1

Vincentian FamilySystemic Change Meeting

November 4-7, 2010, Belleville, Illinois

METHOD OF TRANSFORMING PROJECTS INTO SYSTEMIC

CHANGE

2

Systemic Change:

•It is a process that favors a structural change of a whole system

•It is a change that leads to a radical transformation of the life of the excluded through specific strategies, needed to produce those changes

3

Systemic Change:

“Our project, although it may notachieve a radical transformation in the lives of our brothers and sisters, is a necessary project.”

What should we do?

4

Do people change?It is a fact that most people

do not want to change

What it is difficult to transform is the mentality, our mentality, in order to generate transforming strategies.

5

SOCIAL CO RESPONSIBILITY AND EDUCATION

FOR A WORLD WITHOUT VIOLENCE

M The Marillac Vincentian Center on the road towards transformation

ARILLAC VINCENTIAN CENTER

6

7

The Center is located in a very poor community

8

Our efforts did not contribute to improve the quality of life of the members of the community

9

“Training women to achieve their empowerment”

“Social Co-responsibility for a world without Violence”

A radical Change was needed

10

Process leading to transformation

Methods employed: • The Flow of Change • Strategies for Systemic Change

The strategies of Systemic Change are at the same time:• Doctrinal Frame• Guide /Action Lines • Criteria for Projects evaluations

11

Mission oriented Strategies

12

• People will be more committed to changing if the change speaks to their hearts.

• The primary challenge is to change behavior

• This may be best accomplished by enabling people to see a truth that influences their feelings

The heart of change is in emotion

1. Establishing the urgency to change

It is a fact that most people do not want to change

13

• Is the project still needed?• Does it respond to the present needs of the population?• Which are the problems that have been detected?• What are the reasons for changing?• The risks for not changing?• Why the project has not transformed the lives of the people who are poor?• What results do we expect to achieve with the project?

14

Our project did not respond to the real needs of the population

15

2. Create a transformational vision

There must be a vision to direct the change effort, so that the possible “futures” may be seen.

Where transformation is desired, there should be effective strategies to achieve strategic changes.

The new vision implies a redefinition of the project’s objectives

16

Work

Money

FoodHealth

Education

Holistic Vision: spiritual and corporal

17

Holistic Vision: Inclusion of subsystems

18

“Social coresponsibility and educationfor a world without violence”

19

Promoting a culture of gender equality

“It is not enough to do good, we must do good well”

without attacking poverty causes, it is impossible to achieve a truly transforming effect.

20

3. Build the guiding team

21

4. Communicate the vision for buy-in

Collaboration and networks that give place to a new project

23

5. Empower others to act according to the vision

24

Exemplary leaders

25

Young women from the community, members of the guiding team

26

6. Create short-term wins

• Long term visions may be broken down into short terms sub goals

• Incremental change and small wins build confidence

• These contributions toward change should be celebrated

27

Reconstruction and readaptation of the CenterProgram “Three in One” 2009

28

April May June July

1 Creation of a network ----------------- ---------------

2 Reconstruction of the Center -------------- -----------------------

3 Equipment

4 Inclusion of women from the community

5 Guiding team -------------------- -------------------

Examples of short term wins

29

7. Don’t Let Up• The vision must be supported by all systems,structures and policies

• If one part of the organizationchanges, then other parts of the organization need to be examined for ripple effects

• The urgency at the beginning of the change effort needs to continue, even after small wins occur

30

How is the project seen for the future Women as multiplying agents

31

How is the project seen for the future• Multiplying and generator effect• Women of the community facilitating the talks and workshops• New leaderships among the women

32

Horizontal multiplying effect

Vincentian Center in San Luís Potosí

Marillac Center“Social co responsibility for a world without violence”

Pilot project: Multiplying effect in all the Vincentian volunteers’ centers in the country

33

8. Institutionalize new methods, policies and strategies

• Any new culture that is working well for the organization should not only be “frozen” into place but continuously nurtured • Role modeling on the part of the leaders and key individuals will constantly remind organizational members of the higher purpose values and behaviors that keep their culture strong

34

Some of the main ACTIVITIES

according to the new vision

35

Promotion of ethical and Christian values

36

Psychological assistance for women and for whoever requires it

37

Human rights and Legal and judicial support

Respect of their human rights, specially their right to live with dignity and free from violence

A complaint department of the Human Rights Commission

Talks and workshopsLegal counseling

38

Health Brigades

39

Mediation between couples

40

“SUSTENTA” program (Food Bank)

41

Workshop: Prevention of violence against women and children abuse (CAVIF)

42

Workshop for parents: “How to communicate with my children” “Families free of Violence” …

43

Use of Windows and the most common programs:

Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Computing classes

44

Transform your life practicing

YogaDiscover your inner self

and fill your life with energy and peace

CENTRO MARILLAC

ACTIVITIES ADDRESSED TO MEN, YOUNGSTERS AND CHILDREN

46

Integral formation for men, young people and children (IEEA)

47

Spiritual Formation, ethical and moral values

48

Different opportunities for young people

TEMZCALLI: Organization to prevent addictions

49

Different opportunities for young people

50

Workshops on preventive health for youngsters (IMSS/Colegio de Médicas Potosinas)

51

Summer Camp and extracurricular activities for children

52

Prevention of accidents and burns

53

Social Work

Detection of individual, familiar and communitarian problems Surveys, interviews, personalized attention, and

socio-economical studies

Cases analysisProjects for personal and

communitarian improvementPromotion of the Center’s activities

54

Counseling and attention to families that suffer from extreme poverty and violence

Vincentian Listening Center

Attention to their physical and emotional health

Psychological and legal counseling

Nutritional supportWork and social securityMedical and dental attentionHome improvement, etc.

CONCLUSION

57