Considering the work of social change!

People involved in bringing healthy social change, community development, and advocates for human rights, find themselves going about life with turmoil and agitation about the injustices they see. Life is filled with value based conflict for people who desire to see authentic change. Bringing healthy change requires investment of time in the work of reflection and introspection if change agents are to stand the test of time. Personal integrity is of great value when agents of change pursue the commitment and support of communities in different sector of society.

A set of questions to consider in our journey as social change agents, social innovators and social entrepreneurs:
Do I desire to be in community and at peace with people, but find myself being impatient?
Do I lose sight of the humanity of the person who in my view is dehumanising others?
Am I caught in the shameful action of dehumanising the one who seeks to dehumanise the people whom we serve?
Is the change that is being pursued an authentic change initiate, or one that is watered down by the powers that be?
Are people truly benefiting from the change initiative or are we duping people into a top down agenda that is skewed by monetary regulations and funding investors?
Is the plan being implemented to truly engage in critical conversation, deep dialogue and activistic advocacy?

Social change agents have had their learning and approach to activism and advocacy immersed and baptized in the waters of liberation movements. They are inspired by the fiery rhetoric of civil rights icons and human rights leaders. They are mobilized by the demonstrative stomping of the feet of people who struggle for their freedom in marginalised communities. Everyday talks and dealings in the corporate, education, development, and social change world can be so shallow in comparison to the depth one is exposed to amongst people who live everyday with their backs against the wall - people from marginalised communities are consumed by a heightened thirst and hunger for positive change when social factors of education, class, race, gender, religion, nationality, abilities, language and other social factors render them as second class citizens.

It is most unfortunate but many social interventions are designed without the buy in of the people for whom the intervention is designed. Development initiatives and projects fall short of delivering with excellence because social interventions and organisations who deliver them, do not have the voices of people from the margins at their tables of conceptual design and development. One would expect to find people and organisations who are involved in development and social change work, at the cutting edge of delivering social interventions, but many development programs and projects are lead and managed by "do-gooders" who go about their development philanthropy, and lack the skills and training to engage complex social realities of marginalised communities. Social innovations and social change agency must divorce the prevalent culture of paternalism, prejudice, and values propelled by passive and modern racism that plagues many development and corporate social responsibility escapades.

Equality, justice, ethics and values informed by people and communities from the margins should become the order of the day in the culture of organisations designed to bring social change. One would expect that fighting for the rights of the marginalised would be a value and moral code of conduct that is at the core of what development oriented organisations do and say. But there are many who speak of development in very romanticised elite notions of social change. The kind of change that may work in Sandton but never see the light of day in Alexandra-Johannesburg,South Africa. Strategic planning, project prep and layout are all affected by the fact that people are not informed of and by those whom they seek to serve, especially when it comes to serving people who are from social classes in the margins of a political democracy.

My journey of faith, the work I do in development, corporate consulting, and the honour I have of had serving a local communities, are conflicted with the heaviness I carry of having had my eyes opened to social realities of the oppressed and the marginalised. I am blessed to have mentors who remain constant in taking me to task, so as to ensure that I stay on track in my service of people.

It is my hope to see faithful work that will bring people together (people from the haves and people from the have nots, into a beloved community experience). It is my desire to see people smile upon the work and initiatives that is delivered with diligence and determination, consciousness and courage, advocacy and activism, and reassuring-reconciliation-revolution!

Aluta continua!!! The struggle continues!!!!!

Seth Naicker.

Blessed with the curse of consciousness - by Seth Naicker

I am blessed with the curse of consciousness- having been immersed in the politics of struggle and the politics of hope- I am blessed with curse of consciousness regarding justice and equality that must be propelled inside our 21st century-I am blessed with curse of consciousness concerning those that are left outside the gravy train of a capitalistic democracy-

I am blessed with the curse of consciousness having been trusted by the marginalised of the margins-I am blessed with curse of consciousness to speak out against systemic injustices and intentional exclusivity of the thee other whoever thee other may be-I am blessed with the curse of consciousness for my eyes have been opened to see the pain of people whom society would rather deny-

I am blessed with the curse of consciousness that calls me to act with fierce urgency when the powers that be think they can continue to dupe and bamboozle people right out of their humanity!!! On the day that took the life of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior-

I am blessed with the curse of consciousness that challenges my luxuries and calls me to live life that will establish the beloved community!!

Seth Naicker
Managing Partner
indiAfrique training & development

Director
Reconciliation Diversity & International Affairs
In collaboration with Young&Able

seth@indiAfrique.co.za/seth@youngable.com

Considering April 4th in light of justice and reconciliation - by Seth Naicker

April 4th, 2011 - for some it is just another blue Monday, for others it could be a birthday celebration, or a day in which you feel inspired to get going and make a difference. In the light of world shaking moments and people who have inspired our 21st century world, we must remember that on this day in 1968, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Junior was assassinated.
As we consider the work of justice and reconciliation, we are called to consider our role in bringing about change in our worlds arrange. In the life of Dr. King there were struggles, conflicts and chaos, but one must acknowledge the power of sharing one’s dream. Had Doctor King been assassinated without having shared his dream, the vision of a beloved community may have never been realized as it has been in our 21st century world.
May we find our place and space to hear the call and take action to explore the pursuit of justice and reconciliation in our 21st century world with fierce Urgency! "We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today," King reminded his audience in 1967. "We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked and dejected with a lost opportunity. The 'tide in the affairs of men' does not remain at the flood; it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is deaf to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residue of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words: 'Too late.' "
Fierce Urgency: another brilliantly capitulated phrase, that drives us today to consider the reality of the here and now. King’s prophetic words were ever so relevant and real as it now. We must decide to act now for the future of people, for the future of our youth, for the future of our humanity. Fierce urgency should drive us with bravado and a passion-ful ‘loveforce’ to drive home a message to the powers of the day that we as a global citizens who recognize the pain of our world, and the pain of our society, those of us who live with our backs against the wall, sometimes the wall is so embedded in our backs we don’t know the difference anymore between our backs and the wall that is pressing our backs.
But in this moment of sometimes what can be sheer agony, and not having no-where to turn will there a be a person-will there be a people-that will rise with a love force, that drives home a point that we must see justice roll, that we must see peace! Will we stand up and be counted- knowing that we are reminded by the voice of King, knowing that we are reminded by the voice of the prophets, knowing that we are reminded by the continued systemic injustices and inequalities that we see in our everyday world.
May fierce urgency take a grip of our minds, hearts, body and soul. We want to see healthy people, living healthy lives, wholesome lives, where families can eat a meal together, father’s can love their kids and kids can love their fathers, with a fierce urgency, like there is no tomorrow.



Seth Naicker
Managing Partner
indiAfrique training & development

Director
Reconciliation Diversity & International Affairs
In collaboration with Young&Able
seth@indiAfrique.co.za