Dialogue Education Institute:
A Gathering of Passionate Learners

by Boyet Ongkiko ~ GLP Certified Teacher ~ Philippines

The 2nd Dialogue Education Institute – Dialogue Education on the Move! A gathering of 80 people from across the US and some other nations – Haiti, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Australia and the Philippines. A collection of minds set to engage and be engaged; of hearts ready to shape and be shaped; and of bodies willing to move and be moved. A movement standing by and gathering energy to be instruments of peace and justice.

What is unique about this gathering? Aside from the people who came, the processes and approaches used from October 5 till it concluded in the afternoon of October 8, lived up to its name – that of dialogue.

I have 3 expectations by the end of DEI. And they are that I would have:

• Reconnected with Global Learning Partners (GLP)
• Experienced a conference using Dialogue Education principles and practices
• Established networking relationships

By the end of the 3 ½ day gathering, all expectations were met, and plus two more. First, the gathering demonstrated consistently that the essence of DE is to empower and transform people. I have seen that many times over in the past and once again made more evident these three days. And secondly, that when the same people uses DE for a period of time, what usually starts as a sharing of ideas end up to be a sharing of lives. As such DEI builds community and intimacy among those who came.

During the closing learning event, we were asked, “How we see Dialogue Education in the near future?” And I wrote in my SNOW card, “I will work towards having a Dialogue Education Institute in the Philippines by 2007.” It was good to have Jane Vella right next to me as what she wrote made me rethink my plan – Stillness. Back porch.

excerpted from Boyet's blog

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