OPEN
EXCHANGE: AN INTERVIEW WITH PIERRE RICHARD
What
does “Honor/Respect” mean in Haitian culture?
The
“Honor/Respect” concept is a part of everyday life in Haitian
culture. It's a way to be nice, to show politeness. But we
must recognize that the real meaning of honor/respect goes
much beyond mere politeness. Someone can be polite to me but
that doesn't mean they respect me. Words alone are inadequate.
Respect must be supported by action. It can be as simple as
listening attentively when someone speaks. Cutting her off
before she's finished speaking shows disrespect. In Haitian
culture, the equivalent of “Hi” when greeting someone is not
adequate for showing respect, especially if you're in the
countryside. “How did you sleep?” “How is your family?” “How
is your garden?” are questions that must be asked with a readiness
to listen to the responses.
You've
been using the Open Space approach in your work for years.
Why?
The
Open Space approach—with the way it invites everyone to come
together as equals, create the itinerary, and participate
in discussions—is a twin of honor/respect. It's a tool that
nourishes the value that honor/respect articulates. I've chosen
it as my approach because it helps people to develop virtues.
Human beings are filled with virtues, yet life's difficulties
can chase these virtues into hiding. When virtues hide, we
fail to demonstrate the respect and honor that we should have
for others. My background in psychology and sociology has
me continually asking, “How do I help people to discover their
value, their virtues?”
In my work with Productive Cooperatives of Haiti,
my job is to help people to discover their own capacity. A
key strategy for this is to help them to find their voice
in public, to feel comfortable expressing their ideas. Attentive
listening encourages this.
How
have you used Open Space recently?
One
of our largest agricultural cooperatives had been experiencing
conflict. A number of members failed to use well money they
had borrowed—and they were delinquent in repayment. We simply
convened people in Open Space on the theme of “How can our
cooperative better serve its members?” One hundred and fifty
participated in the daylong meeting. They made progress, but
unfinished work remained and they decided to stay for another
day. Word spread and more members came on the second day.
With numerous people present who couldn't read or write, I
opened the second day meeting of nearly 300 members using
an Open Space approach where everything is done orally, with
no writing whatsoever. The meeting resulted in clear commitments
by all who were in default of their loans to pay them back
by an agreed upon date, as well as with a plan of action for
how others in the cooperative would help them to succeed.
Respecting payback deadlines has been the longer-term outcome
of that particular Open Space meeting.
What
are your thoughts about Haiti's current political situation?
The
central question is this, “How is Haiti going to resolve her
political problems in a sustainable way?” The good news is
that politicians are talking about the need for national dialogue.
At the same time, they are not proposing a way for accomplishing
that. It is crucial that they come up with concrete ways to
demonstrate their respect for the country's citizens and also
engage the collective creativity and wisdom toward moving
the country forward. Open Space provices a way to do this.
Pierre
Richard, coordinator of member skills for Productive Cooperatives
Haiti (PCH), regularly employs Open Space methodology in his
work, which is one of the leadership tools promoted by Beyond
Borders. His work involves using participatory learning approaches
that enable participants to develop as both teachers and learners.
He has twenty years of experience in literacy and adult education,
and has published numerous books and curriculum material for
literacy programs. Pierre's father had extensive knowledge
of the medicinal properties of plants and was the local herb
doctor in their village, but when he died this information
was lost, because he never learned to read or write. Pierre
has four daughters and lives in Port-au-Prince.
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