Simply Nirvana

Working in Kenya, I’ve gotten real about corruption. It’s a patronage business model. When compared with the capitalist business model, patronage occurs as corruption.

Kenya directly invests money in constituencies through a Community Development Fund (CDF). While giving workshops in Karachuonyo Constituency, I noticed that the majority of CDF projects were unfinished. Viewing this from my investment mindset, I saw egregious abuses of capital.

One day, while looking at the four walls of a long-stalled classroom project, with a flash of clarity, I suddenly saw what the community saw, the patrons had not forgotten their village. Sure, the classroom was unusable, but that wasn’t the point. The four walls represented the village had not been forgotten by its elders [patrons]. Turns out, CDF monies are, in fact, a “Cake Distribution Fund.”

In Kenya, everyone wants to know their elders have included them in the distribution of rents/the sharing of the cake. Given they also know themselves as poor, little fish, they are happy with crumbs. Big Fish [elders] get to eat first. They can have as much as they want. When they are done eating, everyone else shares the leftovers.

Capitalists don’t get it about corruption. We don’t see it for what it is. When we do, we can get development done.

Occasionally, one of Global Community Africa’s team members, Aristarchus Munish, puts his thoughts into an email to me. I cherish these communications.

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Monday, January 26, 2009 11:45 AM

Hello,

Hope this mail finds you well. Hope your days have been really refreshing.

Yesterday, on my way from church I met a friend of mine and as usual asked me how I was faring. My response to him was “I’ve never been any more better than now!” That response deeply struck him because it was far much from deep beyond my lips. And it came with an accompaniment of immense joy, satisfaction and stress-free - engulfed by a huge presence of greatness. My friend has known me for quite some time and knows such a time of the year, many people would be lamenting the financial hard times. He would expect a story that goes something like “well, I’m still struggling as usual”, or “you see, things are really tough nowadays”, or even “the going is getting tougher”, and so the story would go. These are all statements I’ve heard from many a people and also they are statements I used to make some time back. They are the usual statements for people leading a usual life. I no longer belong there. I find myself somehow sheltered from such turmoils and torments of difficult times. Never in my entire life have I enjoyed such great peace of mind, great courage and confidence, such serenity and abundant comfort, than what I’m going through.Yes, not even ever during my greatest achievements nor my finest moments have I experienced such a renewed flow of life in my life! It’s like I’ve just opened my mental eyes to behold the treasure house of infinity within me - to live gloriously, joyously and abundantly.

The month of January is particularly challenging.The unemployed are faced with a myriad and frustrating nightmares of coping with life without a coin. This is coming at such a time when, making a shilling and getting ahead are the preferred ethos of our times. It’s against this old paradigm that my response to my friend caught his attention.My “I’ve never been more better than now” response was like, in a sense, an island of tolerance in a sea of intolerance. Ah, what our alternative thinking training has done to me is turning out to be more unthinkable, even awesome. It gives one the master key and power to access and smash through the mental roadblocks that sabotage ones future. I keep on inviting many to align their minds to and harmoniously vibrate with the universe - the reservoir of all greatness. The timing can never be more apt than now.

Over the years, Kenyan society has learned and mastered the dependency culture. But the mastery of this culture has left many disillusioned and desperate. Many appear stressed and fatigued - a demeanor highly incongruous with their environments. The mindset of poverty on display is even more alarming. Nevertheless, what is more relieving is the power of transformation contained in alternative thinking training which a few people within my area are grasping.

Following the December 2007 election and the subsequent violence in Kenya early last year, majority of the “losers” and their “followers” were utterly disappointed. This was evident through the disintegration of the community. One of the civic candidates, who is a friend of mine once approached me and vowed “never to go back in politics and never to involve himself in any community affairs”. Because “I’ve tried to show this community the right direction but they have refused”, he added. Well, this moved me. I looked at him and asked him to tell me what he intended to do once elected but felt he couldn’t achieve now that he was not elected. “I would have constructed roads in our ward, built schools, put up a lighting system”, etc. Then I asked him whether he was sure he couldn’t accomplish all that without necessarily becoming a councilor. He shouted at me “but how can I do all that when I’m not in power and can’t access the (government) resources to implement the projects?” This gave me an opportunity to share with him the concept of alternative thinking and most importantly the “Work”. What a transformational journey! I told him that it’s not about positions, because the fulfillment of our resolutions lies not on what we want to do , but rather, in who we choose to be. My words led him to a pensive mood, his facial expressions changing from that of a bold and cunning politician to a warm smile of a little kid.

