Appreciative Inquiry Orientation Program

On the auspicious occasion of Social Service Day, 22^nd September,2005, an AI Orientation Program was organized at Sungava Club in Ilam district in the presence of people from the different sectors of the social development. The orientation was organized to spread out AI in the district, to find out the various sectors to use AI and to reconstruct Imagine Initiative Ilam.

Mr. Khibaraj Dahal, the chairperson of Sungava Club welcomed the participants. The program was run in an informal way so that everyone would feel free to take part in the discussion. Positive Thinking, Introduction of Appreciative Inquiry, AI Networks of Nepal, AI in Ilam were some of the topics of discussion. Mr Ram Rimal, NAINN EC member and Kishor Rijal facilitated the program whereas Mr Kuber Niraula and Kibaraj Dahal co-facilitated it. At last, Imagine Initiative Ilam was reformed on the co-ordination of Mr. Khibaraj Dahal. There are 17 members in total including 6 female in the team. Kishor Rijal is the secretary of Imagine Initiative Ilam. All the participants have committed to create a more beautiful New Ilam.

AI Orientation

Pratibaddha Milijuli Saving and Credit cooperative limited, run by female employee of UMN, Nepal organized a day AI Orientation on 2^nd October, 2005 in Kathmandu. There were 35 participants in the program. The participants were made clear about the introduction of AI, its theory, positive mind setting and 4 D cycle. The participants discovered the strength of the cooperative by having done one to one interview. AI interview questions were used to interview. The executive committee has been ready to incorporate the ideas drawn from the interview. The cooperative will use AI in the days to come. Mr. Parashu Ram Timalsina, General Secretary of NAINN facilitated the program.

Basic Journalism Training

Human Rights Education Radio Listeners’ Club (HRELIC), Lalitpur organized three day training on Basic Journalism from 4-6 October 2005. In the training, there was a session on ‘Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Thinking in Journalism’. Mr. Parashu Ram Timalsina, General Secretary of NAINN facilitated the session. ‘How AI can be used in journalism’ and ‘why positive thinking is necessary in journalist’ were the main questions in which the participants had discussion. The conclusion was drawn that the journalism can bring a positive change immediately in the mass and that’s why AI and Positive thinking is necessary. The participants determined to collect and publish positive news, success stories from the society in the monthly magazine – Lalit Sandesh, being published by HERELIC, Lalitpur.

AI Orientation

CEAMP organized a day’s AI orientation at Madanpokhara, Plapa on 1 October,2005 . Mr. Ram Raut, National Chairperson of NAINN facilitated the program. There were total 20 participants representating seven CBOs. In the orientation, the participants were given brief introduction about AI, its theory and 4 D cycle.

Experience Sharing and AI Orientation

Career Group, Plapa organized one day Experience Sharing and AI Orientation for its members on 1 October,2005 . There were ten participants and they shared their experiences they got while working in their concerned field. AI orientation program was facilitated by Ram Raut, national chairperson of NAINN. In the orientation, he had clarified more about the AI, its theory and working modality.

Nepal Appreciative Inquiry National Network (NAINN)

SECOND NATIONAL SUMMIT OF IMAGINE INITIATIVES OF NEPAL
KHARIPATI, BHAKTAPUR, NEPAL
6-8, SEPTEMBER, 2005
Nepal Appreciative Inquiry National Network (NAINN) has been able to achieve one more success by organizing the Second National Summit of Imagine Initiatives of Nepal. The summit was held at Kharipati, Bhaktapur, Nepal on 6-8 September, 2005. The founding Father of Appreciative Inquiry (AI), Prof. David L. Cooperrider’s presence made the summit more important and valuable. More than 70 participants from all Five AI Regional Networks representing from 31 Imagine Initiatives made the summit even more lively. The foreign guests from the USA encouraged the participants further more. The slogan, “Appreciative Inquiry Campaign for positive Societal Transformation through Imagine Initiative movement”, of NAINN is boosted up.

The program, was formally inaugurated in a participatory way that the guests as well as the participants lit candles. The candle lit by a local porter, Thami Bhomjan, led all the candles. NAINN believes, as AI does, that societal transformation is possible only when all the elements of the society move together. Mr. Bhomjan’s candle was representing the light of all the people who are unheard and are alienated from the social activities.

Chief District Officer of Bhaktapur district delivered speech and appreciated NAINN’s movement of spreading AI and positive mind setting campaign in the country like Nepal where people are thirsty for peace. He also expressed his hope of restoring peace in Nepal through AI movement. The other guests and the participants expressed their expectations, hope and feeling in the formal inauguration program of the Summit.

