SYSTEM THINKING TRAINING: SELF DEVELOPMENT

Author: Debby Josephine

On February the 13, 2016, KAIL held a training of System Thinking with the theme Self Development, at KAIL House, Kampung Cigarugak, village Giri Mekar, district Cilengkrang, regency Bandung. The training was attended by 19 trainees from various organizations, high schools, universities, and individuals from Bandung and Jakarta as well as 4 of KAIL staff who accompanied the participants. The event was opened with introduction about KAIL by Deta and continued with the training material System Thinking by Agustein and Melly.

The training aimed to provide insights to the participants that the problems in this world are connected to each other to form a complex tangle of relationships. This included introducing System Thinking to the participants that can support their personal development in dealing with the social and environment issues and in seeking solution, by taking into account the impact on long term basis.

Visioning

The approach of the training was to envision the participants own personal vision and mission for the next 5 years. Then the training continued with the introduction of a variety of methodologies and tools that are used in System Thinking, namely: Behavior Over Time diagram (BOT), Causal Loop Diagrams (CLD) and Leverage Points. Participants were given the opportunity to practice these tools according to their condition.

Living Loop

Overall the training process went smoothly. The participants asked questions and discussed very actively, we felt that the time was far from enough to accommodate opinions of all participants. They were also eager and able to follow the entire chain of events until late afternoon. In addition to learning in classroom, the participants were also invited to understand about Thinking System through a variety of games and simulations. With this interactive learning, participants were expected to perceive and to understand the complexity of the issues better.

The training lasted for one day and hosted alternately by KAIL staff; Agustein Okamita, Deta Ratna Kristanti, Melly Amalia, and Any Sulistyowati.

Translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan

CREATING ACTIVITY JOURNAL

Author: Deta R. Kristanti

The first Day Child Learning KAIL (HBA, Hari Belajar Anak) in 2016 was held on Sunday, January the 31st. This event was attended by nine children who live around KAIL House. Children were invited to create Journal of Encouragement HBA KAIL. The goal was that children have a track record of their own respective HBA activities. The event this time was guided by Kak Deta, Kak Debby and Kak Widya.

At exactly 10 am, Kak Debby was to take the children gathering in the front yard of KAIL House. The event was opened with the play "Magic Thumb". Children were asked to affix their thumb on the objects mentioned by Kak Debby. It was very exciting. The children run around trying to find the object in question.

When finished playing, the children gathered in a circle and talked together with Kak Deta and Kak Debby, about activities of HBA they followed in 2015. Some of them still remembered the activities clearly, like mushrooms study, making stamp leaves, making binoculars as well as making grasshoppers from palm leaves. They also remembered hearing a tale of Jack and Beanstalk and that the beans were very high.

That day the children also listened to a fairy tale. A tale entitled as "Why Animals Do Have Tails?" was told by Kak Deta. After listening to it, then the children were asked to create a journal. The facilitators have prepared a number of papers, cardboard, markers, scissors and glue paper to make journals materials.

At first, the children were welcome to choose the color paper they wanted to be on the cover of their journal. Color paper was then placed on a cardboard so that the cover of the journal becomes harder and stronger. Children were also welcome to take sheets of plain paper, paper with the words "Journal of Encouragement", "KAIL Children's Day Learning" and the logo of KAIL. Children then collected the plain paper to be the contents of the journal pages. It turned out that there was a trouble of arranging. However, they were yielding and willing to learn. Some of the children also did not dare to be creative outside of example, but most tried to make the cover of the journal to be interesting and different from the others. About forty minutes later, the books of Journal of Encouragement HBA KAIL were ready for use.

Supposedly the event was closed with the activities of watching movies together. However, due to technical constraints, it was postponed. Hopefully the kids stay happy and excited to join HBA again in February!

Translated by: Bernadetta Tarigan