Cat 2

It's been another day of everything - running around not even hearing the outside world. I have my headphones on. My phone is constantly buzzing in my pocket with notifications,reminding me of the things I need to do, to know, to fill today. It is a matter of trying to detach myself from all the thoughts going through my head. Get the MIND silent, feel my body, the motion of my joints, and the breeze of the wind in the ocean of people and cars.

Leicester Stories - #BuildBackBetter - Part 1

Dr Rob Watson interviewed me as part of Leicester Stories serie #BuildBackBetter in July 2021. Prior to the interview, he sent me few questions for me to prepare the interview and start thinking about what it means to Build Back Better post-pandemic. In the following post, I will take time to answer the questions I was sent and augment my response with some of the reflections I had through the interview.

R: I’d like to find out what we are still learning from the experience of the lockdown, particularly here in Leicester?

M: At Quetzal, the lockdown taught us and invited us to reflect on the following:

• What does it take to be a community that is not defined by a set location?
• What can we do to mobilise our partners, volunteers and collaborators from remote location?
• What does it takes to disseminate information and make it accessible to people who may not have access to the online world?
• What other type of event can we develop that keep ourselves and other safe?
• What special provision do we need to make to support better female survivors?

I learnt and appreciate crisis and disaster as a great opportunity to reach new level of consciousness providing new solutions to existing problems. I also appreciated how important and significant it is to take care of our mental health and how media is key to connect us with one another especially when the most low tech technology i.e. word of mouth and events are no longer readily accessible.

leicester stories

 

1. 
   I’d like to find out what we are still learning from the experience of the lockdown, particularly here in Leicester?

From Quetzal perspective, the lockdown taught us what it takes to be a community that is not defined by a set location, what can we do to mobilise our partners, volunteers and collaborators from remote location, what it takes to disseminate information and make it accessible to people who may not have access, what other type of event can we develop that keep ourselves and other safe, what special provision do we need to make to support better some female survivors, that crisis are great opportunity to reach greater level of consciousness and how important is to cre about our mental health, then that media are so important social mnedia local media to share informatiom between people

1. I’d like to know what conversations and discussions people living and working in Leicester had during the lockdown, especially when these conversations started to focus on the idea of Building Back Better?

When the idea of building back Britain better came out, when was that? March 2021, April 2021, my main focus was what tools can we provide to people to support their mental health. Through a trauma informed programme the first steps are stabilisation and regulation if people are in state of shock we need to support them. During the pandemic many people were not equipped with the skills and ability. My other main concern was how do I pass information when the most low tech technology are not accessible or that people are not using Hugh tech technology anymore, how do I create connection when I cannot go physically to different places. My uncle emile viti abi is a writer with a fascination for Malian African empire and he was telling me that if we wanted an information to reach roma just through word of mouth, it will reach it. How do I tell people that we can support them in their journey towards recovery, how do I deal with gatekeepers, individuals who keep their communities shielded.

During the lockdown, my main focus was what can I do to raise awareness about the trauma of childhood sexual abuse in outh Asian communities by not actually being able to be in their physcial location and not even being able to access them directly, the question what can we do to build better community came to mind, it is about connections with people and bhow we engage with them, it is about what w give them, it was also about creating beter stories, coming from them directly, directly from peoplel, the other element it was about care and mental health and giving people the tools to be take care of their mental health better, it iwa also about raising awareness abotu the value of cousnelling and tell family to give privacy people.

1. What does Build Back Better mean in practice for people living and working in a highly multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-racial city?

In practice, it is about identifying people gift talents resources and competences and mobilising them where is needed the most. It is about co-crearion of experience that makes United. It is about also identifying people interest that goes beyond their ethnicity.

I think it is identifying people all as having a gift, a resources, a taleknt ebyond their ethnicity and to treat peopel the way we would like to be treated. South Asian communities what does that mean, asset baased community.

for me is about your strength and expressing the best expression of yourself, your interet, your vising and co-creating with ohers experiences that make us feel united.

