Lifelong Action Learning for Community Development

Learning and Development for a Better World

By Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt and Richard Teare

As a resource to the book ‘Lifelong Action Learning for Community Development’ a Foreword by Sir Paulias Matane and eight videos about the role GULL is playing in rural community development are featured below. The book is available from: Sense Publishers, Specialists in Educational Research Sensepublishers You might also like to Read the book reviewers’ comments.

To view the videos, click on the links below:

1: Recognising the impact of community volunteers 5: How does GULL help to professionalize the process of community mobilization?
2: Personal Viability: Preparing people to be self-reliant and financially independent 6: How does GULL help to recognize the efforts of those leading transformation?
3: The concept of the Grassroots University of Life with GULL 7: How does church & community mobilization (CCM) help to address poverty?
4: Attaining self-reliance 8: How is the CCM process with GULL helping to sustain self-directed development?

Foreword

By His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Paulias Matane, Eighth Governor-General of Papua New Guinea (2004-2010), Founding Chancellor of the Global University for Lifelong Learning, USA.

My lifelong learning journey

Why is this book about lifelong action learning so important? I would like to begin with an illustration from my own life. I was born in 1931 in a remote subsistence community in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea. As both my parents died when I was a young boy, I was raised by my elderly grandparents. My grandfather told me that if I wanted to succeed in life, I had to be focused, have a vision, set an objective, plan for it, and with total honesty, commitment and perseverance, I would reach my goal. I took up my grandfather’s challenge and at the age of over sixteen, I had the opportunity to go to school for the first time. I later became a Teacher, Headmaster, Schools Inspector and then National Superintendent of Teacher Education. After that, I served my country as a Permanent Secretary, an Ambassador, a High Commissioner, as a Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly. On the 26th May, 2004, I was elected as the Eighth Governor-General of Papua New Guinea.

Although my formal learning journey only began when I was a teenager, my dream was to achieve more than my limited educational opportunity would normally permit. The dream became a reality when I discovered for myself the power of lifelong action learning. At the age of 81, my life is still full of action, reflection and learning and my learning journals have been the fruitful resource for the books I have written about many aspects of life. I am currently working on my 49th book.

Enabling YOU to make a difference in OUR world

The story of this book about lifelong action learning and the role of the Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL) began in August 2004 when I first met co-author, Professor Richard Teare in London. I had travelled from Papua New Guinea with my wife for a meeting with Her Majesty the Queen. At that meeting, Richard shared his vision for a practical and inclusive system that would enable the poor and the marginalized (the world’s majority) to experience for themselves, the life-changing potential of action learning. I had previously written on this subject (drawing on my own experience) and so we began a dialogue by email. We explored over a period of several years the ways and means that might be used to enable those without money and qualifications to participate in a new kind of global learning initiative. Richard knew from his own prior experience of academia that we would need a credible alternative to ‘validated’ or ‘accredited’ learning and our solution was to develop a Statement of Recognition that Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, the Founding Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and I could sign and support on behalf of the Nation of Papua New Guinea. Our aim was to provide GULL with a mandate by recognizing its professional award system in perpetuity and you can view the Statement that we signed on 10th April, 2007 in the ‘Recognition’ section at the GULL website. After that, things moved quickly – Richard left paid employment to lead GULL and on Friday, 5th October 2007, the formal launch of GULL took place in the State Function Room at National Parliament House in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea. I am delighted that since then, GULL has been introduced to many countries and in most parts of the world. Now, thousands of people - year on year – use GULL to achieve remarkable outcomes for themselves, their families and communities.

GULL’s process deliberately avoids the need for expensive resources so that anyone can participate. GULL uses the term ‘pathway’ to reflect the fact that lifelong learning is a continuing journey of the human spirit. Above all, we wanted to offer a process that would enable participants to help themselves and then to help others – that is why we adopted the motto ‘Enabling YOU to make a difference in OUR world’. Among the many government ministers and organizational leaders around the world that have endorsed GULL, Sir Howard Cooke, former Governor-General of Jamaica used the most memorable phrase to describe GULL’s work. Richard met Sir Howard at his home in Jamaica in February 2008 and after explaining the concept of GULL, Sir Howard said that he believes that there is a ‘Genius of God’ in each and every person and that GULL’s approach to lifelong action learning would enable every GULL participant to discover and use their own unique ‘genius’ to help themselves and others. This is a concise and powerful summary of GULL’s mission. You can view Richard’s discussion with Sir Howard in the Media section at the GULL website.

Lifelong action learning for community development

This book documents GULL’s dynamic journey since its inception and it draws on rural community applications in developing nations to illustrate the rich diversity of action learning that is enabling economically poor communities to attain self-reliance and financial independence. The theoretical framework is provided by Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt; one of the world’s most respected and experienced writers on action learning. Ortrun and Richard explain and demonstrate how indigenous systems – founded on traditional knowledge and cultures can be integrated with GULL’s pathways. This helps to systemize and professionalize holistic development and by linking outcomes to recognition and certification, large numbers of people – previously excluded from the opportunity to learn – are now able to participate and be recognized for their efforts. This truly is a dream come true!