Our conversations kept growing with time. We would meet at most of our evenings and further share. I felt enlightened whenever I listened to what he was going through. The more we shared the more he re-examined himself, and the more he developed a strong sense of commitment towards the community! And the last 3 months bears witness of this simple yet powerful moments we’ve had with him. Through the sharing, he has managed to put together a group of 560 people, with no no age, gender, tribe, class or even religion barriers. The group keeps growing.

Though the objective of the welfare group is to support one another through contributions, it is becoming more interesting whenever I share with them about our alternative thinking training. It’s fulfilling to see how, not after long, those who people who appeared perpetually stressed, depressed and repressed, now taking charge of their own lives. And better still, how they keep themselves mentally self-sufficient, self-poised and self-pleased.

Initially, the group intended to recruit members from within its own ward. But barely 3 months down the line, people come a long way to join this increasingly fun-filled ‘market of ideas” - and the cash tills keep ringing! With a monthly contribution of only Kenya shillings 300,there is a new sense of responsibility. It is gradually dawning to us all that we should stop expecting that the onus for changing our destiny rests with those responsible for our hopelessness. Initiatives like building schools, earlier left to the government, are now topping the priority list which now the community feels is their role to upgrade the learning standards of the area. The experience of watching this community arise and rise, and cross ranks, with the slogan “Together we can” is novel entertaining in itself. I’m overwhelmed when I hear statements like “Oh, so we had reduced ourselves to cry-babies over issues that are largely within our control!”

Change of mind set, what a breakthrough!

Much love.

Munish.

Monday, December 22, 2008 11:45 AM
From: “aristarchus munish”
To: “nirvana cable”

—–Inline Attachment Follows—–

Hallo,
There are moments and there are unforgettable moments! My life has been characterized by good and bad moments. And I thank God for all - all these are great moments! But my life in GCA is gradually turning into a series of unforgettable moments. Over the weekend I had reflections of my life but the most inviting reflection is, of course, the journey I started since the first GCA training at Methodist. This training led me straight into my greatest discovery of all times - the Power of our Minds! That discovery stands out and remains the most significant mark between the “old me” and the “new me”. And despite going through challenging times, just as I went through in my earlier days, the training led me from the all time “I CAN’T DO” mentality to “I CAN DO” attitude. I’m having a mind focusing on abudance instead. More refreshing is the sweet realization that by harnessing the power of your mind, you’ll create, a life filled with more passion, excitement, confidence and joy. For this, Nirvana, I appreciate your training and continued coaching with all the humility I command.

Every single encounter with you leaves a permanent mark in my life. All my interactions with you ignite a new spirit in me and leave me more hopeful. Of particular interest, though, is your capability to “see” beyond our cosmetic behaviors deep into the real thing. More than once I’ve witnessed you lead people (myself included) into looking to areas of their lives they would never like looking into, and the result?, profound discoveries and refreshing revelations leading to healing. Your expertise in “digging” into the “no-go-zones” of people’s lives for healing has always been an admiration to me. Yes, the art of paying attention to the under-the-table communication is one great key to transformation. And you are a guru for this. Our society, and the world over, must need this experience, for until we master it, the world will continue suffering. Ah, God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform. He couldn’t let the world contiunue suffering!

I’ve realized that everyone has an area in their life they never want to visit. But I’m disturbed that little do they know that it’s through visiting and viewing this area of their lives that they will get unstuck. It is always uncomfortable to look into this area, thus a muscle, a new muscle has to be developed. My experience in looking into one of the areas of my life when we were at Karachuonyo remains a great victorious moment in my life. The process was very painful and at some time I felt embarassed. I felt like I could run away and hide myself. I felt tortured. I felt like I was stripped naked infront of people. Oh, I felt the world was crushing on me. But all in all I’m glad it helped me detach myself from a heavy burden that I’ve dragged around with me. It gave me access to a sweet freedom - to speak freely. That I no longer need to watch my boundaries for just I need to be who I am. This is a completely new life for me. It not only requires courage but unreserved willingness to go through this. That unforgettable moment that presented itself in ugly fashion has to translate into the redemption of the Kenyan communities from the suffocating grip of the culture of silence and mistrust.

As the year comes to an end, I must express my gratitudes to all the drivers of our course. From our generous partners to our commtted team, I say God bless you. Without this team, this day may never have been. I thank each and every one of them.

Regards.

Astonishing what happens when self-proclaimed “poor” people examine their thinking! Complete tear jerker when people realize their “I am poor” belief has kept them in bondage for decades.

Date: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:46:58 +0300
From: “aristarchus munish”
To: Nirvana Cable
Subject: Just a few Thoughts

Hallo,

Hope you (and Sussie) had a restful weekend. Mine was restful but rather thoughtful.

I have had an opportunity to reflect on our 3 week or so time together. And it has been fascinating.

