andrew chalk - recovering hope: why developed countries also need gk

7/27/2019 Andrew Chalk - Recovering hope: Why developed countries also need GK

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GK Enchanted Farm - Bulacan, Philippines



Recovering hope: Why developed

countries also need GK

Andrew Chalk – GK Australia

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GK – A universal template for addressingpoverty and alienation?

A perspective from Australia




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Addressing severe disadvantage in

Australia

1. What is the problem

2. Why GK is the solution

3. How we propose to do it




Australia - Background

• A rich country – one of the highest GDP’s per

capita in the world

• Stable democracy

• Successful multi cultural society

• Universal health care and education to highest

standards

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Vibrant cultural, recreational and sporting life• Good equality of opportunity

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The situation of Indigenous

Australians

Many Indigenous Australians suffer gross

poverty and despair; not only as individuals but

as whole communities.

• Health

• Employment/ income

• Education• Housing

• Crime and violence




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Factors contributing to the situation

Historic• Colonisation and loss of land;

• Long history of discrimination and exclusion;

• Remote locations;

• Cultural factors;

• History of welfare dependency and

government control;

Also• Sense of victimhood, alienation and despair;

• Internal conflict.




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Efforts to address the disadvantage

Since late 1960’s concerted efforts by successive

governments to address the disadvantage.

While there are some great individual successstories, at a communal level generally the

situation has not improved and in many

instances has deteriorated.

Resources and technical support are not lacking.

The Australian government currently spends

over $4 Billion per annum addressing Indigenous

disadvantage.




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Why GK, as a model of community

development, will work.

A radical commitment to love;

A radical commitment to honour.




• GK’s starting principle is that until people believe

in their own dignity and capacity to contribute for

good, no amount of resources or technicalsupport will overcome their alienation.

• The pain is in the heart more than the pocket.

• GK commits to the person and the community

without seeking anything in return. The quality of

this commitment is the secret of its success.

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• When people have a sense that they are loved, itbecomes much easier for them to respond to andengage in other measures which will improve

quality of life.

• The quality of GK’s love and how that is formed inthe volunteer care groups and in the supportedcommunities is everything.

• There can be no development without values tounderpin it. These values must reflect the highestdesires of the people and they can be taught.Volunteers make better teachers than paid

officials.

• This care and love is universal and beyond culture.

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What Values does GK put in play•

Servant leadership – first to serve last tobenefit;

• No-one gets left behind;

• No-one is so poor that they have nothing to

give;

• Relationships are more important than

resources;

• There is no exit plan; GK never leaves nor

never gives up.




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What aspects are most relevant to

Australia

It’s community organising and values formation;

not house building.

It’s self-reliance as a community where

governments become partners rather than

benefactors and controllers.

It’s relationships with the wider society leading

to partnerships that support development that is

eventually self sustaining; fundamentally GK

provides ‘a platform for convergence.’




How will we do it in Australia

1. Seeing is believing – we have the GK

communities in Philippines as proof.• Immersion trips for communities that have all but given

up hope.

• Young leader programs in the Philippines in conjunction

with future volunteers.

2. Building the relationships

• Building relationships with communities over time; this isalready well underway in one community in central New

South Wales.

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Building the Relationships (cont.)

• Expand the engagement with partnerships involving:

• Schools;

• Universities;

• Civic organisations;

• Corporations;

• Churches• Other Indigenous organisations

All trained in the GK approach

3. The Work

Fundamental focus on community organising;• Neighbourhood beautification

• Housing repair and improvement

• Community facilities construction

• Child development programs

• Home ownership programs

• Gardens and food production




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The Work (cont.)• Adult literacy programs

• Student homework programs

• Employment and training programs

• Finance schemes

• Mental and physical health programs

The resources are available for all of these programs; it iscreating the motivation to engage them and on terms where

the community has some real say in how they are delivered.

GK as EnablerGK can empower communities to take these steps and can

provide them with the partners to support them in theprocess.

GK becomes a facilitator in creating the platform for

convergence; the platform for development.


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Frank and Bai – True GK Heroes

GK Enchanted Farm - Bulacan Philippines

andrew chalk - recovering hope: why developed countries also need gk

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