This book is the first in what I hope will become a series of books that explain and illustrate the endless ways of engaging with communities. Its focus on engaging with rural communities in developing nations draws on GULL’s work in Papua New Guinea with the highly regarded ‘Personal Viability’ system and from a multi-country application in East Africa. The second case study illustrates how a process called ‘Church and community mobilization’ is enabling hundreds of economically poor communities in East Africa to become self-reliant. A novel feature of the book is the wide range of accompanying resources that are freely available from the GULL website. They include eight videos - recorded specifically to support this book - featuring the voices and stories of GULL participants, indigenous system developers and analysts.

I am personally thrilled by GULL’s progress – a non-profit network movement that is principally designed for, and is being embraced by, the poor and marginalized people that share our fragile and interconnected planet. The reader should know that all proceeds from this book will be used to develop GULL’s work at grassroots level. I am also proud of the fact that GULL’s mandate originates in Papua New Guinea – this is our gift to the world.

I know that you will be encouraged, challenged and motivated by this book and after you have read it, I urge you to consider how you might collaborate with GULL and deploy its lifelong action learning methodology in support of the communities that you serve. This would be a very effective way of enabling YOU to make a difference in OUR world.

Paulias Matane
Kokopo, East New Britain, Papua New Guinea December, 2012.

Video resources in support of the book ‘Lifelong Action Learning for Community Development’:

 

Video 1: Recognising the impact of community volunteers
From Chapter 3: Building a case for evidence-based learning

 

 

 

The World Vision with GULL video was recorded in Kenya, East Africa during 2011. The video also contains additionally material supplied by GULL.

Further details about the collaboration between World Vision and the Global University for Lifelong Learning can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘World Vision International’ and the video: ‘Recognising the impact of community volunteers’ in chapter 6 of the online Case Study

Video 2: Personal Viability: Preparing people to be self-reliant and financially independent
If we give you fish, we feed you for one day. If we teach you how to fish, we feed you for life
From Chapter 4: Personal Viability – The journey to self-reliance and financial independence

 

 

 

This Personal Viability (PV) with GULL video was recorded in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea in November, 2011.

Further details about the collaboration between Personal Viability (PV) and the Global University for Lifelong Learning can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘Pacific Islands’ and the video: ‘Voices – 4 Personal Viability’ in chapter 1 of the online Case Study.

Video 3: Grassroots University of Life: Preparing people to be self-reliant and financially independent
If we give you fish, we feed you for one day. If we teach you how to fish, we feed you for life
From Chapter 4: Personal Viability – The journey to self-reliance and financial independence

 

 

 

This Personal Viability (PV) with GULL video was recorded in Mount Hagen, Western Highlands, Papua New Guinea in November, 2011.

Further details about the collaboration between Personal Viability (PV) and the Global University for Lifelong Learning can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘Pacific Islands’ and the video: ‘Voices – 5 Grassroots University of Life’ in chapter 1 of the online Case Study.

Video 4: Attaining self-reliance
From Chapter 4: Personal Viability – The journey to self-reliance and financial independence

 

 

 

This Personal Viability (PV) with GULL video was recorded in the Lihir Islands, Papua New Guinea in September, 2012.

Further details about the collaboration between Personal Viability (PV) and the Global University for Lifelong Learning can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘Pacific Islands’ and the video: ‘Voices – 6 Attaining self-reliance’ in chapter 1 of the online Case Study.

Video 5: How does GULL help to professionalize the process of church and community mobilization?
From Chapter 5: Church and Community Mobilization – A process for transformational development

 

 

 

This video was recorded in Kajo Keji, South Sudan in January, 2012.

Further details about how the Global University for Lifelong Learning supports Church and Community Mobilization can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘Church & Community Mobilization’ and the video: ‘Professionalizing community mobilization’ in chapter 4 of the online Case Study.

Video 6: How does GULL help to recognize the efforts of those who are leading transformation?
From Chapter 5: Church and Community Mobilization – A process for transformational development

 

 

 

This video was recorded in South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya in January, 2012.

Further details about how the Global University for Lifelong Learning supports Church and Community Mobilization can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘Church & Community Mobilization’ and the video: ‘Recognizing the mobilizers’ in chapter 4 of the online Case Study.

Video 7: How does the church and community mobilization process (CCMP) with GULL help the church, the community and others to address poverty?
From Chapter 5: Church and Community Mobilization – A process for transformational development

 

 

 

This video was recorded in South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya in January, 2012.

Further details about how the Global University for Lifelong Learning supports Church and Community Mobilization can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘Church & Community Mobilization’ and the video: ‘Addressing poverty’ in chapter 4 of the online Case Study.

Video 8: How is the church and community mobilization process (CCMP) with GULL helping to sustain and widen the impact of self-directed development?
From Chapter 5: Church and Community Mobilization – A process for transformational development

 

 

 

This video was recorded in South Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya in January, 2012.

Further details about how the Global University for Lifelong Learning supports Church and Community Mobilization can be found at the GULL website in the ‘Case Studies’ section. See: ‘Church & Community Mobilization’ and the video: ‘Sustaining self-directed development’ in chapter 4 of the online Case Study.

Njelango, Jonas W. (2012), "Church and Community Mobilisation process Return on Investment Tracking System/Tools – The case of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sudan and South Sudan", Unpublished Doctor of Professional Studies thesis, Global University for Lifelong Learning, USA, January 2012. This report be can viewed below.

Jonas W Njelango GULL D Prof report, January 2012.pdf - Download PDF
 
© GULL | Global University for Lifelong Learning
Enabling YOU to make a difference in OUR world