The self is just an extension of the whole. A change in the self brings about a change in the whole. Transformation in the collective (organization, family, community, society etc) starts with initiating transformation in the self.

EMPOWER, defined as 'to give power', is a misnomer as true power is within and is just discovered. It already exists!

This intensive 9 day course helps the participant to gain an insight into their mindsets and strike / restrike a balance between their needs, values etc with respect to self, family, career and society as a whole. This is then taken in the context of community development and interaction with community. The process opens new pathways of looking into responses and unearthing the key to community building.

EMPOWERMENT begins with a different vision perspective. One’s own life events taken as case studies are looked into, gaining a new perspective and insight .one becomes aware of ‘patterns’ operating that ensure that the outcome is always the same. Life drama is and has been the same with only the characters changed. Breaking this repetitive pattern frees us to change the script of the life drama and ensuring a positive different outcome of learning, growth, harmony and fulfillment.

Objectives:

• To gain insight into the continuing process of development within self and thereby collectives.
• Gain skill of mapping feelings, attitudes reaction patterns.
• Understand different approaches to community building .
• To experience and develop skills necessary for community building.
• Exposure to an unique approach of initiating a number of organizations of poor and marginalized segment of society and enable them to live in dignity.
• To expose personnel of donor agencies to alternate empowerment methods.

Course Curriculum

Stage 1

• Discovering authentic source of power.
• Gaining insight into unknown dimensions of psyche.
• Recognize feelings/needs/values/ and dysfunctional patterns in self and community development.
• Realizing attitudes, behavior patterns towards family, work, and society.
• Identifying patterns in self.
• Responding to life and community-new possibilities.

Stage 2

• Explore deeper layers of ones identity and the inherent barriers to authentic power.
• Understand structure and nature of barriers.
• Explore & experience different approaches to community building
• Explore work carried out by empowered communities.