The importance of listening

In this session we heard four stories from people talking about the factors they think lead to social innovation.

Alec Carlberg told a story about listening. His main points were:

"To be able to start the process of empowerment within a vulnerable group that wants to change its life situation for the better it is necessary to start with a profound study of the target group. Questions such as these below should be answered:

• How did the group become a "Vulnerable group"?
• What happens to individuals, who for a long time have belonged to a vulnarable group"?
• What does the group need for surrounding/setting to be able to change there situation? Phsyically and mentally?

He discussed these questions with the example of ex drug users who have created there own social co - operative Basta in Sweden and had these recommendations to make to decision-makers:

• "Nothing about me without me" should be the attitude and way of working with vulnerable goups who want to change their lives;
• Promote projects that have the aim to let vulnerable individuals and groups take the power and responsabiliy  of there own organization och social firms.
• Promote micro loans to vulneralble groups who want to start there own NGO or social firm.   

Here is a video of Alec adding the importance of anger to a general discussion about the factors that lead to social innovation.