1 August 2020: With a passion for holistic education, Delia Gilgen from Switzerland joins as a Trans4m Junior Fellow.

Delia Gilgen is our latest Junior Fellow. Welcome!

In her research-to-innovation, she will be focussing on prototyping programs for young Agents of Transformation keen to engage, in theory and in practice, with the arts and science of integral transformation, enabling them to actively contribute to the resolution of today's burning issues. She will thereby work closely with TRANS4M and our integral campus Home for Humanity.

Delia is familiar with TRANS4M's integral approach  since 2018, when she joined our course "On Becoming an Agent of Transformation" at the University of St. Gallen, where she studied.

We welcome Delia “on board”!

Find out more about Delia and her passion for creating safe spaces for transformative learning in her brief Junior Fellow profile, by clicking here. 

30 July 2020: Robert Dellner's pioneering book presents a full-spectrum and integral systems approach to investing.

We are  pleased to announce that a new book "Integral Impact Investments (I3): Building and navigating a full-spectrum systems approach to investing" has been published by Robert Dellner, our fellow and former participant in TRANS4M's "PHD" (Process for Holistic Development) Program.   Dellner's book seeks to create a road map and mirror for those who seek to co-create and develop a deeper approach to Impact investments within finance & economics.     Over the coming year, a workbook will accompany the book as part of "I3" (Integral Impact Investments) becoming a program at several Universities in the US and European and aid for those who want to integrate this approach into their daily work and lives. The TRANS4M community congratulates him on this achievement and wish him the very best in implementing this important work as part of his ongoing community activation and awareness building around how our Integral technology can help the finance industry to evolve from its current state.   To acquire the book, click here.   To find out more on Robert Dellner, who also works closely with TCA Trans4m Communiversity Associates, and about his integral investment work, see here.     

12 to 15 December 2019: This year’s highly informative and transformative SIF took place at Sekem and Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development in Egypt, a long-term integral partner organisation of TRANS4M.

The Social Initiatives Forum is an international network of educators, curative educators, social workers, researchers and individuals interested in holistic education & sustainability. In this year’s annual Forum the network met at SEKEM in Egypt to share ideas on creative pedagogical practices that can help build a sustainable future. Some 300 participants joined this interactive and dynamic learning event – that combined community learning events with inspiring keynotes, skills workshop, artistic workshops and a large variety of networking and cross-pollination.

SIF Egypt 2019 with its guiding theme of “Unfolding Individual Potential for the Future” focussed on enhancing the Self to engage in community development through an integral, socially-relevant & artistic approach. This included education on different levels (formal schooling, higher education, informal skills training & the practice of self-development), as well as potential-unfolding activities within economic, agricultural & cultural settings.

TRANS4M participated via its co-founder Alexander Schieffer – who contributed two workshops and a keynote speech. During the TRANS4M workshops entitled “Unleashing Human Gene-ius – A Workshop for Integral Worldmakers”, participants were guided through the five steps of the GENE-IUS model, aligned with the five dance rhythms by Gabriele Roth. Combining conceptual input, a practical tool, introspective questions and dance turned out to be a highly transformative format, that resulted in deep personal insights into the “unfolding of individual potential” of participants, as well as in the collective co-creation of a shared Mandala, summarizing key findings. In the workshops, TRANS4M was strongly supported by Martina Dinkel, SEKEM's director for Eurythmy & Performing Arts.

The subsequent keynote speech focussed on a set of main principles of TRANS4M’s work that seemed particular relevant for the conference theme which were: our integral emphasis on a whole life perspective, the inner purpose, cultural rootedness and transcultural interaction to stimulate social innovation. These principles were illustrated through a set of international cases from the TRANS4M body of practice: from Sekem in Egypt; to the Agents of Transformation Course at the Swiss University of St. Gallen; to Sadhana School in India; to Integral Green Slovenia; and, as a culmination, via the work TRANS4M has been doing in 2019 in Egypt, with the EGIC Egyptian Genius Innovation Community (a video on the latter will soon be released). With Mohamad El Sayed Khalil and Mohamed El Banby, two members of the core team of EGIC were present at the SIF Forum, offering also active support to the TRANS4M workshops.