The remaining sessions and days were utilized by sharing success stories and experiences of using AI in the societal development. Dr. Chandi Chapagain, Mr. Buddhi Tamang, Mr. Daniel Cooperrider and Mr. Amit Kovoor shared about AI and its usage in Nepal and around the world. The participants shared the finding of the use of AI in their society, organization, family and in many other ways. The success stories, clarification about AI added energy to the participants to do even better and more.

AI is used for the societal transformation and it is initiated by NAINN for the first time in Nepal. Five regional networks and the imagine initiatives have been applying AI in all sectors of societal development. Different people have different experiences from their fields. All these were shared in the summit. The summit was fully interactive and everyone was busy in grasping new ideas from other participants and was very much active to share his/her own.

There were many stories told about the positive effect of AI. Some of the stories about how one got rid of physical difficulties like sever headache, heart problem and many others when they started working with AI. AI has been able to resolute conflict in the society.

To sum up, AI in Nepalese society is doing better and going well. It has shown the rays of hope that AI can be the best tool for the positive transformation.

The ideas, experiences, success stories shared in the summit, have proved that people in the society have found AI a very easy and effective methodology to work with. AI has made people to work freely in the environment of encouragement. Since Nepalese society and its culture is already full of positive aspects, people feel they are doing everything from within themselves while working with AI. They never feel imposed.

AI has been used in Nepal since 1964. In the early age, it was used for the Organizational Development. But after the establishment of NAINN, it is felt that AI must not be narrowed within tools for OD and Planning. It is a big Key that can open the Big doors of many positive transformations. Having this conclusion, NAINN has formulated the philosophy, supporting theories and the modality for the societal transformation of AI. We say AI is theory, philosophy, principle, approach, methodology, method and tools as well. NAINN is explaining AI as a holistic approach.

While translating the terminology of AI from English to Nepali, there is found varieties. The summit also made a common consensus of using the same Nepali terminology all over Nepal.

The third achievement of the Summit is that it made six year 4 D plan of NAINN with the action plan for a year. The plan consists of expanding formation of imagine initiatives throughout Nepal, launch a peace building project, expanding imagine family, publications, AI schooling, etc.

Finally yet importantly, continuing the tradition of declaration, the summit has also issued Bhaktapur Declaration. The declaration has clarified and added the issues, guidelines and many other things on the declaration of the first summit.

On the final day of the summit, Prof. Dr. David L. Cooperrider spoke about AI. The participants were very much grateful to David for his presence and speech

The formal closing ceremony was much more interesting, meaningful, and effective for many people working with AI. They all expressed their findings while working with AI. Karna Shakya was the another influencing personality who shared how he could get success only due to positive thinking and vision. Human Rights Activist, Mr. Subodhraj Pyakurel was the chief guest and Prof. David as the special guest of the closing ceremony.

The news of the summit was covered by local and national media. National Chairperson of NAINN, Mr Ram Bahadur Raut chaired and Mr. Parashu Ram Timalsina, General Secretary of NAINN ran the formal programs. The other sessions were chaired and run by the members of NAINN. They were Mr. Ram Gyawali, Mr. Mohan Bhatta, Mr. Ram Rimal, Mr. Kapil Dev Singhak, Mr. Gopal Ghimire, Mr. Pankaj Nath, Ms. Laxmi Rai.

The summit, thus, turned into a great achievement. All the imagine initiatives, regional networks and national network have been able to strengthen themselves. The summit also has given new guidelines to work with AI in the society. It also opened a ground to keep relationship with the AI practitioners of the other countries. The foreign guests like Mac Odell, Linda fairburn, Daniel, Amit have sprinkled the hope, encouragement, and strength. The summit is, therefore, the second milestone in the history of NAINN.

Nepal Appreciative Inquiry National Network (NAINN)

First Regional Summit of Imagine Initiatives of Eastern Nepal

Eastern Regional Appreciative Inquiry Network (ERAIN) has organized first Regional Summit of Imagine Initiatives of Eastern Nepal (FRSIIEN) in Biratnagar on 26-27 September 2005. In this summit, 130 District Imagine Initiative representatives were present including Appreciative Inquiry practitioners, facilitators, supporters, well-wishers from 12-Districts. PLAN International -Nepal and other donors and media people also represented in the summit. The summit was held in a participatory way. Mr. Pradeep Puri, the co-coordinator of the Summit, Ram Rimal, NAINN member have presented the papers on which the participants actively participated in the discussion. The summit also finalized the 4D plan of ERAIN.

