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facilitating ourselves
21 -
FOUR: Two CB circles per day.
Facilitating ourselves was to be a community building event and, as such, Community Building Circles would be at its heart . All participants’ previous knowledge and experience in CB Circles would be brought into the circle and its facilitation. Two circles would be held each day of between 60 and 90 minutes duration. A minimum of two volunteers would facilitate each circle. Volunteers would spend time before facilitating, building community with each other. They would seek the support and advice of a mentor – an experienced facilitator - to assist them in their preparation.
FIVE: Reflect on the process.
Since we were learning to facilitate ourselves, reflection on the CB process seemed an important ingredient. We had the opportunity to fully participate in the circle knowing that a team had taken on the responsibility of holding. After each circle we could take a step outside the process to reflect on it. This reflection took place in pairs after a circle with a general feedback to the whole group afterwards. It seemed important not to get stuck into this reflective process or take too much time in discussion. Equally it should not be left out.
SIX: Small groups:
As part of our unfolding process, it seemed that we might need a place of support that was smaller and more intimate than the whole group. Small groups were formed by people adding their names to lists on the wall close to the start of the events. Groups were various sizes but somewhere between 4 and 6 seems to work for me. Small groups became a focus for reflection, nurture, caring and, increasingly, responsibility. Each group took a turn at cooking for the whole community. In my experience, we looked out for each other, supported each other in volunteering for facilitation, became like family. At the 2007 event small groups also took turns at whole circle facilitation.
Facilitating ourselves was to be a community building event and, as such, Community Building Circles would be at its heart . All participants’ previous knowledge and experience in CB Circles would be brought into the circle and its facilitation. Two circles would be held each day of between 60 and 90 minutes duration. A minimum of two volunteers would facilitate each circle. Volunteers would spend time before facilitating, building community with each other. They would seek the support and advice of a mentor – an experienced facilitator -
FIVE: Reflect on the process.
Since we were learning to facilitate ourselves, reflection on the CB process seemed an important ingredient. We had the opportunity to fully participate in the circle knowing that a team had taken on the responsibility of holding. After each circle we could take a step outside the process to reflect on it. This reflection took place in pairs after a circle with a general feedback to the whole group afterwards. It seemed important not to get stuck into this reflective process or take too much time in discussion. Equally it should not be left out.
SIX: Small groups:
As part of our unfolding process, it seemed that we might need a place of support that was smaller and more intimate than the whole group. Small groups were formed by people adding their names to lists on the wall close to the start of the events. Groups were various sizes but somewhere between 4 and 6 seems to work for me. Small groups became a focus for reflection, nurture, caring and, increasingly, responsibility. Each group took a turn at cooking for the whole community. In my experience, we looked out for each other, supported each other in volunteering for facilitation, became like family. At the 2007 event small groups also took turns at whole circle facilitation.
facilitatingourselves
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