1. Is Build Back Better just a slogan, or is there some structure and weight behind it?

Yes, Yes, Yes 
 it does infer some form of duality between better or worse, it is also indicate that something has been created and then eventually brought down when the community does not feel it works not more. Who is qualified to build, it highlight some type of expertise. it i alo a question a criteria that we can use to gauge something we've created, there is some weight behind it inviting us to wonder whether what we did is good or not.Building Back Better (BBB) is a strategy aimed at reducing the risk to the people of nations and communities in the wake of future disasters and shocks.^[1] The BBB approach integrates disaster risk reduction measures into the restoration of physical infrastructure, social systems and shelter, and the revitalization of livelihoods, economies and the environment.^[2]

BBB was first officially described in the United Nations' Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction document, which was agreed on at the Third UN World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction held on March 14–18, 2015, in Sendai, Japan. It was adopted by UN member states as one of four priorities in the Sendai Framework for disaster recovery, risk reduction and sustainable development.^[3] The UN General Assembly adopted this document on June 3, 2015.

For me what is most important is to find balance through greater self-awareness and social awareness. Finding a better balance between our purpose by asking ourselves why we exist and our mission which is what we do. my purpose or the why i exist is to give a different perspective to you on the way I see the world and create with you experiences that unite us, my mission is to create more trauma-informed and sustainable communities in Leicester, am I building something or am I co-creating experiences, some exchange with other people.. why would I want to create more balance between my purpose and my mission so I can give space to other to also expres their best expression and together we can create new experience. Building Back Better there is definitely this element of duality, then there is the weight put on those who are perceive are doing best, the expert and actually when reading the report is what they emphasis upon boosting the industry productivity by inviting the best.

Quetzal raison d'etre is to amplify the voice of survivors and what they do is to supprot them is their journey towards recovery. 

Building back also indicate this idea that once built the job is done, when actually it is a never ending project, what is most important for me is to transcend what we've learnt prior to the pandemic, during the pandemic even now, transcend the community that were too static, and develop new connections.  shall we say intead destroy better. why do we need disaster to build better, shall we not dismantle on the daily basis what we know and give rise to something new. the disaster we've experience gave rise to great things bringing at the centre of the conversation the issue of mental health and domestic violence, forcing us to really pay attention to the way we behave

1. If there is a better term, what is it? it is a great term to create some type of discussion - is there a better term to describe what we are doing. For me it is.Taking over the world - Transcending ones world remains the top for me as it is changing worldviews and there is also this elements of learning because ultimately who can claim that the world is or can be taken over, as you even try to take upon one world, you discover and learn there is milliuons more. I give you an example, when I was task at Quetzal to raise awareness in South Asian communities about the trauma of childhood sexual abuse, trying to take over one world, I was mesmerised by all that I discovered. the proces took over my worldviews and perspective and for this I am grateful

2. Change is at the centre of the Building Back Better ethos, but what kind of change are we talking about?

Isn't it that term came through the UN as a strategy to  reduce the risk to the people of nations and communities in the wake of future disasters and shocks. Isnt it in their report they emphasis on creating a net carbon zero economy, creating more green jobs, boosting the economy, investing in infrastructure skills and innovation. Not sure they changed much from their previous agenda to be perfectly honest. At Quetzal, the main change was to continue our support to female survivors using digital infrastructure so that they have the tools, the space to expres their emotions and feeling and better deal with the impacts of disasters and schock. for me, to know that everyone of us have greater consciousness, understand better how the mind works, how their emotions afffecttheir physiology and also their relationships with others is so significantbecause in the face of disasters, they have the tool to deal with it all. and as a community to have people who are skilled counsellors we also indigeneous practices such as yoga alternative practices such as reflexology and more, all those tools are there to support the mind to cope with dissonant externalities. with a better mind, we can better co-create with other experiences that bring joy, good health. if we are not good in our mind, how can we possibly have good relationships with others. i guess mabe what we building back better is our brain, talking abou neuropklasticity and creating new connections between our experiences and our feelings

1. What is the idea of change associated with Building Back Better based on?

Infrastructure

1. Has this been a practical discussion, or is it just an opportunity for lots more talk? I believe any exchange are practical discussion as long a you are truly ready to take the information in. if you are too full with worries, your brain become like a waterlog ponge, but if otherwise, when i listen to people I am alway ready to jump on the opportunity to create something with them. For me it helps to identify where my focus is and it is signpost people who may have a waterlog brain towards services who helped them deal with the new changes coming through.

