A DAY FOR RAIN AND A DAY FOR CATCHING CATFISH IN BRILLO NUEVO

A DAY FOR RAIN AND A DAY FOR CATCHING CATFISH IN BRILLO NUEVO

by Campbell Plowden July 09, 2022

A day off enjoying the rain and fishing in Brillo Nuevo.  One quote from a day on the river....

"I could attribute my modest success to different bait and less experience, but why was Exiles striking out completely? Did Brito’s forward position in the boat give him superior access to the fishing meandering below? Had he learned a better subtle way to hook catfish in the Ampiyacu than Exiles in the Tahuayo? There was not enough data for my scientific brain to answer these questions. I got a few big bites, but failed to set the hook in time to bring them in."

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PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES AT PUCA URQUILLO

PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES AT PUCA URQUILLO

by Campbell Plowden July 09, 2022

We briefly stopped in the village of Puca Urquillo to discuss challenges that artisans were facing moving forward....

"The artisans (in Puca Urquillo Huitoto) were enthusiastic to continue our workshops to help them improve their crafts, strengthen their organization and plant more chambira trees. Their main challenge was having an association with over 40 members with only a dozen who were active in trainings and filling orders. The leaders were stumped about how to handle this imbalance."

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JOURNEY TO THE TAHUAYO AND SHIFTING TIDES IN CHINO

JOURNEY TO THE TAHUAYO AND SHIFTING TIDES IN CHINO

by Campbell Plowden July 09, 2022

We have had a long relationship with the artisans from Chino, but I learned that conditions, their need and interests have been shifting over time.  It was time for us to adapt....

"The artisans confirmed they did not want any more trainings to make woven animals.  They would welcome support for chambira reforestation but showed little interest in communications workshops since Dolly was doing social media for them.  One idea with a spark was making better chambira earrings with help from their former leader Estelita who had pushed herself to make high-quality designs. "

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TRAINING BORA NATIVE FACILITATORS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROJECT WORKSHOPS

TRAINING BORA NATIVE FACILITATORS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO VIOLENCE PROJECT WORKSHOPS

by Campbell Plowden July 09, 2022

There's a special energy one feels in an Alternatives to Violence Project workshop when a facilitation team is in synch and the participants connect with every activity. Such experiences are rare in a Training for Facilitator's workshop because new facilitators are usually challenged just to handle the basic mechanics.

The fourth practice group in our workshop, however, blew our minds in their session on Cooperation. They presented their exercises with clarity, led them with positive energy, and ended them with graceful transitions to the next activity. They corrected one misstep in midstream without participants even noticing. Much credit for this group's success was due to the confident leadership from Marianela - a young artisan from Amazonas who recently joined our team.

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PASSAGE TO PEBAS ON THE AMPIYACU RIVER

PASSAGE TO PEBAS ON THE AMPIYACU RIVER

by Campbell Plowden July 09, 2022

Stocking up in the general store in Pebas

"As Marianela sorted through a depleted bin of onions, I learned more about the fine points of choosing a good one from her in five minutes than I had learned in the rest of my life combined. While I make exacting observations about the fine points of woven bird ornament, she showed me how to use my eyes and finger tips to assess whether an onion was too dry or had the beginning of a rotten piece near its top that would spread in a day or two."

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Bora artisans gather in Amazonas to become artisan facilitators

GATHERING IN AMAZONAS TO TRAIN ARTISAN FACILITATORS

by Campbell Plowden July 08, 2022

In the afternoon the final day of the workshop, one group of artisans "called me over to show me the four snowy egret ornaments they had lined up on the table. It only took a few seconds to realize I was witnessing a golden moment I had never experienced before. This group had embraced the lessons we had been encouraging to work together to perfection. Before me stood four perfect and identical beautiful birds. There was not a single comment I could offer to help them improve the quality or consistency of their collective creative efforts."

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THE DIVINE IN ME GREETS THE DIVINE IN YOU

THE DIVINE IN ME GREETS THE DIVINE IN YOU

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"The closing of our AVP Training for Facilitators included a round of Namaste where two people bow to each other. This customary greeting from India roughly means “the Devine in me greets the Devine in you.” AVP is not associated with any faith, but it is often a deeply spiritual experience."

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CHALLENGES TO FACILITATORS

CHALLENGES TO FACILITATORS

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

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FACILITATOR PRACTICE SESSIONS – Part 1

FACILITATOR PRACTICE SESSIONS – Part 1

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

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PRACTICE TEAM FOUR IN SYNCH

PRACTICE TEAM FOUR IN SYNCH

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"The fourth practice group in our workshop blew our minds in their session on Cooperation. They presented their exercises with clarity, led them with positive energy, and ended them with graceful transitions to the next activity. "

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FACILITATOR TEAMS PREPARE THEIR PRACTICE SESSIONS

FACILITATOR TEAMS PREPARE THEIR PRACTICE SESSIONS

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"On day 2, practice teams gathered around a small table with their manuals, markers and large sheets of paper to prepare their session.  After deciding who was going to lead each activity, they prepared their materials and practiced how they were going to present each activity to the large group.  The lead team coaches needed to help their practice teams understand their tasks without doing too much for them."

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SIMPLE PHRASES- PROFOUND IMPACT

SIMPLE PHRASES- PROFOUND IMPACT

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"Community agreements are another foundation of AVP workshops. Our brainstorm produced many standards: “Respect oneself and others,” “Be punctual,” “Don’t interrupt when someone else is speaking,” “Respect confidentiality,” They are common-sense phrases, but they have a profound impact on individual and group attitudes and behavior when faithfully applied."

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THE EGRETS THAT MADE ME CRY

THE EGRETS THAT MADE ME CRY

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"Four hours later they called me over to show me the four snowy egret ornaments they had lined up on the table. It only took a few seconds to realize I was witnessing a golden moment I had never experienced before. This group had embraced the lessons we had been encouraging to work together to perfection. Before me stood four perfect and identical beautiful birds."

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CHAMBIRA BIRDS IN NATURE

CHAMBIRA BIRDS IN NATURE

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"Each facilitator trainee in turn then picked up and pointed out one aspect of one bird that they thought was very well made. Comments were very specific like, "this beak has a shape that looks just like the one in the photo of the real bird."

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ARTISANS MAKE PROGRESS WITH FIRST ROUND OF BIRD ORNAMENTS

ARTISANS MAKE PROGRESS WITH FIRST ROUND OF BIRD ORNAMENTS

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"A few of the artisans with several years of experience had almost finished making two northern cardinals - the model representing this popular bird in the US. It was impressive as well to see advances in more complicated models like the great blue heron, marvelous spatule-tail hummingbird and chestnut-eared aracari."

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TRAINING ARTISANS TO TRAIN ARTISANS

TRAINING ARTISANS TO TRAIN ARTISANS

by Campbell Plowden April 07, 2022

"Many artisans were understandably shy at first about approaching a more experienced artisan thinking they would have nothing valuable to share with them. Over time, though, artisans at all levels realized that they all had things they could teach to and learn from each other."

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