What we work for!

News from Mexico about our Dialogue in the Dark Business Workshop Weeks with Allianz Mexico:

“Here in Mexico we are doing very well and I hope that you won’t get bored from so much positive news from Mexico:

After half of the workshops runned we notice not only a change in beetween ourselves, that everyone is getting more professional but also that the experience makes us relax more and enjoy a lot our work. You can see the improvement of each facilitator and moderator and everyone is still willing to learn to get even better. But we are also growing as a team. We work together as one, coordinating as one and giving feedback when needed as honestly as possible. We see each other also in our free time and share moments together not only as collegues, but as friends – offering help, sharing knowledge or sometimes just joking. We are aware of each of our team member, and this we are reflecting outwards.

The Allianz staff see this growing-together, and sometimes you can see that they are taking us as an example. It is interesting to observe the subtle changes in Allianz and it is very pleasant to hear all these beautiful comments of participants such as I heard yesterday from an employee who asked me how we were doing with the BWs. His answer of my question, if he still takes the “lessons of the BW” in his every-day-life and activities he replied: “Oh yes of course! After this experience you could never step back being what you were before!”
The transparency of our job and the open communication amongst the team is what makes us proud not only of what we do at DSE, but also of being part of this wonderful social enterprise.
In the name of the whole Mexican Team, I send you bests regards and hugs,

Liliane”

Our trip to Kenya – a short review by Tony Ward

I would be delighted to update you on the Kenya trip.

The idea was conceived by Irene Mbari Kirika who lives in Atlanta and visited the exhibition there. She is originally from Kenya and founded an organisation called “inAble” which seeks to support development in schools for the blind in Kenya – she saw DID as a perfect opportunity to raise awareness of visual impairment and blindness and also advance her work in Kenya.

From Friday 24 until Tuesday 28 September we managed 7 workshop sessions. Some were attended by companies and some were mixed groups. The anchor group was from YPO (Young President’s Organisation) who incorporated the workshop as one of the events in their educational calendar and it was highly acclaimed by them.

There were four visually impaired people in the DID team – Tony Ward from Ireland, Lynn Cox and Yahye Said from the UK and Tonia Lumpkin from France. Andreas Heinecke also attended to promote the first ever DID in Africa and was an integral part of the success of the workshops.

It is very much hoped that this is the first of many more in Africa and Kenya in particular.

Dialogue Social Enterprise & Young Presidents’ Organizationk

For the fourth time Dialogue Social Enterprise (DSE) has been invited to run a series of Business Workshops in Geneva, Switzerland (15.-19.September) hosted by the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO). After just receiving the Dragon Award for “Business with conscience” during the World Economic Forum in China and being “Global Award Winner for the best innovative and out-of-the-comfort-zone event”(link) by YPO itself, the DSE Team did their very best to embrace over 80 participants and let them benefit from their unique Workshop Concept.

Our aim is to assist people while there are stepping out of their comfort zone. This happens through the loss of one of their senses. We either deny them their hearing ability, let them experience how  a deaf person would experience the world around (www.dialogue-in-silence.com) or lead them into complete darkness, abandon them from a world that is visually perceptible (www.dialogue-in-the-dark.com).

I, as a visually impaired person myself, work as a trainer for Dialogue in the Dark Business Workshops all over the World. With the event in Geneva, we had another opportunity to let people overcome the darkness and enlighten their personal skills and business potential. Through the change of the environment we are able to give you an understanding of how it is to see the world through your other senses. Not getting distracted by the visual world helps to train precise and active hearing and improves your communication skills.

To fulfil the tasks that we give you in the dark, you have to be active and organise yourself and your group. You learn to trust and rely on others and improve your teamwork abilities. And last but not least gain even more acceptance and respect for other people’s skills.

(Daniela Dimitrova, Manager Human Resources, Dialogue Social Enterprise)