The Women of Africa Forum: A Changemakers Cafe November 5, 2009

The Women of Africa as Agents of Social Transformation: A Global Community Conversation FebruaryMayNovember Invitation to engage to: One-on-one & Roundtable discussions of: Women of Africa Forum on: -connect people -share experience -explore themes -develop understanding -catalyze bold action -best experiences -conditions that made them possible -core of women as agents of social transformation -actions to reinforce that core -stories -emerging themes -catalytic questions -questions that matter -bold steps toward a better future CONNECTION COLLECTIVE INTELLIGENCE CHANGE

Opportunity “Right” caring Safe “spaces” Connectedness Essentials of Social Transformation …is power. Women draw strength from numbers and are naturally inclusive and networkers. …allow freedom to think, to speak to act to create a better future. …makes it possible for people to realize their potential. catalyzes action.

Welcome to the World Café  Shaping our futures through conversations that matter  Allowing exploration of needs, hopes and expectations through strategic conversations across traditional boundaries  Creating authentic conversation that deepens a group’s thinking and evokes collaborative intelligence using the mind and the heart

Process Overview  Conversations around proposed question at table for 20 minutes  Use paper and pens at table in any way you see fit to capture thoughts, ideas, images, etc.  Designate a host to stay at your table and share the conversation with new groups  After twenty minutes each person, other than the host moves to a new table to continue the conversation  We will have two rounds of discussion, followed by a wrap-up

Directions  At the end of the conversation- hand raising  Please sit at a table with no one from previous group  Please take time to introduce yourself to the first and new groups and share what you are bringing from other conversations to the table

Question For Discussion Question For Discussion What must change for more of Africa’s women to act as agents of social transformation?

Question For Discussion How might we act on our passions in solidarity “with”, rather than “on” or “for”, African people to spark positive change?

Moving to action What are you personally going to do differently?

Moving to action What bold steps can we take together that will move us toward the future we want?

Moving to action  What do you want to do?

Moving to action  What unique contribution can we each make?  How can we support each other?  What do we do next?

Moving to action  What are you excited about?

A gift from Diana Dayaka Osei, Ashesi University, Ghana  “Please find attached to this a creation of mine, a song entitled Ubuntu*. I wrote and recorded Ubuntu in response to the Song Competition organized by CEGENSA in July this year. The task was to write an empowering song about women and gender issues. I was inspired to write my song after reading Professor Ogundipe’s book. I am happy to share Ubuntu with you. Thank you.”

Ubuntu  *Ubuntu is a Nguni/indigenous word…translated fully it is supposed to be a local maxim that one’s humanity is implicated in that of the other. If you do not treat a person as a human being, then that means you are not human.  Professor Molara Ogunkipe