2. Are there things that have been adopted and put into practice that point in the direction of practical changes we can make?

At which level? 

1. What have been the reactions to those practices, and are the changes making real and lasting differences?

2. Is there support from colleagues and partners that encourage and enhance these changes? Has anything proven intransigent and too difficult to change? What’s turned out to be the most adaptable things to change?

3. Reflection and examination based on hindsight are necessary and essential things for us to do, especially if we are to learn the lessons of the pandemic.

4. I’m keen to find out what improvements have been brought about, either intentionally or unintentionally, to the way we do things?

5. Many, perhaps naively, expected change to come at a galloping pace, but that’s not how change feels in practice. Change is usually drawn-out and seems slow. Yet when we look back, we realise how much is different given the time that has past, or how far we have travelled.

6. I think it’s essential to explore the positive dynamics of social change, particularly those that can be held as good examples for others to follow in the future.

7. As we start to make decisions, draw-up new policies, and redirect resources, the essential question I have in mind, is how will Building Back Better affect us in our everyday lives, and will we see the results of in our neighbourhoods and communities?

When we chat I’ll try to focus on what your experience has been of doing this, as direct experience is much easier to elaborate and consider.

More there is always more - Week update

This week many changes occurred

First, I returned to Marle's Feed for updates and writing. Last week, I let go of Instagram to update on my weekly progress to recentralise my thoughts on my main blog. I started this blog back in 2012. There are probably more than 400 entries dealing with projects such as Positive Money and the Money workshop, Footpaths Leicester, The Green Festival of Making and Mending as well as Leicester Fixers, plus plethora of other writings. I did not write much about the Breaking the Silence Initiative at Quetzal. Though I intend to update the blog with past entries. 

The return was motivated by conversations with my uncle, Emile Biti Abi, author and thinker, recently published author Joyce Henry and my dear friend and artist Kajal Nisha Patel from Lightseekers. I thought let's consolidate and integrate all my writings on one central platforms.

The second important change is dealing with all my emails and online communication with collaborators on the Monday. The move was inspired by re-skimming through Tim Ferris 4-hour Work Week.  The move allowed me to do more focused and productive work laying foundation for new upcoming projects. 

More changes happened at many other levels, letting go of what it was in order to give space to what's new.

Below, I present some of what happened this week with some of my projects

This week at Quetzal

I had a productive conversation with Family Action about their project raising awareness about childhood sexual abuse in South Asian Communities. We both shared our challenges in term of engaging with communities where the stigma associated with sexual abuse is strife and where community leaders are too reluctant to open their doors. I look forward to support as best as I can their project in raising awareness in Leicester South Asian Community.

I went with a volunteer to visit a property by Rushey Field Park to ask if it was possible to paint on their property for a mural project with students. We had the most amazing conversation with the property owner. He did not agree with the idea of painting on a wall. He considered the original brick as having so much beauty and character. He asked me  ''Would you let anyone paint on your house?'. I smiled uncomfortable. My gut said ''Hell no''. He said to me so ''if you cannot do it on your own home, how this could be a good idea to paint on someone else house. if tag comes on this wall, he will most probably irritate someone eventually and get tagged on''. He said ''if you want to do a mural, do it in side a building for people to see and then discuss. this makes more sense''. He suggested other places in Leicester to paint on. He went on and said that is selling his home and if I find a buyer then I can paint on the house.

The discussion was rich and full of insights on the need to do some intergenerational work to bring the young with the old, the need of worshipping mothers for all the hard work they do in their community and so much more. 