A highlight of this year’s Forum was the level of ownership, enthusiasm, creativity and professionalism that a team of youth organisers, led by Sekem’s Nana Woo, was showcasing throughout the four-day event – a major ingredient to its success. Furthermore, the Forum was deeply enriched by being embedded in the innovative organisational and educational showcases of Sekem and Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development. In turn, the dynamic, innovative and transcultural spirit of the Forum brought many evolutionary impulses back into Sekem and HU. A tangible win-win organisation, that made participants and organizers leaving the Forum enriched, energized and further enabled to make his or her contribution to a more sustainable future.

Fotos by Sekem, Mohamed El Banby & Narimeh Paeplow

 

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10 December 2019: TRANS4M joins Steering Committee Meeting of Nile Journeys in Egypt’s Aswan.

The Nile Journeys’ mission is to nurture a culture of peace that regeneratively impacts the land, the water body and the quality of life of people living in the Nile Basin. With communities participating from across Africa, this upcoming social initiative has the transformative potential to positively influence social, cultural, ecological and economic renewal across the continent.

Upon invitation of its steering committee members – in particular Mohamed El Mongy from Egypt and Luea Ritter from Switzerland/Belgium, who are also both enrolled in TRANS4M’s PhD, respective PHD (Process for Holistic Development) Program – TRANS4M’s co-founder Alexander Schieffer joined the team for one and a half days. The focus of this workshop was to explore and define an underlying integral research-to-innovation process, that would best suit the Nile Journeys to build up a relevant knowledge and practice base – to be shared among the participating communities.

Based on a network of trusted relationships, and informed by a rich collection of community stories and cultural narratives, Nile Journeys aspires to develop a new knowledge and practice base, that can ultimately be disseminated across Nile communities via transformative educational processes – with the overall view to building up a regenerative culture of peace and integral wellbeing in the Nile Basin.

The resonance between the Nile Journeys’ inclusive vision and TRANS4M’s Integral Development processes is huge, and we expect further co-creation in the future – in and for Africa!

Watch this space.

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22 to 24 November: The vibrant conference helped taking the Integral Green Slovenia initiative and the Integral Green Economy agenda to new heights, and explored concrete possibilities to integrally enrich the new and ambitious European agenda. 

The conference attracted well over 100 participants and was hosted by two integral, educationally innovative and inspiring Kindergardens: Slovenska Bistrica in Poljčaneand Slovenske Konjice in Špitalič. This year’s conference focused on “The Future of Europe in a Turbulent World: Integrating Perspectives and Actualising Potentials on a Path of Sustainability” – thereby responding to an increasingly challenging reality, filled with intense problems and potentials at the same time. Participants represented social innovators for sustainable development from all areas of society and all levels – local, regional, national, international. International participants came from Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Australia and Switzerland – with life video contributions from Nigeria and Jordan.

The conference, on the one hand, provided the space to share local and international integral case studies – on the other hand, it was an interactive and transcultural space for mutual development and for the co-creation of forward-looking societal perspectives on sustainable integral development. In confirmed, once again, the conceptual strength of What was particular valuable in this year’s conference was its groundedness in local Slovenian cases, the inspiring atmosphere of the two Kindergardens, as well as the participation of the local community, actively supporting and contributing to the conference.

Slovenian cases and themes presented at the conference included a rich variety of institutional and individual integral development perspectives, all active contributions to the Integral Green Economy initiative. Topics included: Global Perspectives on Challenges of Climate Change and the Coming EU Climate Action (Andrej Kranjc, MSc); Savinjska Region as an Integral Green Region (Jasna Križnik);Smart Integration for an Integral Green Europe (Vesna Kolar Planinšič, MSc & Dr. Darja Piciga); Ecological Justice and Biosocial Philosophical Literacy (Prof. Lenart Škof & Dr. She Hawke); Creating a Gaia related culture (Marko Pogacnik); Local Social Entrepreneurship with Community Programmes in Tourism and Food Self Supply for an Integral Green Europe (Tadej Slapnik); From our Hearts to the Hearts of Europeans for a Sustainable Europe (Ivana Leskovar & Stanka Stegne); Common as Part of Integral Green Concept (Dr. Nevenka Bogataj); Kindergarten as a Motor of Local Development: The Case of Špitalič  and Open Learning Environment for All Generations (Mojca Veler, Karin Lavin, Lidija Zidanšek & Klavdija Kokljič, Andreja Lipovec & Jasna Golob, Darja Solina, Niko Laznik, Katja Temnik, Prof Ana Vovk Korže, Tomaž Popović, Valentina Kroflič).

