Proposal #55: LW => Mosaic => LW.
I propose that Mosaic is re-rebranded into "Local Work".
Rationale
When CISV felt that Local Work was going no where we decided to monitor the NAs to see what kind of LW was actually taking place. The result of the monitoring initiative revealed that Local Work was a facade with not much behind. Local Work was not cool, not sexy, could be everything, was nothing, and was't even happening in some of the biggest NAs. Along came Mosaic - the new funky Local Work - with a clear motto, more detailed concept, lots of tools to derive from and support from a growing committee. Today, after three years, what has changed? Mosaic can still be everything and nothing, with the exception of a few motivated individuals it is still not happening on a big scale, and all with a much greater effort of bureaucracy (deadlines, forms, etc) co-ordination and training.
Before the label "Mosaic" becomes a synonym for "all that we always wanted to do but never did", I suggest to make a symbolic move and rename Mosaic back to "Local Work". Take time to reconsider what the real problems of this concept is within CISV and how to make it happen in a way that it can have a real impact on a local/national level.
Respectfully submitted, Nick (GER)
7 Comments:
I'm not a big fan of rebrandings.
Changing names usually doesn't change problems, while it usually creates new ones because of all the energy wasted. Polls, circle-going discussions and waste of time are usually what you get by a rebranding process, not to mention when you also waste moneys!
I'm not a big Mosaic expert, but at least from my Italian experience, since Mosaic exists the work done in my NA seems to be way more improved.
Talking about the Effort:
Deadlines are usually a good thing, since most of the people (me included) work better having a reminder on their calendar or a "to do" list.
I repeat I'm not a Mosaic master, but Trainings are usually one of our graetests "Plus" of our association: a training usually gives good ideas and it avoids the "all that we always wanted to do but never did" part, since, after the training you know how to achieve the goal, or at least you know what you are working on and talking about!
Burocracy can be a problem, but I guess it's necessary to well coordinate the whole machinery and keeping track of the projects. Otherwise everyone would just send random emails explaining in different ways what they are doing, and no one could have a clear vision of how the global situation is.
To end this post: We can name it as we want, but to me the actual structure works.
hahaha amazing!
Having been a direct part of the initial transformation from Local Work to Mosaic I'm clearly accusable of bias. But it might also give some additional insights.
Well, I think there are a few things there. The first one is, right - compared to its ambitions, Mosaic is still not happening on a big scale. These ambitions, I think, were from start only partially realistic. The process of creating Mosaic was partially fixing/creating a programme and equally (and consciously) a force of transformation in CISV. It was on purpose that the idea of "what CISV can be" rather than "what CISV is" was emphasised. Well, that might be good or bad.
Not wanting to get into too much detail, also, I think, there are 2 things. One is that Local Work didn't make sense by definition - in theory nor practice. And that's different.
But at the same time, I agree somehow with the spirit of the proposal; in the sense that it might be smart for Mosaic to re-adjust its promises and avoid becoming the synonyms Nick talked about it the proposal. It could be this, as it could be many others.
Though, one thing is unarguable: Mosaic, today, hosts between 8 and 10 more projects than Local Work had when it died. Local Work had committees and not programmes; Mosaic perhaps is precisely the other way around.
Two more reasons, why I think Mosaic is still no much better than Local Work:
- Being a local, often short programme - without the financial and logistical effort of moving people around the world or hosting and catering for participants - hosting a handful of programmes each year is a questionable success.
- The fact that there is an international committee that counts and measures qualitiy of local CISV activities doesn't neccesarily make sure more and better stuff is happening.
To be a little dramatic, I believe that the "failure" of Local Work and the small progress achieved with the transition to Mosaic makes our whole CISV philosophy questionable: If you remove the travel-, camp- and meet-people-from-other-places-element from CISV, does it still work? Or more precisely: Is it still attractive for both volunteers and participants?? Obviously not so much.
To give you a different angle to the issue: When IPP was created, a lot of people, wondered whether we need the "I" in the activity: Why fly people around the world, if an "National People's Project" could be just as good? There are a bunch of reasons why, but one is quite significant: People couldn't be bothered to organize NPPs. The whole issue of inviting people from around the globe to participate in a local project is a key issue to make IPPs work. (Now, of course, you can question if IPPs REALLY work, if there's just a handful every year after a decade of developing...but that's another story)
In any case, I would really like to challenge you to think, and wonder how Mosaic, the programme that could be the strongest in terms of size, impact and educational value, could really take off. Because, I don't think it is right now.
Being a member of the JB in my country for the last 2 years now, and having heard of what Local Work was done in JB Lebanon before I join the JB, nothing much has changed. There was one attempt once to do a Local Work but it ended up working for a bit then failing cause it was done so chaotically and didn't follow a plan or anything. it was just an idea, an initiative, without the proper tools to be transformed into an act.