When you jetted into Kenya 3 weeks or so ago one thing was clear to you: that though your other visits to Kenya you have always been clear of what you wanted to do, this time round you were not clear! This indeed surprised me. For the period I have known you, I have known you for your clarity in whatever you want to do. Amidst that uncertainty, you began to engage us in conversations which has seen us land into many opportunities. Whenever I pose to reflect on all these, I can’t help but deduce that your lack of clarity of what you wanted to do meant you were open to any (new) possibilities, and so it has turned, this far! Day after day, many and great gates have opened before us - UNIDO, Department of Culture, Ass. Minister (National Heritage), MP’s, Executive Director - NGO Coordination Board, etc. All had positive responses. What a high level of deals!

So now, is transformation possible? Or simply put, is poverty eradication possible? I have asked and answered this question many a times. All my answers have been on the affirmative. But is poverty eradication really possible? I have had my doubts. But I am now very confident that this goal is achievable. I say Yes with confidence. What I have witnessed in the past few weeks has cast away any shadow of doubt. First,our meetings with high-profile people has cleared any “ifs” from me, for if we manged to attract the most unexpected within such a short time, then poverty can also be made history within an equally short time. Secondly, your constant and confident reminder to us to think and act as though we have everything we need (dreaming into existence) has made me see a new Kenya within reach, sooner.

Third, our trip to Budalangi was rich in lessons. In a number of ways it reminded me of where I was a year ago. The first time I heard you say you are heeding God’s call to end poverty, I sat, at the room, awash with doubts on the feasibility of a “poverty-free” Kenya.This same feeling was portrayed in all the trainings we conducted. One very clear example is during our second training (On Saturday at 2pm) at Bunyala East.The poverty mindset was so manifest and entrenched into the minds of the people to an epic and disturbing degree. I felt terrified. Repeatedly, they refused to entertain a mere imagination of being rich! Oh no, not at their present times.I remember the incidence of the lady you called in front and took her through the “turn-around” questions. She [severely] resisted the imagination of how life would be to her when she is rich. It sounded as though in her life she has never met someone who would have such a conversation with her. And definitely she represented many similar and stubborn mindsets in the room (and perhaps in Kenya).

Another superb example was a man who constantly shook his head and softly kept saying “it can’t happen” whenever you asked “imagine how life would be like when you have all you need.” And surprisingly, when you told them if there was any who believed there is no poverty to follow you outside, they did so, including the man who perhaps to him it dawned that it possible to be rich. I was particularly impressed by how the “pastor” grasped the lesson especially during the turn-around questions. Truly, it was a training which introduced them into an entire new world.

Fourth, whenever poverty is mentioned, just no other answer is acceptable or tolerable. Any doubts, and those of Kenyan people too, can be put to rest by careful evaluation of the mindset training. The same Budalangi team responded quite differently in our third training (Monday, 10am), with them embracing the concept and putting it into practice. And what a timely moment it was to introduce the Truth and Reconciliation training! This reminds me of Winston Churchill’s words:

To look is one thing, to see what you look is another. To understand what you see is another. To learn from what you understand is something else. But to ACT on what you learn is all that matters.

All what they wanted is someone to encourage them; all they wanted is somebody to say, “yes, you can”. And we gave them the “yes, you can” spirit. Again, just no other answer is acceptable or tolerable.

Exciting, informative, directional, and extremely helpful are just some of the words to describe my experience for the past few weeks. You are truly one of the most effective and compassionate “social architect merchants” of the 21st century. You train from a considerable intellect but, more importantly, you train from your heart. You give considerable hope for the future which obviously give people a great deal of power in the present. This enables us to be more effective today, which means our tomorrows have to be better.

It’s good - very good.

Love,

Munish.

Susie and I arrived Friday morning after a 14-hour journey due to flight delays. Nairobi is 5000 feet, same as Denver. The fatigue of traveling combined with the high altitude did us in. We slept most of the day and night only rallying enough to meet with our team leader, David Momanyi, for an hour in the afternoon.

Yesterday, we had a team meeting with five key team members of GCM/Global Community Movement’s (the name they gave themselves). GCM members are all in their twenties. I met David in December 2005 on a trip to Nairobi with my then 15-year-old daughter, Rebecca “Angel,” who had just been appointed the US Country Coordinator for the Youth Employment Summit/YES Campaign. David was one of about 30 youth we met at a YES Kenya planning meeting. Some days after the meeting, we met with a UN youth leader. (In Africa, youth is a distinction meaning all people aged 18-35.) The UN youth leader, Robert, brought David to the meeting. He reintroduced David to me as a potential leader. Who knew?

