Blog

I read a book by Michael Rosen which illustrated that there is poetry in everyday language - if you listen out for it. So I listened - and sure enough - I heard some as I was travelling on the 227 bus. It was late on a Thursday afternoon. Two weary women were sitting in front of me, chatting to each other and I couldn't help hearing what they said. When I got off the bus I wrote down their words so I wouldn't forget. The first section was spoken by one woman; the second was the response of her...

Good news on the Cisco "admin glitch"/communication problem which I wrote about previously - Help needed to save Rural Training Centre - do you know anyone in Cisco? and More on Cisco and Rural Training Centre . In those posts I explained how the little rural Cisco acadamy at Fantsuam was being treated like a normal urban unversity department, regarding the bill for an essentiail upgrade. It was thus being placed in a situation which was threatening its survival. John, as a local course provider, had problems connecting with anyone appropriate higher up the administrative chain. Through Dadamac in London...

As I see it I'm a social innovator - but not yet a social entrepreneur. Given that "social entrepreneurship" is a comparatively recent concept, its meaning is still somewhat fluid. I'll therefore explain how I'm using these terms for the purpose of this extended blog, and what I mean by the difference. Then I'll explore some organisational models, including ones where people work "for free", and see what lessons I can learn. 1 - Innovation and enterprise - similarities and differences As I understand it, both social innovators and social entrepreneurs address social issues (i.e. people-related issues) in creative and...

GlobalNet21(GN21) has many facets and attracts people for many different reasons. The GlobalNet21 Network & Development Meeting was an opportunity for the informal learning network group to involve others, so I was sharing ideas about seeing GN21 as a learning community. The scope of GN21 is best discovered through its website (GlobalNet21 - The Global Public Square - Recreating Our Futures… ) and through a quick exploration of its meetup site . GN21 is a treasure trove for any free-range learner with an interest in our present and future lives, on a personal level, or on a community level -...

Kakas attend World Health Day event Kaka is the Hausa word for grandmother. Fantsuam Foundation is supporting 124 Kakas caring for their grandchildren whose parents have died of AIDS. They may be elderly and coping with their own health problems quite apart from their caring responsibilities. Forty-eight of them attended an event organised by Fantsuam Foundation as its contribution to World Health Day celebrated on Sunday 7th April. The Kakas were given the opportunity to have their blood pressure checked by a local nurse and for those already suffering from health problems, to receive treatment for malaria and typhoid. Zobo...