Other Ways Camp Report

Organized by Phase Five At the Initiatives of Change Center
Asia Plateau, Panchgani October 28-30, 2002

Other Ways Camp was a Phase Five initiative where young people were invited to explore issues of:

• Following One's Heart: enabling the self
• Living with People: Understanding community, democracy, identity, individualism, individuation & fundamentalism
• Looking at the World: understanding nature, environment, development, human history and paradigms
• Making it Work: turning ideas to action

  We believe that this is an experience which every young person today needs, if he/she hopes and desires to be part of a world on his/her own terms. Other Ways Camp was aimed at enabling young people to dream of a better, cleaner world where:

• Negotiation and reconciliation replace conflict and war 
• Social responsibility, entrepreneurial spirit and young leadership cure apathy and fatalism
• Care for the earth stops damage to our environment for short term gains
• Democratic decision making supercedes autocratic control and
• Respect for dissent and a celebration of diversity answer fundamentalism and violence

  The realization arises that such a world is possible and can be created if one can move beyond rigid ways of thinking to explore other paradigms and alternatives. 

About the Camp The camp brought together a group of 23 young people between the ages of 18- 32, from different walks of life. Participants included students and working professionals from Mumbai, Pune, Kashmir and Panchgani. On the morning of the 28th, all 27 of us (including the Phase Five team) were present and ready to take on the ambitious ground to be covered for Other Ways.  Day 1: The central theme running through the first day of the camp was that of Enabling the Self. We believe that in order to understand the scenario in the world today, we need to explore issues concerning ourselves. This is the first step towards self-empowerment. The documentary 'Paradigm Shift' was screened to provoke participants into thinking about different paradigms operating in their lives. The film also brought out the advantages in avoiding fixed views which can constrict our ability to think. Thus, the film laid the ground for understanding how our minds can easily become rigid and also demonstrated the value of having a flexible and open worldview. 

 

Thereafter, uncomfortable questions about taking responsibility for our lives and the 'obligation to fulfill our parents' dreams' and goals were debated, bringing up some relevant concerns and insecurities among the group members. In the afternoon, obstacles that we face in the realization of our plans for ourselves and the ways to resolve them were presented creatively and colourfully by groups who were now warming up to the idea of personal interaction with each other. The concluding session for the day was a 'Story Sharing Session' where participants were divided into smaller groups and they shared important landmarks in their life's journey. Participants brought out issues they were facing and through sharing, each one realized that there are several common issues in their personal struggles and that they can learn together and from each other, thus growing together. Day 2: Living in our communities and our interaction with people was the essence of the second day. We wanted to use a methodology that would combine the practical relevance of a democratic lifestyle and the theoretical processes involved. Participants were divided into three interest groups namely Citizens, Municipality and Industry and were placed in a real life situation which they were to resolve by negotiation. The objectives were to enable participants to explore issues pertaining to the culture of democracy viz. developing consensus, listening, the art of expression, accepting dissent, learning how to negotiate and seeing the benefits in the larger picture. Through the simulation, participants were given feedback by the resource team and were also asked to evaluate for themselves how they functioned as individuals and as a group. This session was concluded with a presentation on how the culture of democracy needs to be integrated in all facets of our life, starting with our homes, personal relationships and the professional realm, and expanding it to local, national and global situations. Thus, it is important to cultivate a culture of democracy at the smallest levels in order to sustain it at the larger levels. The rest of the day was spent in more relaxed outdoor activities; harvesting construction wood from a timber and firewood plantation on the farm. In the evening, we went into the naturally regenerated forest and set up a campfire, sang songs and gelled together as a group.

 

Day 3: The third day's focus was on Worldview, which was condensed into exploring a key factor, 'balance in nature' and its connection with diversity. A Phase Five game called 'Staying Alive' was played to showcase historical trends in human development and to spark a debate about population, resources and sustainability. It did not offer solutions but drew out the differences in living off earth's income (solar energy) versus living off earth's capital (non-renewable resources). It also demonstrated how unrestrained growth has created many of the developmental issues we face today in all spheres ranging from the individual to the social to political and global. Presentations from participants about their organizations paved the way for the final session 'Making It Work'. The idea was to enable participants to look at possibilities of tying up or supporting each other in different ways.

Observations and Conclusions: The camp was also a forum for individuals from various backgrounds and sectors to meet and interact with each other and to explore possibilities of future, long-term supportive relationships. We do not feel that any final and universal answers were evolved during the camp. Yet, a process of reintegration has begun, connecting Self, Society and Planet. The sincerity and investment of each one of those participating in the experience was heart-warming and an indicator of the potential waiting to find expression.

Resource Persons:   Zainab Bawa
                                  Leslie Nazareth
                                  Vinod Sreedhar
                                  Ayesha Ganguly

The medium of communication was mostly English. The camp targeted individuals and groups from the NGO sector, Industry, Education sector, and Media as well as personal contacts. The camp was held at the Initiatives of Change (IC) Center, Asia Plateau, Panchgani. It is located at an altitude of 1300 meters and is owned by the Friends of Moral Re-Armament (MRA India), an educational, charitable Public Trust. IC encourages every individual to find his/her unique contribution to the transformation needed in the world, starting with the self. The scenic beauty of Asia Plateau appeals to the higher aspirations of man. Accommodation and meals were provided to the delegates as part of the camp package.

Feedback

"They dared to question, and be uncomfortable rather than assume convenient answers provided. They could see the absurdity of the worldview that we hold - the matrix. It is a much larger view of the world, less conditioned, more free and flexible."..."Often, you pick up sets of beliefs and experiences that define a complete universe and what you don't agree with, has no place. At Phase Five, I met people who had viewpoints I never thought existed!" 
Abhiskek Thakore, Founder Chairperson, Blue Ribbon Movement 

" ...got a chance to understand my own self which I hardly did before..."
Shazia Kawoos, Programme Coordinator, 'Secure Future, Save the Children', Srinagar

"It helped me look at life in a different perspective." 
Jumana Parkar, Member, Blue Ribbon Movement

" . . .cool simulation but more clarity needed in explaining. . . . will recommend the camp to people but only those who are at the stage where they can get it!"
Abhiskek Thakore, Founder Chairperson, Blue Ribbon Movement 

"Staying Alive and Looking at the World were great sessions. . . . some sessions didactic and shallow. . ."
Gowhar Fazili, founder, SPACE, Srinagar

". . . spread the message. . ."
Altaf Khan, student at the Indian Law School, Pune

". . . more outdoor activities/ other than exploring the inner self you could also provide some counseling . . ."
Sharmila Vaz, Therapist at the Spastics Society India

". . . felt at home and could open up with my personal problems... more physical activity needed..."
Datta Shinde, Sports Coordinator, Spastics Society India

Our Sincere Thanks to:

1. Sir Dorabji Tata Trust - for supporting course fees for 10 students to participate in the camp. 

2. Mr. Shakaran Subramaniam - for supporting course fees for 3 Kashmiri participants from the Valley to participate in the camp. 

3. OXFAM - for supporting the travel of Mr. Gowhar Fazili and Idrees Kanth from Srinagar to Panchgani and back. 

4. MRA Family - for their warm hospitality, active support and belief in Phase Five without which, this camp would not have been possible. 

5. Sheila and Cassian Nazareth - for their support and assistance during the preparatory phase of the camp. 

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