Davos 2012: Three Keys for Emerging Nations

Image: my-world-travelguides

As the World Economic Forum meeting 2012 approaches, all the woes of the world will once again be tabled in snowy Davos, Switzerland. Even though the developed nations are also feeling the pinch nowadays, let us not forget that the emerging nations haven't known anything but the pinch since modernization. Since I am a woman of Africa (to quote Naomi Campbell, who says so in an unmistakeable London accent), the quest for solutions to the problems that face emerging nations is never far from my mind. 

This is why, if I happened to wake up on a podium at the World Economic Forum meeting tomorrow morning, I would be quite prepared to address the cosy little crowd. My conclusion, from almost 36 years of sleepless nights, is that three things would shift the emerging nations. They are, firstly, self-sufficiency, secondly, self-directed learning and thirdly, well, I guess it's called love. (Yes, for once I beg to differ from John Lennon: I reckon love is ALMOST all you need.) Most importantly, I would argue that these three factors are at their most powerful when interconnected. This is how it works. 

Self-Sufficiency

The first solution I propose for the emerging nations is basic self-sufficiency. By basic self-sufficiency I mean that people should have all they need to provide the necessities of life for themselves, their families and social groups, specifically through independent agriculture. People who have the opportunity to provide for their own needs are productively occupied, committed and proud of their accomplishments. This alone addresses the twin troubles of hunger and social instability. It even calms the spectre of unemployment, since self-sufficient individuals are fed and constructively engaged in a meaningful project. 

Self-sufficiency does pose challenges of its own, and naturally people will need some land and resources, not to mention skills and hard work. However, the results would mean that individual citizens can be their own masters. Pressures on the environment would be relieved, urban overcrowding would be curbed and surplus could be a source of financial income or generosity. Imagine that: so much surplus that people can't afford not to be generous. 

Self-Directed Learning (Guest Starring M-Learning)
If emerging nations are to actually reach the point where we can say they finally have emerged, their citizens will need learning. The obvious problem, especially in poorer nations, is how to make learning available when resources are so scarce. Worse yet, the poorest of the poor may find a child's immediate value as a labourer more important than schooling.

Yet a reminder is in order: formal education is a relatively new innovation. What is more, some of the great movers and shakers in this world were self-educated. Even as an educator, I believe that formal education is not a requirement for success. The will to learn, however, is (whether formal education is provided or not). Certain basics, like literacy, numeracy and thinking skills certainly provide a head start, but once these are mastered, the motivated, self-directed learner can match and surpass the average student.

To encourage and enable self-directed learning, I would advocate that emerging nations and their benefactors ensure that solid basic education is freely available to every citizen. Ultimately this should include literacy in a native language and English (a massive asset in connecting to the world), numeracy, thinking skills and entrepreneurial skills. Following free basic education, the next priority should be providing spaces and resources for self-directed learning: libraries, open lectures, books, and of course computers with internet access.

M-Learning: Learning with Mobile Devices

M-Learning Image: edtechdigest.wordpress.com

One of the most promising tools for self-directed learning is mobile learning, affectionately known as m-learning. M-learning refers to learning with mobile devices like mobile phones and tablet computers. Even entry-level smartphones  have a range of native applications (apps, in geekspeak) that can galvanize learning: cameras (for instant note-taking and portable study notes), voice recorders (for recording notes or lectures), audio players (for listening to study material whenever convenient), ebook readers (for reading on the run) and more. Add an internet connection, and a world of learning is right there.

While the developed world may still market smartphones as luxury toys, the emerging nations should embrace the potential of these portable supercomputers to galvanize their most important resource: people. Cellular service providers, device manufacturers and operating system designers can all benefit from collaborative marketing to promote m-learning. Sponsored and "scholarship" devices for achievers would further establish a culture of mobile learning, while promoting the sponsors, not to mention giving them much-needed tax breaks as their profits soar (along with per capita income thanks to improved learning).

In short, mobile learning has explosive potential for emerging nations, since education has a ripple effect. I would venture to say it is unlikely that a more powerful tool for self-directed learning has ever existed. As mobile phones and cellular networks continue to spread worldwide, I sincerely hope that the corporations driving this will raise awareness of the true power of their product.

Love

Marula Image: womenswork.com

Every day urban South Africans are confronted with armies of vendors selling products that are generally phenomenally undesirable. Vendors seem to believe that traffic lights exist mainly for their benefit, and descend the moment lights turn red. Today, en route to visiting my brother in hospital, I was offered something rather unusual: a bag of marula fruit. These fruit are legendary for their intoxicating effect on Africa's elephants, who lumber about drunkenly after gorging on overripe marula. I couldn't resist and bought a bag. On my way back, the same vendor came by. Rather than refuse, I showed him my bag of fruit. "How much are you selling them for?" he joked. Such kindness.

The more time I spend among so-called "less developed" cultures, the more I enjoy the unconditional, open warmth that is simply essential if one is to survive without material wealth. The developed nations, for all their strengths, suffer very severely from "affluenza", the disease of affluence, as people are separated from communities by their possessions. In the binary reality of poverty and wealth that is South Africa, I deeply value the sense of community and, yes, love shared so unselfishly by people who have very little of material value to give. "Priceless" indeed.

