SV: Use of Open Space Technology in Nigeria Mediation
Thomas Herrmann
thomas at openspaceconsulting.com
Wed Jan 7 15:45:38 PST 2004
Dear Joel
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and your very couragous work
in Nigeria. Great work! This builds on my already high inspiration to
organize a PoP workshop over here! I wish you and your people all the best
of success and would very much like to be able to follow the story further!
Warmest regards and wishes of great success
Thomas Herrmann
Kungsbacka, Sweden
-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Från: OSLIST [mailto:OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU]För Peggy Holman
Skickat: den 5 januari 2004 18:20
Till: OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
Ämne: Use of Open Space Technology in Nigeria Mediation
Friends,
Below is an inspiring report that Joel Bisina of Nigeria asked me to send
to you. He came to the Practice of Peace at the Whidbey Institute and has
already begun to make a difference because of the experience.
from snowy Seattle,
Peggy
(P.S. In his message, POP is Practice of Peace, SW is Spirited Work)
-----Original Message-----
From: Joel Bisina [mailto:nigrodev2000 at yahoo.co.uk]
Sent: Sunday, January 04, 2004 11:41 AM
To: maryella at pobox.com; annstad at nwlink.com;
leah at compassionatelistening.org; susan4ps at comsat.net;
peggy at opencirlcecompany.com
Subject: Use of Open Space Technology in Nigeria Mediation
Subject: Mediation In Ongoing Crisis Between Ijaws And Itsekiris Of
Warri Delta State Nigeria.
Dear Members Of POP and SW Global Community.
I an glad to inform you all of a successful first phase mediation on
the Seven (7) Years old intractable conflict between the Ijaws and The
Itsekiris, two ethnic nationalities in the oil rich Niger Delta Region.
This is a conflict that has claimed well over 2,000 lives and rendered more
than 10,000 people homeless, as well as destroying millions of dollars worth
of property. I am especially interested in telling you about how I was able
to use what I learned at Practice of Peace and Spirited Work to effect a
positive outcome.
My non-profit organization, NIDPRODEV (Niger-Delta Professionals for
Development) in collaboration with IFESH (International Foundation for
Education and Self Help) sponsored a multi-level mediation workshop from
14th to 17th and 18th to 21st of December, 2003. In this first phase, we
met separately with Ijaws and the Itsekiris, targeting the leaders of the
combatant groups on both sides. The initial focus of this intervention was
to obtain a ceasefire amongst the two warring groups and also to facilitate
them to explore other creative means of addressing the issues rather than
resorting to violence.
The member of your global community Joel Bisina led the mediation,
and I am glad to inform you that the program recorded a high level of
success. Not only did each group denounce violence as an option for getting
their needs met, they also pledged to collaborate with each other to
co-creatively find a solution to the problem. Both sides have had follow-up
meetings with their various groups and have resolved as a next step to
engage in a more constructive joint session.
My participation at POP and SW was instrumental to the success
recorded . I designed the mediation to use several strategies I learned,
including OPENSPACE TECHNOLOGY, as well as THE REFLECTIVE OPENING AND
CLOSING CIRCLES. However, it is worthy of note to mention that when we
started the session, I saw that the participants were very agitated, and
unable to focus on moving forward in a collaborative way. I remembered my
participation at the session convened on COMPASSIONATE LISTENING convened by
Leah Green and her team and decided to try that approach. It was of immense
benefit, as the participants for the first time felt listened to and had the
opportunity to listen to each other's side of the story.
The openspace technology was very helpful as it enabled me to open
up space and hold the space while the participants took responsibility for
their actions and their issues. This was needed to vent tension and anger.
And it created BROTHERHOOD.
Some of the results of this intervention included
Ø Change in perception
Ø A resolution that violence does not pay any one
Ø A resolve to collaborate for joint problem solving
Ø A commitment to continue to work amongst ethnic groups to
hold the space for the peace while the issues are being addressed
It is of further interest to mention here that I was invited to
observe a similar initiative that is being facilitated by an NGO run by an
American woman here which is aimed at the elders, community leaders, and
government security agents. Unfortunately, this session ended in a deadlock.
It was clear the facilitator was not familiar with Open Space Technology,
Compassionate Listening, or the other techniques I was exposed to at POP and
SW. The facilitator also observed my mediation sessions, and I am glad to
inform you that she has approached me to help out and teach her some of
these skills.
Both of these initiatives are supported financially by USAID/The US
Embassy here in Nigeria.
I will let you know of the outcome of the joint session between the
Ijaws and Itsekiris coming up the second week of January 2004.
Read and let me know what you feel .
Joel Bisina
I also intend to post this on catalyst for more members of the
global community to see how they are contributing to my work here.
_______________________________
Peggy Holman
The Open Circle Company
15347 SE 49th Place
Bellevue, WA 98006
425.746.6274
www.opencirclecompany.com
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