Traveling to India
India is the second most populated country in the world. ATD efforts in this country are essential to the success of our shared vision of a sustainable just and fulfilling future.
As a "divine accident", the new Community Support & Expansion Manager, Gabrielle Sundra had already planned a six week trip to India when she got the job. She was on a belated honeymoon, but always travels with ATD in her heart, so she happily added an ATD itinerary that took her to three stops to meet with ATD Communities.
Forging a New Plan
Gaby first gathered with the ATD Team in Pune along with Peter Guendling from Germany. A dozen Agents of Change ages 12 to 74 got together to get clear on what tasks would move the team forward, who would take the lead for each task, and by when would they take the next action. Arun Wakhlu stepped forward as the lead for ATD India and others took responsibility for initiating a country wide newsletter and translating the Symposium into Hindi and Marathi. The clarity of tasks were then celebrated with a delicious meal and after dinner dancing.
Laying the Foundation
Next Gaby went to Delhi where she met up again with Arun Wakhlu and also Poonam Jain to offer two trainings. They offered the Workshop for Agents of Change which supported activists in moving forward in their personal expressions of "Blessed Unrest". The second day training was an Orientation to the Presenters Kit allowing a group to quickly access the tools needed to offer Symposiums to their friends, family, businesses and organizations. Both of these trainings were attended by people who have access to large audiences in India and have plans to offer a series of Symposiums over Earth Day April 22nd and the UN's World Environment Day, June 5th.
On her last night in India, Gaby and her husband Raj (also a facilitator), met with a mixed group of people, some whom had been to a Symposium and some who had not. They watched the Wombat video, the ATD,CTD Trailer, the WakeUp Experience trailer and the 4YG video. Raj delivered a guided visualization to ground people in their next steps of specific action they will take and the courage necessary to take it. The night was hosted by Yogi Mathuria of the World School of Happiness, a passionate leader of ATD efforts in Mumbai.