As I walked in Leicester, I started to look at the walls and the shop front in a new eye an thought that we could instead of painting on a wall instead adorn a shop front. It will make more sense to do so. There is this shop next to Quetzal that I am thinking would be great to start with.

I also got interviewed by Rob Watson as part of Leicester Stories Podcast on Building Back Together. It was a great opportunity to think in more details about the process of transforming the gift of a story into various formats of dissemination. Every time, I go through this process I feel closer to my father and his work as a storyteller and theatre director. I miss him dearly.

The exhibition at Quetzal on the 18th September 2021 is getting more refined. I will let you know more soon ;) - 

This week at Eugenie Bitty Arts

Ongoing discussion with the team are occurring about our next exhibition in May 2022. I am also fostering relationship with collaborators in the UK to organise a trip to France for the main exhibition next year. I am also in seriously looking for a mentor to support me in this journey, I hope to find her or him soon. Visit the website and susbscribe to a newsletter for receiving in your mailbox the invitation or any other news

This week at Lightseekers

Our review of the Ways to Wellbeing project continue with this week costing appropriately our labour. I am so pleased knowing that Kajal Nisha Patel is writing extensively about the project in an academic format and I look forward to read about her reflection further in light of the literature in Museum and Cultural Studies.

More, there is always more...

So here it is for this week, a quick updates of some what happened. I pleased with all the work we are putting through to support changes

This week with Eugenie Bitty Arts

We are working towards harmonisation and alignment at Eugenie Bitty Arts. Though there are pieces within the team that needs to be straighten out further. On my side, the main thing I can do is to trust the process and keep myself grounded in the present.

I have been looking for mentors to support this journey. I wrote to SheAfriq. I also received a call from a collaborator who suggested to me a potential mentor. I hope that I will be able to work with them soon.

Our main workshop at Villecresnes is being changed and declutered. All this with the goal in mind to accommodate a workshop.

Paintings are being selected for our next exhibition in May 2022. We will soon be able to create the appropriate documentation to send to our collaborators. I am looking forward to seeing what are the gifts we will share next year with our visitors.

For more information about Eugenie Bitty Arts: www.eugeniebittyarts.com

Caged animals

The man opens the cage to throw a big cat in there. I look at him intrigued. I look closer and see other animals caged including gorillas and orange outan. To my horror, one of the cage I'd open and a big cat is about to escape. I look for help and I see two mens disguised as gorilla taking care of the animals. I told them about the escape. When they look the animal is no longer there. Before I knew someone comes to find us asking us to go as if something terrible just happened and we started running to all our might.

Writing a book about Leicester Fixers and Repair

Writing a book for a general audience came into my awareness for few weeks now with friends suggesting to turn my doctorate into a book. Then, I was invited to celebrate a girlfriend birthday in Nottingham. Unable to drive to the destination, I was picked up by a newly published author. We spoke all the way there and back about the process of writing a book and some of steps involved in delivering the written product. In the evening. I discussed some of the elements with another friend who told me that she will help me find the necessary funding to make this happen. My first book is about Leicester Fixers, Repair, the Doctorate and more. I want to be able to raise some funding to continue and expand the development of sustainable communities within Leicester,  Leicestershire and Rutland. Through the book, I want to be able to raise necessary funds to do this. Fingercrossed, this will be possible. 

If you would like to support me with this project, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

This week with Eugénie Bitty Arts

Eugenie Bitty Arts had a meeting this week to review the success, impacts and key learning from the group exhibition at La Maison Muller.

At the results of the discussion, we have decided to organise an exhibition in May 2022 to exhibit a collection of her work in Paris.

I trust already that the work we will produce will have great success. 

I am inviting all my collaborators to visit her site and subscribe to her newsletter to be the first one to know about the event

www.eugeniebittyarts.com 

if you write everyday, you will write a book

My uncle and beautiful writer, Emile Biti Abi, writer said "if you write everyday you will write a book"

If you write everyday, you probably wrote already many books.