International integral cases included: The Vision of an Integral Green Zimbabwe (Dr. Elizabeth Mamukwa, Zimbabwe); From Sustainable Community Development to Societal Renewal - a Creative Response to and Showcase for  the Sustainable Development Goals (Dr. Vinya Ariyaratne, Sri Lanka); From Sekem as an Integral Enterprise to the Economics of Love – Sekem’s Future Vision and Engagement for the Sustainable Development of Egypt (Martina Dinkel, Egypt); Pax Herbals in Nigeria as an Integral Enterprise-in-Community and a case of Communitalism, an African Integral Economic path (Dr. Anselm Adodo, Nigeria); Towards Integral Explanation of Jordan as the "Oasis of Stability" in a turbulent region, with inspiring integral green enterprise-educational-economic practice cases  (Zeina Sahyoun, Mayyada Abu Jaber, Laila Abdul Majeed, all from Jordan).

Dr. Darja Piciga, the Co-Founder of the Slovenian Citizens’ Initiative and Prof. Alexander Schieffer, Co-Founder of the TRANS4M Movement both placed particular emphasis on the relevance of the Slovenian integral approach for the future of the European Union – and helped integrating the diverse contributions to a cohesive proposition to take the Integral Green Economy and Society movement forward.

A particular important focus in the initiative’s next phase will be the presentation of benefits of an integrative conceptual framework, as has been developed for Slovenia, for the new political agenda of the European Union, through connecting and intertwining the European Green Deal with other guidelines, particularly: An economy that works for people, Promoting our European way of life, A stronger Europe in the world. The proposal for an Integral Green Europe also builds on potentials and expected benefits of the integral green economy and society approach for resolving challenges to sustainable development in developing regions that can be, inter alia, promoted through development cooperation with the European Union and can enrich education and training programs for migrants from these regions. 

As in past years, this now already 5^thInternational Conference was initiated by the Citizens’ Initiative for an Integral Green Slovenia; it was supported by TRANS4M, Development Agencyof Savinjska Region,Kindergarten Slovenske Konjice, Kindergarten Oton Župančič Slovenska Bistrica, Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Science and Research Centre Koper, Alma Mater Europea, among others.

It is well worth noting, that this year’s International Conference for an Integral Economy was already celebrating its fifth anniversary. IGE 2019 follows thereby the successful conferences of 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018 in Slovenia and the release of the Gower and Routledge volume Integral Green Sloveniain June 2016.

Dr. Elizabeth Mamukwa, Chair of the Pundutso Research Institute in Zimbabwe and lead editor of Integral Green Zimbabwe summarised the conference as follows: "This conference was a melting pot of cultures – from Africa to Australia, Jordan to Europe and Sri Lanka. It was also a melting pot of ideas and innovations, from raising children to be at one with nature, Modern Philosophy of religion, changing a culture of dependency, creating Integral Learning Communities and earth transforming itself into a different frequency. What all this had in common was the raising of awareness of the things that we need to do to improve the quality of people’s lives, and quenching of the thirst of new knowledge by sharing social innovations which can be replicated elsewhere.  It was an amazing conference where the possibility of an Integral Green Economy and Society could be tangibly witnessed."

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14 November 2019: Premie Naicker’s research-to-innovation explores a new integral and feminine approach to African Leadership and Entrepreneurship

15 Women and 2 Men were invited to the first of a series of Focus Group Meetings initiated by Premie Naicker, whose research seeks to create a new ontological foundation for understanding and practising feminine leadership in South Africa – thereby drawing deeply on methodological frameworks of African Feminism, Intersectionality and Womenism.

Facilitated by TRANS4M Senior Fellow Dr. Loshnee Naidoo, together with Premie Naicker, the focus group – within a very animated and engaged atmosphere – explored the underlying challenges that women in leadership positions face in South Africa, their root causes and innovative solutions to address these challenges.

The dialogical format that characterised this first focus meeting group allowed to surface deep thoughts, experiences and insights, and provided an excellent foundation for forthcoming focus groups, designed as a process to participate in the co-creation of a new African Women Leadership Framework and processs, that each of the focus group members can then also actively bring to her own workplace. Such a co-creation also clearly transcends the format of an overly individualized and personalized PhD research, towards a more collectively owned research to innovation process.