Mr. Parashu Ram Timalsina, General Secretary of NAINN also presented paper on NAINN, Regional Networks and Imagine Initiatives; and also answered the queries raised by the participants. The participants were made clear about the organizational structure of NAINN and the role, responsibility of Regional Networks.

At the end, the summit announced the Biratnagar Declaration with 10 points. Local and national media have reported about the summit. In the declaration, the summit urged to government and Maoist for the seize fire.
Mr. Pankaj Nagh Singh, Mr. Kapil Dev Singhak , the NAINN members and other People and organizations like NGO federation, Plan Nepal have helped a lot to make the Summit success.

Reported by: Parashu Ram Timalsina, General Secretary, NAINN.

Three Day Appreciative Inquiry Training in Nawalparasi District

Imagine Nawalparasi District held Three-day AI training for users' group of CEAMP at Tribeni-Susta Village Development Committee (VDC) from 5-7 October 2005. In this training, 25 participants participated including 8 women. Krishna Gopal Shrestha and Gopal Ghimire facilitated the training. The training content was introduction of AI, its history, and principles, positive mind setting and application of 4-D cycle. Each participant has prepared his or her action plan for the application of 4-D cycle.

Reported by: Yam Kumari Subedi, Member of Imagine Nawalparasi District

One-Day Appreciative Inquiry Orientation in Doti District

One day AI orientation training was held by Imagine Imitative Doti District at district headquarter Silgudi on 28 September 2005. It was organized for social mobilizers of four NGOs and total participants were 30. Mr. Bishal Kasuju facilitated the training voluntarily and also shared the AI for Peace and Development training of Imagine Nepal that was organized in Kathmandu and facilitated by David Cooperrider himself on 9-11 September 2005. They have also announced to do the next AI orientation training for 50 people immediate after Tihar. Mr. Bishal Kasuju showed his commitment to facilitate the next AI orientation as a volunteer. NAINN appreciates his genuine contribution as a team member. Imagine Imitative Doti District has decided to organize the First Regional Summit of Imagine Initiatives Far-west Nepal (FRSIIFN).

Reported by: Buddhi Tamang, National Advisor, NAINN.

One-Day Appreciative Inquiry Orientation for Tamang Media Group

Tamang Media Group held one-day AI orientation training for its members in Patan on 5 September 2005. Buddhi Tamang facilitated the training voluntarily. AI introduction, history, principles, application of 4-D cycle was shared with the participants. FM Radio programmers and reporters of daily newspapers were participated and total participants were 13 including two female. At the end of the orientation, participants expressed their opinion to disseminate the positive information and news.

Reported by: Buddhi Tamang

Nepal Appreciative Inquiry National Network (NAINN)

Imagine Initiative Lalitpur District General Assembly

Imagine Initiative Lalitpur District General Assembly was held at Patan under chair of Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa on 8 October 2005. In this meeting, Mr. Gopal Sanjel (Secretary) reported the annual progress and income and expenditure. The Assembly made the following decisions:
 Help to strengthen the working capacity of Imagine Youth, Lalitpur,
 Continue forming local imagine initiatives within the district.
 Choose a village development committee (VDC) for AI model Village as proposed in the 4 D cycle plan of NAINN,
 Organize a two day retreat and finalize 5 year 4D plan of Imagine Lalitpur
 Continue keeping relationship with District level I/N/GOs for the use of Appreciative Inquiry.
Buddhi Tamang shared the theoretical aspect of AI such as flat, horizontal and egalitarian network of NAINN. Similarly, he also shared Five Dependent Origination of positive and negative cycle such as 1) positive thought, 2) positive inquiry/question, 3) positive response, 4) positive action and 5) positive result; 1) negative thought, 2) negative inquiry/question, 3) negative response, 4) negative action and 5) negative result.

Reported by: Parashu Ram Timalsina/Buddhi Tamang

Nepal Appreciative Inquiry National Network (NAINN)

Three Day Appreciative Inquiry Training in Nawalparasi District

Imagine Nawalparasi District held Three-day AI training for users' group of CEAMP at Tribeni-Susta Village Development Committee (VDC) from 5-7 October 2005. In this training, 25 participants participated including 8 women. Krishna Gopal Shrestha and Gopal Ghimire facilitated the training. The training content was introduction of AI, its history, and principles, positive mind setting and application of 4-D cycle. Each participant has prepared his or her action plan for the application of 4-D cycle.

Reported by: Yam Kumari Subedi, Member of Imagine Nawalparasi District