Last May, on my way to Tanzania for a TEDGlobal meeting, I stopped in Nairobi. With David’s leadership, we spontaneously convened a meeting of 60 youth. Thus began GCM. At one point in this initial meeting, I became absolutely frustrated with the Kenyan culture of silence. During my first visit to Kenya in 2000, I led a workshop for 300 slum dwellers to address the mindset of poverty. During a discussion, I said that it seemed when someone stepped on their toes, they didn’t say, “Ouch.” The culture was encapsulated when a man responded, “What toe?”

Kenya is a chronically passive culture. So during the first GCM meeting, when I could feel a conversation wanting to happen and instead silence reigned, I got creative. I put them into small groups and had them come up with skits to say what they wanted to say. Magic happened. When safely “hiding” behind a role, their wisdom and profound social commentary emerged. Muttered confusion had been transformed into animated participation.

Of the 60 initial participants, 20 have been trained to lead GCM. Most would have continued with me, and I chose only those youth who were not attending university. I work with “idle” youth. Some are university graduates who have been un/under-employed since graduating. These youth created a powerful skit called The Time Bomb Machine which they have used to kick start four-hour conversations with communities around Kenya.

The skit starts with a man holding a watch. The viewer quickly learns that the watch must be reset back one minute, every minute. If dropped, the watch will kill everyone. The skit shows how hard it is to do everyday tasks while tending to the watch. Every “year” or so, the watch is pawned off on someone else, until one woman refuses to take on the responsibility for the watch. A scuffle ensues and the watch is dropped. Everyone falls to the floor expecting to be dead. They don’t die.

This skit leads into an extraordinary conversation about the community’s “time bomb” ideas. Leadership is discussed. Most Kenyans are seriously fed up with the status quo of political life. They put their faith, and fate, in leaders that are self-serving. During the discussions, every community has come to the same conclusion: They are the problem; not their “leaders.” For the first time in most communities’ lives, they realize they must work together if they are going to increase their standard of living. In four hours, communities take their first steps out of victimhood. They have also learned about representative democracy. Elected leaders are hired with votes to represent the community’s agenda. The transformation is awesome.

This work to transform the mindset of poverty is the first of three stages of GCM’s community development work. We have identified two main behaviors which, if transformed, will make the biggest difference towards fulfilling lives — first, is the behavior of the culture of silence and, second, is the behavior associated with the belief that one can get something for nothing (the legacy of an aid-infused economy).

Phase One is transforming the culture of silence into Stand Up/Speak Up/Act Together. My definition of poverty is the perceived inability to create what is meaningful. “Poor” people’s thinking blinds them to resources at their very fingertips. The poor wait for someone to notice their plight and rescue them from their situation. The biggest industry, and the only one they understand, is government. Government is expected to create jobs and solve their problems. So they wait for the people “in power” and “in the know” to come to their aid. Hence, they are entrenched in waiting for something for nothing.

Phase Two replaces the behavior of waiting for something for nothing by teaching the mindset of investment. Several months ago, during a community meeting at Sofia Market, a typical “light bulb” went off. The community has vast sand pits. which are mined by local youth who are paid KS 200 (around US$3.25) per day to load sacks of sand. 5 men usually load sacks of sand that are trucked to Nairobi and sold for between KS 40,000 - 50,000 (US$655 - 820). How GCM knows the community has understood the lesson is we hear something like, “We are so stupid!” This community woke up to the cost of their poverty mentality. They realized they could take an available plot of community land and set up a sand depot where they can sell their sand at a fair price and use the proceeds to pay themselves better AND fund community development.

It takes so little to empower people once they have stepped away from the poverty mentality. The quarter-trillion dollar international development industry has a vested interest in keeping the solution to ending poverty very complicated and very costly.

Phase Three, which we are now entering, will provide capital to entrepreneurs. The first investments will be extended to entrepreneurs who will own Community Empowerment Centers. These centers will include Renewable Energy Kiosks where energy can be sold for both consumptive and productive uses. Rural communities currently rely on charcoal, wood and kerosene as their energy sources. These sources are harmful and more expensive than the micro-hydro, solar power, or bio-fuel powered generators being used to power Sustainable Energy Kiosks. UNIDO has expressed interest to partner and provide this technology.

These kiosks will also power entrepreneur-owned Digital Media Centres. These Centres will provide access to information and communication technologies; empower primary, secondary, and university education; deliver training; access financial and governmental services; enhance medical services; provide agricultural extension services; and serves as business incubators. Community Empowerment Centers will give rural communities access to the 21st Century and make it attractive and financially feasible for youth and men to remain in their communities.

This week our mission is to meet with prospective partners and governmental ministries to take the program national.