Tell me which story are you currently contributing to? 

Amazon Smile does not make me smile

 Thank you for sending me an invitation to shop at Amazon Smile so that your charity can get pennies out of my purchase. I am appalled by the effort. I will make sure that you know the ten reasons why Amazon Smile does not make me smile.

1) Amazon does not pay their taxes appropriately in the UK to support vital services for people. Their scheme is a pittance compared to what they could contribute to the global society. They send gift hampers to our MPs to get more tax breaks.

2) Out of £1000 purchase, as a charity, you will get only £5. How sad?

3) Amazon subjects workers to poor working condition across the world. How can you as a charity demand social justice and yet spit on your efforts?

4) Your charity is eating away your supporters' desire to give more to you. They will feel like ''oh well I am buying through Amazon Smile so, I do not have to give more. It is another ''slacktivism'' example whereby people become less charitable because they get the feeling that they are charitable by giving your charity... just nothing?

5) If I donate to you, I expect that you spend more time and energy developing schemes that support local regeneration of small businesses that contribute back to you and not give to Amazon who ultimately sends the money back to Luxembourg.

6) Is Amazon the kind of corporation with which you want to align your nonprofit?

7) With all the local shops closing in the city, why would you provide more free advertising to Amazon?

8) How many women and children work in deplorable conditions to make the products we buy on Amazon?

9 ) I wish you could use your mailing lists more effectively and use your time more effectively to leverage donations directly to you and not through a third party. 

10) If your charity is supposed to be supporting women and their families in a specific area, why would you not support the economic infrastructures of those areas?

I could keep ongoing. You are supporting Amazon to colonise every space, and unfortunately, you participate in the suppression of other human's expression of goodness and kindness.

https://www.alancantorconsulting.com/2014/12/no-dont-smile/

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191210005333/en/Amazon-Surprises-Hundreds-of-Charities-by-Fulfilling-Their-AmazonSmile-Charity-Lists-this-Holiday-Season

https://johnkenyon.org/why-amazonsmile-doesnt-turn-my-frown-upside-down/

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-does-amazon-smile-charity-donation-work-2018-5?r=US&IR=T

https://medium.com/@digitalculturenyc/why-nonprofits-need-to-stop-falling-for-the-amazon-smile-scam-f68d389c801c

https://nonprofitchronicles.com/2017/03/28/why-amazon-smile-doesnt-make-me-smile/

Social Media

If you’d like to follow my work online here’s where you can find me:

Marle on Twitter

You can follow me @DrMarle_Di where I post mainly about Quetzal.

Marle on Instagram

On my Instagram, @Drmarle.di

Marle on Youtube

Few videos of projects can be found here

Decentered Media Podcast 081 - Dr Marie Lefebvre and Community Solutions to Break the Silence about Childhood Sexual Abuse

Excerpt: Dr Marie Lefebvre from Quetzal on the Decentered Media Podcast discussed with John Coster and Dr Rob Watson Community Solutions for breaking the silence about the trauma of childhood sexual abuse.

Click here to listen the podcast 

Together, on the podcast, we explored how through creative storytelling, each one of us in our own capacity can help in breaking the silence about childhood sexual abuse and empower people to eventually find their voice and contribute to our community and society.

With the extended lockdown happening in Leicester, it is primordial than each of us find ways to communicate valuable information to people that will support their mental and physical health, to empower each one of us with strength to voice our needs and concerns.

At Quetzal, we deliver counselling services to support women in breaking the bars and psychological cages of the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. A part of my job at Quetzal is to raise further awareness about the trauma of childhood sexual abuse and the value of counselling in South Asian communities in Leicester City using a community-based approach through the Breaking the Silence Initiative.

I am hoping by listening to the podcast, you’ll be inspired to share your story, contribute to and subscribe to Quetzal voices.

Together, we can amplify the voice and wishes of the community where every women and men who experienced abuse know that if they need and want to, they can access support.

