Giraffe Heroes Project

I chaired a session on education this morning, focused on how to build the values that in turn can lead more people to make a difference in combating the world's poverty, war, disease and hunger. I spoke about the work of the Giraffe Heroes Project, and our ideas and strategies for change.

I’m not sure that "stick your neck out" got translated perfectly into six languages, but I know the message got through nonetheless. In talking about heroes, for example, I didn't use western examples but asked each person to reflect on the founding myths of his or her own culture. That worked.

Many people want me to come to their country. I am spending a lot of time in particular with the Sudanese, talking about the conflicts there. Next week I get to really test my French when the French-speaking people are here from Rwanda, Burundi and Congo.

Tomorrow I get to close this first conference. The second conference starts the day after tomorrow—that's also when the Israelis and the Palestinians arrive.

I met with fifteen young people yesterday, mostly Americans, to talk about how to deal with the negative attitude of just about everybody towards American policies. Most of these young Americans are politically to the left and angry at being lumped in with general criticisms of the US.

Know that the Giraffe Heroes Project is very popular here, with all these movers and changers. If I had the energy, I'd collect some nominations.

This castle is the same amazing place. This year I have a room looking down the Lake, with steep pastures on the right and the Alps on the left. Last night there was a marvelous thunder and lightning storm, with this castle, 3,000 feet above the Lake, seemingly right in the middle.

Food is acceptable. I've been so busy I haven't even had the chance to sneak down the road to the local pub for a beer.

It’s been so busy here for the last two days that only now do I have a chance to sit down and write something with any degree of reflection.

There are two conferences here, back to back. Each has about 450 people. The first one is on human security issues—political, economic and social. People are here representing not only war-torn areas but areas under siege from AIDS, poverty and political oppression. The condition of indigenous peoples is a special concern here this year, with tribal people here from Siberia to Australia.

The second conference, starting formally Friday, deals with peace-building initiatives in areas where IC is actively involved in trying to bring warring sides together. This year, in addition to the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, people are here from the wars in Sudan, and Rwandi-Burundi-Congo. Part of the genius of this place is to deliberately mesh the conflict issues. People quickly see that much of the dynamics of conflict are the same, and they learn from each other.

I’m here giving speeches, leading workshops, running sessions, quietly talking to people in small groups and over meals, and helping plan the conferences. The process is very flexible and fast-moving. Only a general structure is planned in advance, and much time is left for “magic” to happen. I get to help facilitate that magic.

This year, I find myself also spending a lot of time with the roughly 50 people here who are young (that is, in their 20s)—mostly interns who do a lot of the grunt work here, and “Caux Scholars” (an international leadership training program run by IC).

As I think I already mentioned, I co-led the session on Education on Monday. I spoke about the work of the Giraffe Project, about heroes, and teaching heroic values. The Russians told me later that they had a hard time understanding the concept of a "hero.” It's been a long time since people dared to stick their necks out in that part of the world!