It’s not over yet! Using Open Space Technology to promote Literacy in Haiti

by John Engle

It was about 4:00 p.m. in a large classroom in a run-down university building in downtown Port au Prince, Haiti. There were 38 people sitting on school chairs in the closing circle after a day of Open Space. The group, which represented more than 25 different institutions and associations, convened at 9:00 am on the theme, “Literacy and Alternative Education.” In the spirit of the native American talking stick ritual, the famous Tibetan chimes were being passed from one person to the next--Haitians, several Canadians and Americans, and an Australian.

About half way through the circle, and probably 10-12 minutes of thoughtful and constructive comments, the chimes were placed into the hands of a white Haitian. Normally, “white Haitian” signifies class of privilege. Sad to say, that it is not the norm for people of privilege to be sitting, discussing literacy with people from the popular class, and NGO people. Many present were curious as to who she was.

This participant took the chimes into her hands and looked directly at Eddy Sterlin, my Haitian co-worker, and a young man of 30 from the popular class. He had facilitated this day of pure Open Space. “When you first started talking this morning, I was sure you were going to be a rotten facilitator. I was wrong. I wish to congratulate you. This was a very unique experience.” She finished speaking and began clapping. All the rest of us joined in, expressing gratitude to Eddy. Though Eddy has much leadership experience, this was the first time he had facilitated pure Open Space.

The chimes passed through more hands and mutual appreciation. Sister Liz, a well-known educator and advocate for literacy used the power granted her with the chimes to invite all present to a meeting on post-literacy in two weeks. The people in her breakout session on post literacy decided “it wasn’t over” even though time allotted was up. Almost two years later, they still don’t think it’s over. They still meet faithfully, the second Friday of each month from 1:00 to 5:00. People representing more than 20 organizations have involvement with this network that they’ve named GRAPSA (Reflection and Action Group - Post Literacy). Currently, they are working on a guidebook for teachers that are involved in post-literacy efforts.

This is one of many Open Space meetings in which I’ve been privileged to participate over the years with colleagues and co-workers in the U.S., Haiti, and France. Here are some of the themes of other Open Space meetings that we’ve facilitated: “Building Organizational Capacity and Gaining Local Participation,” “The Development of the island of Lagonav,” “Working for a US/Haiti policy which supports democracy, justice, and equitable development,” “Building shared vision in working for justice and peace in Haiti,” “Popular Education,” “Developing a Five Year Plan for our Social-Cultural Center.” Numbers of people who participated in these meetings range from 22 to 75.

At Beyond Borders, a Philadelphia based non-profit, and sister organization Limyè Lavi, a Haitian Foundation, we are using pure and modified Open Space Technology to promote collaboration among diverse organizations and sectors who are interested in, or working toward improvement in Haiti. We are also using it to manage our two organizations and to manage our relationships with our partner organizations in Haiti, who receive funding from us. Last September was our first attempt to use pure Open Space for the Beyond Borders’ annual meeting. Aside from board members, staff, and associates, there were 20 additional people present who either contribute finances and/or time to our cause.

When we formed Beyond Borders and Limyè Lavi in 1993, we decided to experiment with a non-hierarchical staff structure. The staff in Haiti and in the US are accountable to their respective board. But there is no one person over another among the staff. Organizational decisions are made by consensus. We researched meeting models, which might help us to navigate this unknown terrain. We came upon Open Space and have found it to be incredibly useful.

So what is it that we’re trying to accomplish here? Last week during a discussion, Eddy Sterlin carefully articulated, “We’re participating in developing a new type of leadership, especially in the domain of development and education.” Perhaps more in two-thirds world countries than anywhere, externally funded development work and education function in a milieu steeped with hierarchy and exclusiveness. Another co-worker, Steven Werlin, amused himself with his professor lingo and slid these words through a grin, “this is a collaborative practicum in leadership.”

Whatever it is, there seem to be a whole bunch of us investing in it. In collaboration with several local institutions, we are piloting an alternative educational methodology called Wonn Refleksyon. It is very complementary to Open Space. Breakout sessions go smoother and can be more constructive with people who participate in Touchstones. We are also working with the Rotary Club of Petion-Ville Haiti and other Rotary clubs to further literacy. Here again, we are piloting a particular methodology where the teacher is more of a facilitator and the participants have greater power and responsibility in the learning process.

Open Space meetings are a core strategy for carrying out these two pilot projects. We will be bringing together 30 to 70 people, the actors in these programs, for one, two and three day meetings every two to three months during the next year. Imagine the impact that a regular dose of Open Space is going to have on practitioners of these complimentary educational methods. Teachers in Haiti especially need to be modeling “a new type of leadership” to the ever-growing population of Haitian children.