Premie Naicker is hence positioning her PhD journey, from the outset, as an opportunity to invite a larger community of concerned women into the co- creation of a prospective social innovation, enabling large scale impact with regards to the transformation of the currently predominant masculine (and western) leadership paradigm in South Africa.

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12 November 2019: An inspiring integral Pan-African dialogue took place in the heart of legendary Sophiatown – at the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Center

Upon invitation of TRANS4M and SophiaTown The Mix, an unusual group of African and Middle Eastern Social Innovators came together in the inspiring setting of the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Center. This center is today home to Sophiatown The Mix, focussing on reviving the original, highly creative and innovative multi-ethnic culture of Sophiatown, in order to lead the community into a sustainable future.

Member of the creative team of the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Center is Violet Mohotloane, who is also a former participant of the Masters for Social and Economic Transformation, that TRANS4M, together with Buckingham University led at CIDA City Campus in Johannesburg. Violet helped to bring a group of eight former Masters Student to this Integral African Dialogue. They were joined by current Zimbabwean and Jordanian PhD Students of TRANS4M, who had come to South Africa for a PhD Module, together with TRANS4M’s co-founders Ronnie Lessem and Alexander Schieffer.

This group of altogether 16 social innovators, all of which have been inducted in TRANS4M’s Integral Worlds approach, made of for a “Transformative Mix” – and instantaneously entered a deep dialogue on how the various transformative impulses in the group could coalesce to support a (South) African Renaissance process – including the interconnected renewal of African Politics, Economics and Education.

The group committed to a process of co-creation, beginning with a position paper of a core team that was formed on the spot. That position paper would then serve to stimulate co-creation with the entire group, with the objective to ultimately and actively engage top level political and economic leaders, working together for an alternative integral vision for African political and economic governance.

Violet Mohotloane of the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Center committed to serve as community host for this process.

Watch this space for more!

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7 to 12 November 2019: Small and high-powered PhD group with participants from Zimbabwe, Jordan and Nigeria meets in South Africa

 Three Zimbabwean, two Jordanian and one Nigerian (joined via Zoom) PhD students came to South Africa to join the TIPS Module of the Da Vinci Institute, the official accreditor of our Trans4m Da Vinci PhD Program. Following the model with Da Vinci, additional three days with TRANS4M’s co-founders Alexander Schieffer and Ronnie Lessem took place, supporting students to integrate the TIPS content and format into the integral PhD journey.

Participants from Jordan were Mayyada Abu Jaber, Founder and CEO, World of Letters, focussing on a Feminist Economy in Jordan; and Zeina Sahyoun,Chief Marketing Officer, MedLabs Consultancy Group, who is in the process of creating, through her PhD, an Integral Academy within the MedLabs Group. Both Zeina and Mayyada are currently exploring a higher degree of co-creation in Jordan. Both do see “women empowerment” as a strong dimension and a “healthy society” as a vital objective of their respective research-to-innovations, while Zeina’s primary emphasis is the micro (enterprise) level, and Mayyada’s main focus is on the macro (community and economy) level.

All participants from Zimbabwe are already part of a society wide integral innovation impulse focussing on co-creating a Communiversity for Zimbabwe, in close cooperation with TCA (Trans4m Communiversity Associates). Within this larger societal framework Patience Magodoresearches into an Integral Ecosystem to establish socio-economic development of smallholders farmers in Zimbabwe; while the other two Zimbabwean participants, Isheunesu Chaka and Fadzai Chakauya, both Deans of Student Affairs in affiliated universities in Zimbabwe, work together to evolve their universities into distinct Communiversities, and developing integral curricula for both institutions.

 One Nigerian participant, Lanre Kazeem Abimbola, joined by Zoom and presented her work focussing onIntegral Transformative Value Communication for Enhancing Economic Viability of Aspiring Communipreneurs – thereby building on the research work of Trans4m Senior Fellow Dr. Jubril Adeojo.

The entire three integration days were designed as a mutual support space, within which each participant constructively supported the progress of each fellow student.

The module included a visit of the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Center in Sophiatown, where participants got a profound and inspiring introduction into the history of Sophiatown, and the intriguing story of Father Trevor Huddleston, led by Tshepo Letsoalo. The Center also hosts a Community Enterprise Incubator, led by Violet Mohotloane, who has done her Masters on Social and Economic Transformation with TRANS4M and Buckingham University.