For the past few months I've been trying to get JB Lebanon to be oriented into doing meaningful stuff and not just doing random fun small stuff. And Mosaic was one of the things i suggested and really want to see happening in my JB, BUT I was unable to transfer that enthusiasm to my JB and make them see how important such a program is.
For me, the name is irrelevant. Local Work, Mosaic or whatever you want to call it means nothing to me because I haven't tried any of them. But what I want to see is not a change in name, is a concrete way of reshaping Mosaic so that like it had reached 8-10 more projects then Local Work did, now it would try to reach all the NAs and Chapters everywhere. that should be one of the main goals of Mosaic: reaching all chapters and giving them the proper tools to motivate them and orient them on the right path so that Mosaic becomes truly international.
Hani (LEB)
Since the proposal is a bit of a rant, I'd like to add some ideas on how I think Mosaic could really gain momentum:
I think the programme needs to leave the abstract path and start being something concrete. Instead of being "everything you ever dreamt of - educational", Mosaic should be a defined, standardized, elaborated set of local programmes. Here's a few that already exist (or have taken place in the past), but need some refining - I came up with names to make them a little more sellable:
MOSAIC 2x10
- 2-week national camps for 10 years olds - alternatively a binational camp. Activities on the village level minus the national nights. Delegation nights could replace that, with a regional theme. Not all kids can go to villages, not all leaders have time for 4 weeks, here's a low budget alternative for a younger age-group.
MOSAIC-MINICAMP-CURRICULUM
Let's develop minicamps with set activities that cover all (I mean ALL) activities of the Educational Circle. Kids that have gone to villages could be gathered for minicamps once they come back 2-4 times a year, and run through this curriculum. Non-camp peace-education at its best. Train the leaders in international workshops, and tell them, what to keep in mind, when running this or that minicamp. They will always get better, if exchange takes place.
ETHNOMOSAIC
Previously known as "Mosaic-camps" in Swenden and "Ethnic-camps" in the US, this is a two-week daycamp, where kids from different ethnic groups receive a summer programme: Kids learn about other kids original countries, their specific cultures (why we don't celebrate Christmas) reduce prejudices and become intercultural friends. A programme to the very core of CISV's philosophy.
If just one of these three concepts become big in CISV, I think the organisation would take a huge leap forward.
Cheers,
Nick
Mosaic seems too bureaucratic to me. Too much paper work to fill out and too much BS in the middle. LW just let you "do" and contribute to the community. There are so many places CISV'ers could be volunteering and doing things with the leadership background we have... but then it's not officially recognized because it doesn't fit into what the mosaic committee has set up as a program. To me it seems too much hassle and too little initiative. This year's IJBC theme was reflect and act... I feel sometimes (and mostly juniors tend to do this) that we reflect too much and we do not act enough!
First of all I would like to say that Change especially in CISV takes time.
secondly CISV is all about breaking down cultural barriers and there are plenty of barriers to be crossed within many nations and cities around the globe. additionally what about all the people all over the world who are not able to pay to go to camp? A mosaic project (local village, ecological service learning...) can give a very similar educational outcome for the participants.
The goal of a mosaic project is to do way more than giving back to your community. Mosaic is about learning about your community, learning what is missing and then giving back. The idea is to present the participants with a holistic view of what ever the question or issue is that is pressing to the community not the NA or International.
As a member of my NA's Mosaic committee in the US and as a prospective member of the IMC I too am slightly bias
You are right. There is allot of bureaucracy but insofar as this helps us assure that each one of these programs is really what it was meant to be (educationally) I don't think it is a all bad and as we continue doing trainings around the world and developing our network of trainers the whole process will get easier and more accessible.
The proposal forms are not long and besides basic logistical information just wants to know that you as staff thoughtfully decided on specific educational goals and action steps for the project and indicators to see if it was done.
Please do not let mosaic and its infrastructure stop you from just doing and contributing. This is not the idea at all. But if you want to elevate the work you already do and make it more substantial or start something that encompasses CISV in your local community you can.
You can also think outside the box. This summer I organized a Mosaic Seminar Camp in Detroit and it went brilliantly! Mosaic was integrated into the seminar camp without compromising the camp structure. The participants felt it was the best day of camp and they spoke of their experience with the Refugees they worked with the whole camp.
Try not to think of how you have to fit into mosaic think about how mosaic can fit into you. It is for this reason I believe so strongly in Mosaic. It is all about you!
The leadership of Mosaic does this work to better the organization and help CISV more fully realize
our educational goals by brining full on peace education to your backyard.
In the US we have had constant growth since mosaic was first introduced. This year we have 9 projects slated for the year.
Please do not forget that the mosaic committee is here to help you in any way that we can. If you want to do a Mosaic program and do not have anyone in your NA who you can contact, contact us. This is why we are here we can get you materials, training, what ever.
Matt (US)
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