The Three are One
In closing I should stress that self-sufficiency, self-directed learning and love are not separate things. Self-sufficiency is perhaps the best school there is, and can be well supported by m-learning. As to love, well, it has been said to make the world go round in the first place, hasn't it? In which case it must, at some stage, reach Davos.

Even if I don't.

Real-Life Learning with New Year's Evolutions

Image: Public Domain. Illustration by John Tenniel, Text by Lewis Carroll, Remix by mtcleroux

My most recent post considered the benefits of giving oneself a "report card" for the year past before compiling anything resembling New Year's resolutions. Looking back at the past year provides a starting point for the year ahead, and gives something to build on. It also shows what is and isn't sustainable: lofty resolutions sound great but rarely last. Well, in this post I put all (or at least most of) my cards on the table with my own plans for the year ahead, based on the past year. 

This year the priorities are less hierarchical, since a few things will be important. This time, though, I will list the current situation and what I am aspiring to. The details of my life are really not all that fascinating to anyone who isn't a grossly misguided stalker with bad taste, so feel free to read only the headings. Really.  The real point is this: the "resolutions" in themselves are not as important as their evolution in relation to the past, developing a feasible strategy to make them happen and simply putting them down as a point of reference (yes, the process repeats itself each year!). So here are my little plans and schemes. Like I said, stick to the headings unless you enjoy soap opera: my current situation is très Days Of Our Lives. 

Family (A- in 2011)

Making family a priority was a HUGE adjustment for a self-confessed hermit like me. In the middle of 2011 I swallowed my ego whole and moved in with my grandparents, who were struggling with health issues, administration and a vast household to manage. In December, as I was preparing to move on, my brother was severely injured in a car accident and entered a coma from which he is beginning to emerge after several weeks. There are always choices, and I chose to stay on until things are settled, and perhaps longer. I won't deny that a double family crisis is a major challenge, but my conviction that this is all for a purpose is rock solid, overriding emotional responses and logistical concerns. This year family remains a priority, but I would like to increase my practical usefulness to the people who share my DNA and work on deepening relationships with them. 

Community: B in 2011

Much of my community activity this year will be related to family and work. One microcommunity I intend to continue serving is the staff working in "our" household, who are ready for upskilling, and some even for whole new work opportunities which I can facilitate. As to the broader community, I plan to reach them with much of the publication and presentation work I will be doing this year. More about that in the Career section, coming up....

Wellbeing: D in 2011

This area was totally not on target in 2011. Not only did living with people mean compromising my nutritional principles, but after falling off the relocation wagon as far as movement goes, I never got on again (perhaps because I barely moved at all between July and December). R&R also gave way to bad habits rather than squeaky-clean ones. The results (feeling blah and probably looking it if I had the courage to check the mirror) spoke for themselves. My 2012 strategy is one of moderation: though I have to cater to the culinary whims of others, I can insidiously ensure that at least what is on my plate does me good. Rather than give up the day's exercise because I have planned too much, I am starting each day with half an hour of realistic movement and strength training that doesn't scare me enough to hit the snooze button in stead. And I promise myself lots of wholesome R&R, both in short breaks between the day's tasks, in the evenings and at weekends. Working within the realm of the attainable is much better than failing at the impossible. 

Career: B- in 2011

Although the first half of 2011 was satisfactory career-wise, I completely tanked the moment I became a houseekeeper/nurse/neurotic control freak/granddaughter. I had had no idea how much time, energy and boundless patience my task would take, and found that when the work was finally done I was barely capable of staring at the ceiling. The lack of identity I felt without outside work was devastating. Since I will still be here for some time under very taxing conditions, work is vital to my sanity. Rather than formal employment, which is ruled out by my "patients"' routines, I have taken on a project that thrills and terrifies me. The Living Learning Group is an educational consultancy that offers tuition, training and presentations to encourage self-directed learning (with a major project or two up its sleeve...). Representing the business, I am also contributing educational and opinion pieces addressing education and training to the local media. This work, in addition to learning the ropes of small business, has all the makings of high adventure, and it has me in welcome overdrive. My career goal for the year is to make the very most of this experiment and see where it takes me. In this field, too, I am more interested in being flexible and contented than perfect. (Am I losing my edge ;)?). 

Finance: B- in 2011

The fact that I am still well afloat after six months without an income makes last year's finance a reasonable success. I also diligently set up a number of new financial projects to provide medium-term funds, a bit of a parachute and even a credit reference. Though I didn't spend outrageously, though, I was hardly frugal. This year my initial goal is to break even in the first months of the new business, but look at moving forward well before the end of the year. With strategic projects that really make a difference to all stakeholders, this can be done. 

Enjoyment: C in 2011

A respectable amount of good fun with wonderful people in the first half of the year was drowned in the sheer Kafkaesque grip of reality by mid-year. Oddly, as small problems have given way to ones too vast to contemplate, I am feeling much happier and squeezing more enjoyment out of things. Perhaps it is the close confrontation with death that makes the most ridiculous little things in life seem more precious. In 2012, rather than chasing momentous pleasures, I am contented with, and infinitely grateful for, the little ones. 

Blogging certainly is one of them. Have a spectacular 2012.