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28 to 30 October 2019: Vibrant Co-Learning, a strong Group Culture and a High Level of Motivation marked the 6^th “Becoming an Agent of Transformation – Integrated Self Development” Course

16 Bachelor Students from Switzerland’s University of St. Gallen made the journey to TRANS4M’s Home for Humanity in the French Jura Mountains for a three-day intensive learning experience. They were welcomed by course director Alexander Schieffer, as well as Pius Leutenegger and Titus Palivan, both members of TRANS4M’s Transformative Impact Team.

 The highly interactive course is particularly geared for motivated students who are keen to make a meaningful contribution to the world at atime of global change. Designed as an integral ʺdevelopment journeyʺ, participants “travel” through the interconnected levels of self‑development necessary to become effective agents of change in today’s volatile and challenging world.

Working individually and in small groups, participants combine theory and action, and learn‑by‑being‑and‑doing. The course focuses simultaneously on the acquisition of relevant knowledge, as well as practical, personal and interpersonal developmental skills. It also awakens individual and collective creativity, heightens cultural sensitivity, and strengthens the capacity of self‑expression.

The international student group – including two participants from far off Japan – gelled immediately, and already the opening outdoor exercises helped to lay the foundation for deep inner learning on a personal level and engaged, open co-learning on an interpersonal level. The combination of: exposure to relevant knowledge; skill development exercises; artistic assimilation processes (through drawing, painting, poetry, music and dance); physical movements in and purposeful connection to nature; individual and group presentations – altogether framed within an “Integral Transformation Agent Process” and enriched by deep individual and collective inquiry – turned out to be the right mix for the group to feel integrally enriched and expanded at the end of the three days. In particular the final presentations, in which participants assimilate the Theatre of Transformation methodology, step on stage, project themselves into the future and theatrically enact themselves as accomplished Agents of Transformation, was not only a moving individual and group exercise but a worthy culmination of inspiring and transformative three days.

For TRANS4M – and particular also through the engaged, innovative and co-creative support of Pius Leutenegger and Titus Palivan – this course was clearly an evolution of its own innovative and integral educational repertoire. The touching, positive and critically constructive feedback given by participants at the end of the intensive affirmed not only the existing learning format, but also allowed for meaningful evolution of the course in the future.

In conclusion, a final word from Titus Palivan: "Joined the class four years ago to learn, joined this class again to give back. In the end, learned much more than four years ago. With each act of giving, comes learning and new experiences."

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17 to 19 October 2019: Egyptian Transformation Agents develop their collective integral Proposition to contribute to a sustainable Future for Egypt

In a highly co-creative workshop – catalysed by TRANS4M’s co-founder Alexander Schieffer and hosted by Goethe Institut of Cairo – a group of highly motivated Agents of Transformation from Egypt (six women and eight men) came together to further evolve their individual transformation projects, and to explore how they can mutually support each others’ initiatives, on a sustainable basis.

The group gathered from across Egypt – from Cairo to Alexandria, from Monofeya to Minya, from Asyut to Tanta to Mansoura.

Participants presented the progress of their individual projects, that they had initiated or presented in an early stage in a previous workshop that took place in June 2019 in Cairo. Each project received a feedback from each member of the group – enabling group members to learn from each other and to sharpen their group skill to co-create a nurturing culture and environment for each individual project. One group member – Dr Mohamed Senousy – who was for a work trip in the US at the time of the workshop – had prepared a comprehensive integral video on his project, which was shared during the workshop (click here to view) 

In a next step the group consolidated around four key focus themes: Culture & Heritage; Transformative Education; Environment; and Children and Women Rights.

The group then began to develop a shared vision, fuelled by the aspiration to contribute as the Egyptian Genius Innovation Community on a long term basis to the sustainable development of their communities and society, and to keep developing their individual and collective initiatives through the help of the GENE-IUS process, and TRANS4M’s Integral Worlds approach.

Accordingly, the group developed four integral institutional pillars on which the Egyptian Genius Innovation Community should stand.

• Southern Pillar: COMMUNITY
• Eastern Pillar: CREATIVITY
• Northern Pillar: KNOWLEDGE
• Western Pillar: IMPACT

After intense discussion and evolution of the four pillars, the group was ready for a group presentation, where all dimensions of the Integral Genius Innovation Community were brilliantly captured in a 25min video. This video is now shared with different constituencies to invite support for “Egyptian Genius”.