Being a Mixed-Raced Post-Doctorate following the Murder of George Floyd

A reflection from a Mixed Raced Black Post-Doctorate who started since July 2019  a discussion with her academic institution about race-based trauma and the experience of BAME academics, and how the murder of George Floyd prompted more actions and reflections on the role of university in supporting BAME staff and students as her first attempt for a productive exchange failed through.

When George Floyd died, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement grew, all the news and social media platforms became a constant noise of information related to systemic racism, police brutality and wishes for a better world. I wondered what would be my role and contribution.

I am very fortunate to work for a trauma-informed charity in Leicester that trains and informs their staff and volunteers about how events outside of our control can trigger emotions around unprocessed trauma. So, my first move was to take care of my mental health. Subsequently, I chose not to attend any protests as I was not sure how I would react, and I have a duty of care towards myself first and all those I serve.

I decided instead to reflect upon my Ph.D experience and the process I went through to engage with the Equality and Diversity team at Loughborough University. 

To give more insight, a year almost passed since my Viva at Loughborough University (June 2019). I completed a doctorate contributing to the field of Design for Sustainable Behaviour, Repair and the Circular Economy. A year almost passed too since I engaged with the Equality and Diversity team at my university to share with them my Ph.D experience as a Mixed-Raced Woman (July 2019). My testimony reflected upon how the Ph.D process can trigger unprocessed race-based trauma amongst BAME students and provided some recommendations for the university to make both their staff and students more trauma-informed.

Yet, in June 2020, I still did not get any face-to-face audience with the staff team from the Equality and Diversity Team. 

For me who was born and bred in Europe, and a product of the love from a White French Man and Black Ivorian Woman, I believe that the pain in my veins is invisible to most outsiders, especially my white counterparts. I also recognise that for a long time, I ignored how I felt.  I integrated the abuse related to the colour of my skin I experienced from a young age up to adulthood as normal, and had developed some maladaptive coping mechanisms to deal with stress. Thanks to the Ph.D experience where the worst in me was triggered, I was able to reflect upon my lived experience. I also learnt healthier coping mechanisms to deal with difficult situations. Thanks to my new work place, I have a deeper insight around trauma, and the care they provide for their staff makes me an even more efficient researcher. 

When I saw on Twitter, a statement from Loughborough University about the death of George Floyd and an invitation to contact the ACS Welfare and Education officer. I contacted her and shared with her my concerns about the Equality and Diversity Team and my experience.

Although we had some ongoing communication with the Equality and Diversity team, we haven't met and I want to believe that it is because of other priorities as opposed to being ignored. I was also surprised to learn through the email exchange we had that there were no clear process on how to deal with testimonies from BAME students. It surprised me. The reason why it surprised me is in part because Loughborough University trained me as a researcher and so I expected the Equality and Diversity team to have a methodology to meet one of their main aim which is to improve BAMER staff and student experience at the University. Subsequently, I expected them to collect those experiences, analyse them and provide recommendations to improve their experience, even to develop some case studies and use them to create some discussion with existing staff.

How do you want to tackle systemic racism or to support students and staff's mental heath, if there is no integrated strategy amongst universities to provide a platform to stop hiding both current and non-recent racial abuse, and to educate their members about decolonisation processes?

When I came to academia, my concern was about how to get prosumers to care for their electrical items. My motivation came from my connections to my ancestors and their children who lived through colonisation and decolonisation, and who are still as of now using their energy and resources to support our comfort and life design aspirations. I also wanted to advance my academic career, and inspire my afro-pean community to follow suite, especially women. I did not have any insights on the black academic experience. I just knew that we were not many. I was always the only mixed race in my class so this did not make much difference to my perception. Though, if I knew how much pain black academics went through and how they dealt with difficult situations, I wonder how different my Ph.D experience would have been, equipped with the knowledge that my reactions may be a call for help. I believe it is where the responsibility of the university lay in their duty of care towards students and staff with a BAMER background who may be dealing with with relentless stress and anxiety related to some unprocessed emotions.

