Leadership conference
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ASYV Founder Diary
ASYV’s founder, Anne Heyman, is at the village to prepare for the next class of kids coming to the village and to attend ASYV’s first Leadership Training Seminar (facilitated by the Liquidnet Family).
The first few days have been quite wonderful and enlightening. Anne would like to share her thoughts and insights with us all.
Please view Day 1 of Anne’s Diary:
RWANDA DIARY – Saturday October 17 2009
Today was the last day of the Leadership Training Seminar led by a team from the Liquidnet Family, our amazing amazing cadre volunteers from Liquidnet Holdings, Inc. It is hard to express in words what an incredible impact these 3 days have had on the Village management team. I think it is fair to say we are all “floating” from the experience. It was evident to me that we could all benefit from some concrete management skills; the reality of what this has meant is beyond my wildest imagination. The first, biggest and most amazing achievement was that through engaging in various exercises it became clear that above everything else we are truly a team. We believe in Agahozo-Shalom, we have the same CORE VALUES, and we care about each other and how we go about achieving our mission. While we recognize that we don’t always see things the same, we understand that if we live according to these principles, which are ours, utilizing the tools we have learned in the past few days we can act in a way that will always create the best possible outcome for the Village, its children, and for the people who have the privilege – and huge responsibility – of taking care of it and them. WOW. I am sitting in my house in the Village overlooking the beautiful green hills surrounding me – it is the raining season – and looking at the walls which are plastered with “action items” and decision making strategies from the seminar, and I feel inspired.
After 3 days of intensive work – I don’t believe anyone on the training team has gone to bed before 2 am, and the seminar started at 8:00 am – team Liquidnet headed out this morning at 6:00 am to Akagera Park to see some spectacular scenery and enjoy some African Wildlife. It is a well deserved break, although I can’t wait for them to come back and to talk to them about all the ideas I have been discussing with village staff based on what they have learned in the seminar! I think it is fair to say that the team has had an amazing experience here. They have been privileged to see and participate insome very special events at the village, including the Official Naming of the Childrens houses. After a lengthy process in which each house was asked to research recommend and choose a name for their family’s house the process was completed and the milestone celebrated in the Village’s Community Center. The process by which the names were selected is worth mentioning, as I think it tells so much about what this village is about. The children were given a list of 35 names to choose from, and asked to present on why they chose this person, how they do/can/will influence the children’s life – what qualities does this person embody that they want to “represent” their house. Every child did research and presented to their families, who then chose the names in a democratic way. The names chosen by the children were: Prince Louis Rwagasore (Prince and former Prime Minister of Burundi), Anne Frank; Alexis Kagame (Rwanda Clergyman and Philosopher, considered the first historian of Rwanda); Benazir Bhutto (former Prime Minister of Pakistan); George Washington (first President of the United States) and George Washington Carver (African American Scientist). With respect to the last 2 houses, one of boys and one of girls, there was a problem – they had voted for and settled on the same name. What is incredible is the process through which the issue was resolved.
House Naming Ceremony
Amongst themselves, the boys said they would be willing to give the name to the girls, but it would mean that they gave in at the first sign of adversity, and if they were going to meet the expectations of them at Agahozo-Shalom they needed to stand up for what they believed in, so they had to insist on getting “their” name. The girls too discussed the issue, and were willing to give the name to the boys, but they were concerned that the boys would think they were weak, and didn’t think this would be wise. So they too decided to hang on to “their” name. It was decided that a quiz would be held about the candidate (Thomas Sankara-Former President, Burkina Faso) and whoever knew the most would be able to use the name. The boys house won, and at first were very enthusiastic about their victory. Seeing how disappointed the girls were though, they toned it down and made an effort to comfort and congratulate them on their effort. Family. Treating each other they way they should. As a “mom” could you be any prouder? The girls wound up choosing Socrates as their family name. Not a bad second choice.
House Naming Ceremony
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Liquidnet Family at ASYV
Members of the Liquidnet Family are at the village to facilitate ASYV’s first Leadership Training Seminar. It was a 3-day seminar where the ASYV Leadership discuss successes and looking toward the future and how to get there.
ASYV Leadership Team and Anne Heyman, Founder
It has been an engaging process for all. To read more about Liquidnet’s visit to the village, see their blog at http://race4rwanda.tumblr.com
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ASYV Training Seminar – Day 1
[caption id="attachment_441" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="Nir Lahav, Director"]
Syliva and Jean-Pierre
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The ASYV Leadership Training Seminar got off to a good start. Nir, Village Director, discussed successes in the village. Sylvia and Jean-Pierre, Directos, look ahead to the future.
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ASYV Leadership Training Seminar
The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village is having their first Leadership Training Seminar this week. The conference is facilitated by members of the Liquidnet Family who arrived at the village on Tuesday.
The conference began by acknowledging the village successes over the last year. Here is list of accomplishments put together by the Directors:
- 3 on time meals everyday for all
- we’ve seen the kids change—they smile now; they are amazing, responsible people
- the farm—we’ve tasted its fruit
- commitment and motivation of the staff are so strong
the kids now really know the meaning of the slogan “See Far Go Far”
- village is operational
- we know what it takes to achieve success
- village has had a great impact on both kids and workers
- created a learning environment
- the government and the entire country are looking up to us
- hope has been restored