A short video on the Egyptian Genius is available soon.

Watch this space.

Fotos by Islam “Shady” Safwat

Egyptian Genius Logo by Dr. Mohamed Senousy

 

PARTICIPANTS’ COMMENTS

“This workshop was the most powerful and most light point in my life.”

Mohamad ElSayed Khalil, Ministry of Culture, Cairo, Egypt

 

“Thanks so much for your effort in such a great journey. I personally enjoyed it so much; it has been one of the greatest learning experience I have ever had. As a project manager, I learned how to ground my project as the first phase while I am designing or even thinking about it. My project must reflect my personal passion to be successful. In other words, I should believe in my project otherwise. This will never happen without grounding. Grounding for me means to reflect my personal experience and the effected community.  Additionally, it is a wonderful process to move from the South to the East where we should not lose our cultural values and then to the North where we need to integrate with science and technology to develop an innovative and sustainable product in the West. In simple words I would say, I love the Genius Journey and I am gonna integrate its processes in the work I do.” 

Hossam Soltan, Project Manager, Nawaya Organization, Minya, Egypt

 

“I’m a student at faculty of commerce Tanta University. And I’m a member of ‘Egyptian Genius’. For me ‘Releasing Our Genius’ is a transformative journey. This workshop was very interactive and informative. Firstly we had followed the ‘Transformation Agent Map’ to develop a holistic solution map with regards to our burning issues.  After that we had the opportunity to present our projects, and discussed about their implementation in sustainable manners. This workshop is tantamount as it provides me with a new start, for myself and for my project.  So, I would like to thank everyone who had contributed to establish this workshop. Thank you Prof. Alexander for your great effort, thanks to Goethe-Institut and to the TRANS4M team.”

Mohamed Elbanby, Student of Commerce, Tanta University, Egypt

 

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22 September 2019: In a creative Exploration and joyful Ceremony a first Version of the Humanity Charter of Home for Humanity was presented.

Together with the founding members of the forthcoming Home for Humanity Association, some 25 social innovators from countries and cultures as diverse as Turkey, Brazil, France, Switzerland, Kurdistan, South Korea, Peru, Spain, Italy, India, Kenya, Namibia, Germany and UK came together to explore what “humanity” and “home for humanity” means a) on the level of the individual self b) with regards to their understanding of the role of the original Home for Humanity  in Hotonnes and c) in relation to their imagination of a world that is a true Home for Humanity.

Opened by music, poetry and other creative expressions, the diverse perspectives of all participants were mirrored by the sharing of a first draft of the Home for Humanity Charter, that will soon be officially launched. Guiding principles of the Humanity (Unity) Charter are:

• Growing in Unity
• Living as Earth Community
• Inspiring a Culture of Humanity
• Liberating the Wisdom of Humanity
• Fulfilling our Humanity in Unity.

Symbolizing the shared commitment of all participants to these guiding principles, a wooden Humanity Pole was erected and later posed in the newly inaugurated Jardin d’Humanité of Home for Humanity.

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21 September 2019: On International Peace Day, the founding members of the Home for Humanity Association came together to discuss Statutes, Strategy and Charter of Home for Humanity Association, that will also serve as TRANS4M’s Integral Campus.

The central objective of Home for Humanity is to contribute to the co-creation of a world that is a true home for humanity and all of creation. Building on its past pilot activities, most in partnership with Trans4m and Theatre of Transformation, it sees itself as a catalytic space for the integral regeneration and transformation of self and society, within a multi-cultural, educational, ecological, artistic, human and humanitarian framework.

Statutes, Strategy and Charter of Home for Humanity are going to be further finetuned over the coming months, to be able to officially register the association by the beginning of 2020.

Next to Home for Humanity Co-Conveners Alexander Schieffer (TRANS4M) and Rama Mani (Theatre of Transformation) the Founding Members of the Home for Humanity Association are Pius Leutenegger, Founder of Centro d’Ompio (Switzerland/Italy), Arjuna Hiffler Mani, Cultural Philosopher and Project Manager with the Dutch DOEN Foundation (France), Thais Corral, Social Entrepreneur and Founder of Sinal do Vale (Brazil) and Eda Elif Tibet, Cultural Anthropologist and award winning documentary film maker (Turkey).