I sent my original testimony with the added two pages reflection on the process of engaging with the Equality and Diversity team to academic colleagues, friends and family and to all those who contacted me out of interest, and received various feedback. I am in the process of reflecting upon what I received. The irony is that I think it is the job of the Equality and Diversity team to do, and their paid staff. I leave it to you to reflect upon that within your position of privilege and ask yourself, especially if you are working and paid by the university to enhance student experience through teaching and Ph.D supervision as such what would be your role and contribution to advance this discussion.

Message of the Week

The message of the Week

To Support the Transition towards an Happy Sustainable World, Be a Better Friend

Starseeds Cyclo

Starseeds.Cyclo is a community of individuals starting their journey in aligning themselves with their higher purpose and healing timelines.

They do this by

• Reading birth chart and having astrological consultation
• Sharing rituals and messages for significant astrological events
• sharing items that support healing
• sharing information and knowledge that support healing (books, content and information)
• organising events with practitioners that support healing, organising gathering that supports healing
• making referrals to practitioners that supports healing
• coaching individuals in their journey towards healing
• organising training that support healing

Few Questions to answer in following posts

How did StarSeed Cyclo started?

Starseeds started with drawing and doodle of cyclops. . We were also reading astrology, numerology, feng-shui and chinese astrology for a while as well as drawing cards but we did not as such use or share our gifts and messages on any platform. Then a significant event occured - the loss of a child - to spring ourselves into a more spirit heart healing practice bringing together the drawing and the messages together and sharing them with others. The loss of the child was also the gain of a different dimension of oneself that trust further the process of ascending and recognised the importance of healing timelines by connecting with ones'ancestors

What is Starseed Cyclo vision mission objectives and values

Vision

A world where beings healed their timelines, aligned with their higher purpose, found their divine truth.

Mission

Being the first steps for people across the world to start their journey towards greater alignment

Objectives

To be continued

Values

To be Continued

Interview with mother

A year of new beginnings. I will align myself fully to my creative power and welcome abundance within my life. 

What will be 2020 for you?

Picture: lavender bags. The lavender comes from my mother garden, she handsew the bags using some cotton strips that was gifted to her from Korogo residents in ivory Coast. They pick spin and weave cotton. As she sew she meditates on colonisation, nature and progress. So much in a mixed ish items. She then had a leather string and a wooden bead. 

Week 1 - 7 Update
What Happened this week

• I sold two headphone, a art case and a top
• I hared my blogpost with everyone I know
• Kajal is more than happy to collaborate with me
• I have relisted some items
• close some cases as well
• I have asked on waste not want not if anyone got some plastic bags or envelops for packaging. Kajal responded to me letting me know that she may have what I am looking for.Great news.
• I have learnt about parcel2go because of a nice customers who happened to buy quite a lot of items through my shops
• I also ask for people for a lot of different items for my packaging and there are happy to give it to me for free.

What do I need to do

• I really need to actually to get the suitcase from M. car

Week 25-31 March Update

What happened this week?

• I have packed all my items and made some card to go with it.
• I finished my thesis. I am not ready to bring it all in.
• I sold quite a lot of items: a suit, skirt, saree, the washing machine bolt, the bodysuit, the pair of jeans, a t-shirt, my linen dress, a saree, the art case
• I took all the pictures of the items I want to sell on one day only
• I started to fill eBay up
• I have decided for the fabric to do a bundle and get people to come to my house to check the fabric out and make their pick instead of taking pics for each one of them. only the nicest pick have its own post. 
• I also bundled up the clothes that need upcycling
• I receive a bid for my sister shoes.
• I added a commission tool onto my phone.
• I am thinking that for my update I keep on one topic only. One significant thing that happened. Then maybe run the rest through my twitter to create traffic onto my blog.
• I sold for £23
• I went to Market Harborough with Jill from Megan Makes Good

What do I need to do?

• It means that I can put everything online as quick as possible.
• Then I will be ready to look for a job hehe
• at the moment I am doing things incrementally but I could and I can if I want to share the words further with people. I am thinking to do so.

