tanzania last week.  Right now I am sitting in Tanga, Tanzania
- and it is the night before I am returning home.



We realized that what we created together was something full of a lot of
things in a total spirit of action learning. We did a lot of interview
training, learning to ask good questions.  Doing it with ourselves and with
people we met.  Highlights were a couple of interviews we did with
representatives of the Maasai people.   One of the interviews was about the
termites and their meaning to the Maasai. Some absolutely amazing metaphores
came up there.



We also worked a lot with a format where we were just by ourselves in the
moment,  observing what we saw without judging and writing it down.  In the
group we would read out our stories and have reflections around each.
Metaphors, reflections came out that was extremely powerful.  In all amazing
memories that stick to our minds for a long time.



A summary for each day is now up on www.metafari.com - please read and give
your feedback.


One vision is that the Metafari could be a meetingplace for people from
different countries, exploring stories, dreams, metaphors, work life,
language *in action.  *Not just by Powerpoint slides or intelligent
speeches.  We now know that this works, and we plan for more Metafaris in
2008.  March 2 and 16th (with a first priority on March 16).  October &
November 2008 could host up to 4 Metafaris.  An ideal set as we understand
now is around 14 people, probably from 3-5 countries.

*Also, what Ruth Nesje (from Norway, well known in the AI community) and her
husband Odd is building here in Tanzania is stunning.  A fully modern
conference centre in very deep cooperation with the local community, and
with extremely good regional and national connections. *
Where ever we traveled in the region we heard people shout "Hello mama
Ruth!"
Tanga International Conference Centre (TICC) will be an international and
local meeting point with the possibility to accomodate up to 120 people, and
to have meetings with up to 300.
The staff are recruited from the local community.  Before starting the work
they all go through AI training.  A group of Masaai from the Nanyoki Masaai
settlement (150 miles away) are contracted to safeguard the place. Graceful
people with tremendous integrity

Tanga is a region that is just starting to develop the tourism and
hospitality business so it is still possible think in terms of what
development is needed, and wanted.  Beaches, islands, mountains, forests,
people.  There is a lot to see and experience.  TICC is as ltd - It is
financed by investors who want to invest in positive development, but also
in a good business case. So far all investors are from Norway, but it would
be natural to extend the investor group to be more international  We are
talking about doing one metafari with a special focus on people interested
in knowing more and possibly be an investor.
*(behold, there is no hidden agenda here - I am not an investor myself or
have any financial interest in the centre)*

We would be very happy to know what you think about the Metafari idea and,
as the majority in the list seem to be Americans, what it would take to get
people from the US to join.  But really any feedback would be very helpful.



Thank You!


-- 
Leif Josefsson
Förenklare / Facilitator
Leander Kommunikation & Förändring AB
.:Communicate & Change:.
Ölandsgatan 48 - 116 63 Stockholm - tel +46 (0)70-773 00 54

www.leanderleander.com

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