In addition to laying the foundation for the Home for Humanity Association, side meetings were held between members of TRANS4M’s Transformative Impact Team – such as Pius Leutenegger, Thais Corral, Rama Mani and Alexander Schieffer – to explore the overall confluence between TRANS4M and Home for Humanity – but organisations seeing to operate in close alignment in the future.

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21 September 2019: Christophe Haesler was awarded his Bachelor’s Degree, with an outstanding Research-to-Innovation on Integral Authentic Education in Switzerland.

Christophe Haesler’s research was submitted under the title of: “AUTHENTICITY IN EDUCATION: A Critical Analysis and Evolution of Trans4m’s Transformative Course “Becoming an Agent of Transformation: Towards Integrated Self Development” as an Integral Curriculum for Young Adults seeking to find their Authentic Voice and contribute to an Authentic Culture in Swiss Society”

His excellent thesis provided a critical analysis of the state of education, in particular tertiary education, in Switzerland. At the heart of Christophe Haesler’s innovation was the development of an Integral Authenticity-in-Education Model – serving to bring about educational formats that foster authenticity, on an individual and cultural level.

This approach was concretely compared and tested with two of TRANS4M’s transformative educational courses at Switzerland’s University of St. Gallen: On Becoming an Agent of Transformation (Integrated Self Development) and Integral Development: Theory and Practice of Future Oriented Development Practice.

His action research contributed significantly to the further evolution of both courses. Furthermore, it provided a framework to critically reflect on the level of authenticity in university courses in general.

Find out more on Christophe’s research-to-innovation here.

CONGRATULATIONS TO CHRISTOPHE FOR THIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

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19 September 2019: One year after graduating in the TRANS4M Da Vinci PhD Program on Integral Development, Max Abouleish receives a prestigious award for his outstanding PhD based research-to-innovation.

 Maximilian Abouleish’s PhD research carries the title “SEKEMsophia: Integral Human, Organisational and Community Development: A Roadmap for SEKEM and Egypt for the 21st Century”. His work not only significantly helped Sekem, the visionary organisation for which Abouleish is working since many years, to develop a new strategic perspective for its next 40 years, it also serves as an inspiration for many other organisations and communities on the path to sustainable development.

We congratulate Maximilian to this potent recognition of his work!

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19 September 2019: Jordanian Arbitrator Sameer AlAbbadi is awarded a PhD in Integral Development, focussing on An Islamic Approach to Justice, Arbitration and Reconciliation.

In his six-year research-to-innovation journey, Sameer AlAbbadi developed a new approach to rapid and low-cost conflict resolution, based on the cultural, philosophical and religious values of his context, Jordan and the Middle East. His research culminated in the establishment of the ICRC Integral Conflict Resolution Center, based in Amman – a center that serves AlAbaddi and his group of local co-researchers and mediation practitioners to continue the research in this field, as well as to establish, disseminate and accelerate a new conflict resolution practice in Jordan.

We congratulate Sameer AlAbbadi to his inspiring achievement, which also contributes strongly to the integral knowledge base in the Middle Easters region and beyond.

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30 June 2019: Together with our Brazilian partner organization and ecovillage Terra Mirim, a Healing Journey took place at Home for Humanity, with a particular focus on working integrally through inner transition processes.

“Making the inner Transition towards outer Transformation” was a uniquely transformative weekend, under the shared leadership of Xamam Alba Maria, founder of Terra Mirim, and Dhan Ribeiro, and co-stewardship by TRANS4M’s Alexander Schieffer and Theatre of Transformation Academy’s Rama Mani.

The healing weekend marked a deepening of the collaboration between Terra Mirim, TRANS4M and Theatre of Transformation Academy. It also allowed both stewarding organisations to expand into new forms of holistic healing and to practically work with Indigenous Knowledge resources from South America on their home campus “Home for Humanity”.

The journey was grounded in the wisdom and knowledge traditions of Brazil, as well as in modern psychology. Throughout, there was deep resonance with Trans4m’s Integral Worlds model and process, as well as with the Theatre of Transformation approach – in that participants were holistically guided through an inner healing process, to increase the capacity for engaging authentically in outer transformation projects and initiatives.

Participants joined from France, Turkey, Kurdistan, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Brazil, Germany and India – which allowed also for the purposeful reflection on major socio-psychological, political, economic and ecological issues participants were dealing with in their respective societies. Participants left with a deepened sense of self and their role in society.

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