The Women of Africa Forum:The Women of Africa Forum:

A Changemakers CafeA Changemakers CafeNovember 5, 2009November 5, 2009

The Women of Africa as Agents of Social Transformation:

A Global Community Conversation

FebruaryFebruary MayMay NovemberNovember

Invitation to Invitation to engageengage to: to:

One-on-one &One-on-one &Roundtable Roundtable discussionsdiscussions of: of:

Women of Women of Africa ForumAfrica Forum on: on:

-connect people-connect people-share -share experienceexperience-explore themes-explore themes-develop -develop understandingunderstanding-catalyze bold -catalyze bold actionaction

-best experiences-best experiences-conditions that made -conditions that made them possible -core of them possible -core of women as agents of women as agents of social transformationsocial transformation-actions to reinforce -actions to reinforce that corethat core

-stories-stories-emerging -emerging themesthemes-catalytic -catalytic questionsquestions

-questions that -questions that mattermatter-bold steps -bold steps toward a better toward a better futurefuture

CONNECTIONCONNECTION COLLECTIVE COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCEINTELLIGENCE

CHANGECHANGE

Essentials of Social Transformation

…is power. Women draw strength from numbers and are naturally inclusive and networkers.

…allow freedom to think, to speak to act to create a better future.

…makes it possible for people to realize their potential.

catalyzes action.

Welcome to the World CaféWelcome to the World Café

Shaping our futures through conversations that Shaping our futures through conversations that mattermatter

Allowing exploration of needs, hopes and Allowing exploration of needs, hopes and expectations through strategic conversations expectations through strategic conversations across traditional boundariesacross traditional boundaries

Creating authentic conversation that deepens a Creating authentic conversation that deepens a group’s thinking and evokes collaborative group’s thinking and evokes collaborative intelligence using the mind and the heartintelligence using the mind and the heart

Process OverviewProcess Overview

Conversations around proposed question at table for 20 Conversations around proposed question at table for 20 minutesminutes

Use paper and pens at table in any way you see fit to Use paper and pens at table in any way you see fit to capture thoughts, ideas, images, etc.capture thoughts, ideas, images, etc.

Designate a host to stay at your table and share the Designate a host to stay at your table and share the conversation with new groupsconversation with new groups

After twenty minutes each person, other than the host After twenty minutes each person, other than the host moves to a new table to continue the conversationmoves to a new table to continue the conversation

We will have two rounds of discussion, followed by a We will have two rounds of discussion, followed by a wrap-upwrap-up

DirectionsDirections

At the end of the conversation- hand raisingAt the end of the conversation- hand raising Please sit at a table with no one from previous Please sit at a table with no one from previous

groupgroup Please take time to introduce yourself to the first Please take time to introduce yourself to the first

and new groups and share what you are bringing and new groups and share what you are bringing from other conversations to the tablefrom other conversations to the table

Question For DiscussionQuestion For Discussion

What must change for more of What must change for more of Africa’s women to act as Africa’s women to act as

agents of social agents of social transformation?transformation?

Question For DiscussionQuestion For Discussion

How might we act on our How might we act on our passions in solidarity “with”, passions in solidarity “with”,

rather than “on” or “for”, African rather than “on” or “for”, African people to spark positive people to spark positive

change?change?

Moving to actionMoving to action

What are you personally going to What are you personally going to do differently?do differently?

Moving to actionMoving to action

What bold steps can we take What bold steps can we take together that will move us together that will move us toward the future we want?toward the future we want?

Moving to actionMoving to action

What do you want to do?What do you want to do?

Moving to actionMoving to action

What unique contribution can What unique contribution can we each make?we each make?

How can we support each How can we support each other?other?

What do we do next?What do we do next?

Moving to actionMoving to action

What are you excited about?What are you excited about?

A gift from Diana Dayaka Osei, A gift from Diana Dayaka Osei, Ashesi University, GhanaAshesi University, Ghana

““Please find attached to this e-mail a Please find attached to this e-mail a creation of mine, a song entitled Ubuntu*. I creation of mine, a song entitled Ubuntu*. I wrote and recorded Ubuntu in response to wrote and recorded Ubuntu in response to the Song Competition organized by the Song Competition organized by CEGENSA in July this year. The task was to CEGENSA in July this year. The task was to write an empowering song about women write an empowering song about women and gender issues. I was inspired to write and gender issues. I was inspired to write my song after reading Professor Ogundipe’s my song after reading Professor Ogundipe’s book. I am happy to share Ubuntu with you. book. I am happy to share Ubuntu with you. Thank you.”Thank you.”

UbuntuUbuntu

*Ubuntu is a Nguni/indigenous *Ubuntu is a Nguni/indigenous word…translated fully it is word…translated fully it is supposed to be a local maxim that supposed to be a local maxim that one’s humanity is implicated in that one’s humanity is implicated in that of the other. If you do not treat a of the other. If you do not treat a person as a human being, then that person as a human being, then that means you are not human. means you are not human.

Professor Professor Molara OgunkipeMolara Ogunkipe