PLAN
For IAF 2014 Connect Meeting #3
Saturday 12 July
Crossings Cafe
55 Waterloo Street #01-01
Preamble
Most of us subscribe to the general concept of "Corporate Social Responsibility"
And many of us serve in company's who do have a CSR programme, effected both incountry and outcountry.
For this morning let us review what are the obstacles to helping others in rural communities
And see how we can overcome them.
Firstly
Can we brainstorm "examples of helping people overseas"
Anyone with experience with CRS?
Where did you go?
What did you do?
Some good points?
Some bad points
Secondly
What are the obstacles to helping others in rural communities
Let us use a road to development analogy
We are here
We want to go over to there to help people in rural communities
What are some obstacles that might hinder us?
Select an object in the room that can represent that obstacle:
Turn tell us about that obstacle and lay it on the road to development
When all obstacles are laid down the group will determine if any can be grouped together
Clusters will be treated as single obstacles
Each person will be given three voting beans and vote for the top three most important obstacles
Thirdly
How can we overcome them
Problem/ obstacle tree
Results / fruit
Root causes
Overcome -fruit
Overcome-roots
=============================
In Reality
"Overcoming" was too big a bite so I changed it to "looking at"
A) Icebreaker: Getting to know you
Pick a postcard that you can use to introduce yourself...
I chose an image of a rusting car in a lake
Me at the end of my life
Looks like a rusting wreck
But there is still value
In the scrap metal value
And in the lake, fish can find safety snd shelter in the rusting wreck.
Moral or the story: Retyred, Rewired, Refired .
B) Design today's session
We paired of two by two and within each two discussed how we would like the session to run.
Then pairs joined and in groups of four we shared the same topic.
The facilitator then scribed the findings.
C) My 30 minutes....
Looking at obstacles to effective CSR (Corporate social responsibility)
I said "most of us think CSR is a good thing"
I asked for examples of CSR
Helping to build schools
Outreach to pre-release prisoners: life skills
Helping senior citizens learn basic computer skills.
Identifying obstacles:
Participants chose one or two pictures from the postcard pack to represent obstacles to effective CSR
Participant queried to clarify:
"Are we talking about at corporate level or personal level?"
Answer: both
Participants describe the obstacle that is represented by the postcard, and lay the picture in line on floor.
Photo credit Noel E K Tan
Obstacles:
Lack of support
Wrong timing
Budget constraints
Individuals want to do differently from company
Lack of corporate vision
Perception problems of why and what
Internal struggle of benificiary
Security issues and clinging to comfort zone
With three beans each, participants voted for top three importent obstacles.
Chief obstacles:
Individuals want to do differently from company (4)
Lack of corporate vision. (4)
Perception problems of why and what. (3)
Internal struggle of benificiary. (3)
FEEDBACK
Unassuming
all can share
Participants allowed to explain, elaborate
There was engagement
Good range of media, methods, movement, beans, play.
No boundaries
Spontaneous
Creativity (use of Picture cards), some one else's props.
Think of group
zAP: NSG: not so good
Facilitator failed to define what is CSR
Final objective not clearly stated; where are we getting to?
There was only single type of two way conversations facilitator to participant
Paired conversations would have provided more talk time
Support roles could be offered to participants
Lists of seven is maximum
Helpful to limit each item to one word or just a few words: and write them down
Can post some questions on the wall to signpost the conversation
Could have split group: half consider CSR from company view, other at personal level.
Discussion on feedback.
In summary
It was a great learning experience for me
I feel I am in the right track
Brining my rural community experiences into the classroom was a positive step
I have confidence and people skills
My graphic recording is an asset.
Need to remember
Focus on process
Do not add content
Define the topic
Clearly state the objectives.
Questions to signpost progress are helpful
A prepared framework or chart is useful
Paired and quad discussions is a good way to enhance group dynamics.
Many thanks to the group for feedback!
