Informed citizens

 A recent headline that caught my attention...

Read the full article, published on Down to Earth, which hits the nail on the head, not just about the Ganges and the right way of protecting it, but about everything that we hold important and valuable!

Felt truly good reading the content of this article.  After long, came across the following words, phrases and their interlinkages: curiosity, conservation, nature interpretation, 'the river we see, but don't understand', context-specific content, engagement vs information sharing, informed and engaged public, measuring success beyond buildings, creating connections, the greatest achievement is still not the number of people who walk through their doors, but the transformation that takes place after the visit, informed advocates rather than mere spectators, lasting impact depends on something less visible, but equally important (understanding)...

Personal commitment

 I had another round of discussion with a confrere this morning, again very profound and touching some of the basic issues concerning our Salesian apostolate across the province and in the individual communities.  

One of my primary concerns - was and - is that we Salesians have become numb to the challenges of the youth!  We have found our safe haven in our houses and in our own worlds.  Our commitment to respond to the needs of the youth, is lost when faced with the slightest of discomfort or smallest of a hurdle.  We have basically losing or lost the SPARK!

I truly believe that if I am passionate about working with and for the young, and I notice that there is a challenge which the young people are struggling with - not in the air, but in my vicinity - I will pour out myself, in response to it.  Literally, pour out myself.  I will use every bit of space, every tiny infrastructure, every resource around me, every ounce of my strength and give my best to assist the young or the needy.  I need to 'own' up that challenge, with and for the young.  I will not wait for a mega project to be sanctioned, a new building to be put up, extra space/land to be provided, or someone from somewhere giving me directions as to what to do.  I will just do whatever I can, with whatever I have.  

Without that bit of will, that tiny effort, that initial investment of myself - all of myself - (and the little I have), no amount of money or resources or infrastructure or land or even God himself (by Himself, all alone) can make any meaningful and sustained impact.  

Drops or floods?

 A few years ago there was an itch to engage in new ministries, new types of apostolate and be creative in reaching out those in need.  While the concept in itself looks appealing, there was a lurking danger: the focus was on trying something new, not on the purpose!  

Often we try to multiply or increase the number of services.  But the fact is not about the number of services or the creativity with which we engage in the outreach, although each of them has a significant impact, but about making our outreach impactful.  Rather than do a hundred and one unrelated good things, which do not have a direct impact on the lives of people, which create only a temporary or illusory effect, the attempt to be make our apostolate integral.  Rather than carry out the ministry as piecemeal, or scattered or segmented, the effort should be to make it unified and complementary. 

We do all that we do, with a singular focus and purpose.  Without that primary binding motivation and guiding principle, all our efforts remain scattered and like drops in the desert; while the efforts are proportionate to a flood in a desert!  

Working hard vs Working with a purpose

Jesus' mission of sending out the 72 disciples to the places he himself intended to visit, with the clear instructions as to what to do, and not to do, in practically each and every possible situation has a strange twist to it at the end of that passage.  This is the gospel of the coming Sunday (Luke 10; early verses).  

He sends out the disciples with clear instructions; a specific list of do's and don'ts - a perfect SEPP, with lines of action (as said by Sarath).  However, when they return and recall the great things they were able to achieve, (the evaluation of the same SEPP!!), Jesus states something he has not said a word about earlier! What they have achieved, and for which he congratulates them, is something he never spoke to them about!! 

Jesus tells them not to rejoice because they were able to work miracles, see Satan fall from heaven, heal the sick, cure diseases and what not; rather he tells them to be happy because their names are written in heaven!  Now that's not something he told them about before their departure.  

I take it as a lesson not to get lost in the immediate results or achievements; the petty victories or even the activities we so meticulously plan, implement and are proud of carrying out. The real progress and achievement is in setting in motion a PROCESS; a deep rooted change or IMPACT that works as a ripple effect, well after any of us has stopped working or even left the place altogether.  

The disciples being with Jesus learnt that he was not just DOING good things; there was something deeper and greater he was working at.  When following his steps, they subconsciously fulfilled what he had in mind; now he was calling their attention to becoming conscious of that purpose, while continuing doing the good things! 

Differentiating output, outcome and impact

Attending the workshop on understanding social impact management, I found myself at a loss and some topics going over my head.  Nonetheless I did grasp most of the points about project writing and related matters. Although the last session of the impact management on evaluation and stuff was too nuanced for me to understand. 

However, what surprised me was the availability of resources and methods of conceptualising and articulating a project proposal.  Among the participants, I may have been the only guy who was not from the Planning and developmental (PDO) works sector... although ironically  I'm supposed to be the director of our Province PDO. So quite a bit of it was new for me.  But looking around, I was surprised to see that there were others too who appeared to be hearing these things for the first time. 

One of my learning has been the distinction between output, outcome and impact, especially in the social work area. 

Although at several moments of the workshop I found myself deciding that I should delve more into this, I resisted the temptation. With my plate full and overflowing, I need to first get my act straight before taking up new hobbies!