Vision
Take part in developing an example of a (local) sustainable lifestyle or community where people live in peace and harmony with themselves, each other, and their environment.
This is the overall vision that drives my work not only for the sake of the diploma program but beyond. The reason why I want to build a true life example is because it’s the best way to bring change into a community. People are only tempted to change when they see a well-functioning alternative, and when applying this alternative is not way beyond their current capacity.
Strategic Goals
Spreading Knowledge on Permaculture:
permaculture provides the philosophy, ethical framework, and practical tools that are all needed for applying the above change. however it is important here to introduce permaculture in a way that will not make it look like an alien for people here. permaculture as a concept or philosophy might seem easy to understand, but absorbing it in full and using it as a tool for change, is something not many will understand and work upon. Change has to start from within, reflect in one’s action and way of living, and only then would have the potential to spread around to others. I know that few people only would fall in this category and spreading permaculture knowledge would help me to meet more and more of them.
Patrix Busting:
without eliminating the unjust system we call Patrix, any change applied will be hollow and will not be able to produce sustainable impact, because the partrix has the power to reproduce its effect through powerful meme. As I held few shallow conversations with people on this issue, I thought of several layers of patrix awareness:
- Some people don’t see it at all and they think that everything is fine because the system works well for them even if it’s not for other. In this category I can find people with high income for example. Many of my work colleagues, including my former supervisor fall in this group. Unfortunately these are the people who have the power and tools to change but maintaining the status quo is what serves their interests.
- Some see that there’s something wrong but can’t see how these aspects are all interrelated nor see the systems that create and maintain them.
- Others see the system with different degrees of clarity, however they believe that nothing can be done to change, only to cope with the gradual degradation.
- And of course there are those who believe that change is possible and have developed various ways out of the system. They have their way clear and have that walked way by different levels.
Promoting Sustainable Solutions to Real-Life Issues
As indicated above, the next step would be applying change in our daily lives and living style, and this will provide a wealth of examples that have the potential to be replicated, especially when solutions applied are more feasible or economic. For example if growing food at home proves to be economic and easy, more people will take this option, therefore spreading knowledge about how to simplify and reduce cost in urban agriculture will be more effective that spreading awareness around its importance. Of course, It’s possible here that people will apply such solutions without convention, without knowing why, therefore spreading knowledge goes hand in hand.
Goals Planned for The Capstone Year
Building my technical and personal capacities as permaculture teacher and designer
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Skills |
Goals |
Indicators |
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Hard skills |
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Urban agriculture |
To grow edible and ornamental plants at home |
-number of plants -techniques used -amount of produce |
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Composting |
To compost kitchen and other organic waste at home |
-amount of compost produced -number of unfavorable incidents (odor, pests…) -reduction in amount of waste produced at home |
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Permaculture design |
To take part in producing a full permaculture design of a site with the help of experts |
1 site is fully designed using permaculture design principles |
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Soft skills |
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Presentation skills |
Receive training to improve my presentation skill Provide presentation on various topics |
-training hours received
-quality of feedback from audience |
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Project management |
Plan, organize and start implementation of the UA project |
- Project plan produced - Core group organized - Project is being implemented |
Apply changes into my life to better reflect my vision
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Goals |
Indicators |
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Growing food at home |
Same as above (urban agriculture) |
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Applying other eco-friendly solutions |
-Money investment |
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Reducing waste produced at home |
Composting organic, re-cycling/ reusing non-organic waste using various ways. |
-Amount of waste produced - Innovative recycling/ reusing ways applied |
Building ties (relationships, partnerships) with like-minded people to work together as group
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Goals |
Indicators |
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Build needed networks with individuals and entities to start the UA project |
# of partners in the UA project:
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Prototyping permaculture in local context
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Goals |
Indicators |
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Good examples are developed and shared |
# of people inspired by this work |
Give help to others in breaking free from the patrix system
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Goals |
Indicators |
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Helping people to see, feel, hate the patrix |
Informing others on the patrix concept using various methods of communication |
-#discussion, conversations -written material |
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Spreading knowledge on techniques that help in breaking away |
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Notes on goals articulation:
- Due to complexity and unpredictable changes of my context, I find it very hard to set defined targets, or to plan beyond on year.
- Some indicators serve more than one goal.
- I see much potential for improving this plan, and hopefully will continue to revisit and tweak over the course of this year, to develop a tool that I can use beyond this programme