than ever that this was my work, and struggled to focus on the semester of study I had left in Auckland, as my heart was yearning to run out and start building and creating.
importance of finding the delicate balance between form and freedom that is needed for such an initiative to meet the current needs of the world.
Meanwhile, throughout the years, another pathway had been quietly beckoning me toward distant shores. The sparkle in their eyes, the passion in their voices, and the amazing tools and techniques they carried meant participants of YIP had long-since convinced me that when the time was right I too would find myself studying there. Was that time now upon me? I still carried the same deep enthusiasm and dedication for my vision, but also carried a fear that I could lose the impulse if I did not act immediately. Eventually, I decided to harness my strong inner will and steer it towards the thinking and preparation of the vision, rather than straight into outward action, in order to create a really sturdy and sound foundation. YIP was to be my time of ‘finger exercises’, the practice of preparing myself for the challenges to come by initially accepting some smaller and more manageable ones. So, suddenly I found myself in Ytterjärna, Sweden, surrounded by 40 amazing young people from 18 different countries, all carrying unique and exciting new questions, callings and impulses. YIP quickly surpassed my wildest dreams of what I thought ‘formal study’ could be. I am repeatedly inspired and humbled by the enormous strength, radiance and authenticity which everyone involved in YIP carries. I can happily report that it feels quite clear that this is perfect culture for the ongoing development of my vision, and the numerous questions, ideas and initiatives that are related to it.
Looking forward now, I have many exciting projects planned in relation to this vision. I will work with a focusgroup over the next six months to continue to research and develop the vision further, and, in the process, create a business-friendly plan for its future implementation. In February, I will also be spending a one month internship in Kathmandu, Nepal, at the Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco Foundation(KRMEF) that Rosa Henderson wrote so beautifully about in the last issue of Sphere. Their current focus is on building a Home and Waldorf Kindergarten for underprivileged children and orphans from the local area, and a group of us from YIP are helping them raise the significant funding required to purchase the land and building materials required. Our hope is that we can help them meet their funding requirements by the middle of February, and that the five of us that will be interning there will be able to participate in the beginning of the building work for the new home. I am immensely looking forward to this experience, having never travelled in the Asian Continent before, while having spent so much of my studies researching the ways of the ancient Vedic peoples. Furthermore, I feel that it will be very relevant to developing my vision further, as I believe there are many similarities between the two initiatives, for as Rosa reported in her piece about KRMEF, their vision is about “striving towards a healthy, sustainable, vibrant and inclusive model village.” Furthermore, during my time there, I hope to learn not only practical skills around ecological building techniques, healthcare and biodynamic farming, but also more about what the key qualities and tools are which create a strong and healthy community and social sphere.
This dream has contributed greatly to my YIP experience (and vice-versa), and the search for practical application led me and others on an amazing and unforeseeable journey. What follows is a brief description of just one of those journeys: I initially held a ‘open-space’ discussion around possible ways to create or influence ‘Social Cultural Community Spaces’. From that discussion came many suggestions, a lot of them based on the idea of ‘random acts of kindness, as a way to wake people from the slumber and repetition of daily life.’ Another suggestion that came up was helping integrate in some way the largely segregated Middle-Eastern Immigrants, a large proportion of whom lived in what is known as the worst ghetto in Sweden, not far from where we study. Finally, the group that had formed to work on this question decided on using the ‘Oasis Game’ methodology we had learned earlier in the year (that is, a week-long exercise to strengthen and empower a community in a way that is fast, free and fun!). We discussed where and with whom we would want to work, and after seeking the advice and opinion of many different people, the opportunity arose to work with the Class 8 aged pupils from the school in the aforementioned ghetto nearby. After six busy weeks of meetings, research, presentations, trials, reconnaissance missions, more meetings, and a bit of fun, we stood in a circle with the 50 students and let The Game begin. Although this week turned out to be more rewarding than it was challenging, the challenges were indeed significant, and a great learning opportunity for everybody involved. The most rewarding aspect of The Game was not what the students created, although it was indeed spectacular. What really amazed us was that we achieved in one small week, our entire vision; to break through stereotypes, bring people together, enhance belief in the self and community, create co-operation within the community, and all in a manner that was fast, free and fun! One of the biggest lessons that I can take from this experience is the
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Finally, in April, YIP hosts Initiative Forum 2012, aimed at providing a space for support, inspiration, collaboration and networking for those working for sustainable positive change in the world. I have been involved primarily in helping develop the content or framework for this event. This project also relates strongly to my vision, and the idea of creating a launching platform for such initiatives on a more local setting, that also acted as an example of what is possible when we work with each other, for each other. Today I stand at the half-way point of YIP, and although I do not yet have a finished business plan, or a location or building set aside, things are certainly taking shape very fast for what YIP calls the personal Initiative. In actual fact, I have found myself having to practise patience and restraint with this work, as I sense that to create too much form and structure would be as harmful as having too little, for it would cease to be alive and adapting to the needs of the world. Although I am now lucky enough to have an amazing group of friends and support from all over the world, I would love to hear from anyone in Aotearoa who is passionate about this vision, or has ideas or questions they would like to share with me. Thomas Burton has actively participated in the Youth Gatherings in New Zealand. He can be reached by email at: thomas@youthsection.org.nz 1. Sawubona is a Zulu greeting which means ‘we see you’, and for me represents the understanding I have that we can all achieve our highest dreams, and when we knowledge this in ourselves and others, powerful changes will occur.