People I talked to

• I had my cousin on the phone she gave me a lot of advice in relation to my shop. she advised me to do some dropshipping and possibly get to publicised items from other people and if I get an order to let them know so I can get a commission on selling the item. she said that I could do it with friends a well as family. people like my mum. it was very good advice for her., she also said that I should not hold back but actually share as much as I can. I think it is a good idea,
• I told Kajal about my shop and that I was happy to sell her cd if she wanted to through my eBay shop
• I received a call from sue about doing a presentation at the Quaker house this is exciting. I could feedback onto Bazarheureux
• Jill advised me to improve my write up 

To be a successful ethical entrepreneur, you need a Genuine Love for People

MeganMakesGood Hens & Parrots

''To be a successful ethical entrepreneur, you need a Genuine Love for People'' Laura Santamaria from Sublime Magazine

What happened this week?

This week, I went to the Artisans of Market Harborough Fair in the Old Grammar School with Jill from Megan Makes Good. The day was absolutely gorgeous, the sun was high, the sky was blue, and the city was buzzing with activity. We arrived at the fair and Jill set up with another nine people in the room while inviting me to have a walk around town.

When I came back, beautiful items made up by the different artists filled the room. As the day went on, there were different energies on display in the room. Some people were more disappointed than others on how well the event went and pondered who is the primary beneficiary of the fair (i.e., the organiser or the trader).

On my side, the day was absolutely fabulous. I met wonderful people in and outside of the fair. There is a church next to the Old Grammar School. I went in and could feel what it is to be a community. Those people were so welcoming and loving.

On the same day, I posted on my Instagram a question asking the Instagram community what does it take to become a successful entrepreneur. The experiences of the various entrepreneurs at the artisan market inspired the question.

Laura Santamaria who is running Sublime Magazine replied to my question. She said that To be a successful ethical entrepreneur, it takes Genuine Love for people.

I believe this to be TRUE because it is hard work to get people to follow your work and buy from you, it is hard work to get people to support you in making your business a success, it is hard work to be liked if no one knows you. The item can be beautiful. The connection is more important.

Lavender bags by MeganMakesGood

After the event, I wondered who in the room developed connections in Market Harborough before the event and benefitted from those connections to share all their gifts.

The primary beneficiary for the event success is the TRADER. By ripping the most benefits, they are simultaneously the ones with the most responsibilities because they take the most financial risks. For those reasons, they have to put the work in to create the social connections that may yield an ROI. They have to Genuinely love people to get out of your way and let them know that it is because they care that they are coming in their town to share their gift. If this has not been done, they may as well consider themselves LATE to the fair regardless of how early they left their home.

From my experience from the fair, I can say that I will take some time before considering going to a fair. At the moment, my eBay sales are going well; I have a new collaborator ready to list some items with Bazar Heureux. I also received excellent advice from Jill, Viki which I am going to apply. I need to improve the descriptions on my articles and share with more people what I am up to and see where the wind blows. New collaborators and contributors to the Bazar Heureux may appear.

Let see what next week bring for my vision to be complete.

Exciting!

Some of the people who were present at the artisan market
Khulelo
@thepapercreative
@sadie_and_sid
@louisecrookendenjohnson
@sarahkingarts
@simply.shaker

Always Expect the Unexpected - Purge Update

Message of the week

Always Expect the Unexpected

What happens this week with the Purge?

1. I sold a lip butter set, a suit and a skirt.
2. I received a bid on a T-shirt, a trouser and a dress.
3. I received a warm message from Jill, owner of MeganMakesGood about the shop. She found my blog through my FB. It warmed my heart. First, because it is nice to receive some feedback from you do, Two, I did not know anyone would read about what I do on FB.
4. I packed my good and made on more cyclop card for it and went to the shop.
5. I spoke with my friend designer Zosia about developing the visual design of the shop
6. I received a message about purchasing one of my dress and send it to Mauritius - Oulala I smiled, can you imagine me selling a £1 dress and send it to Mauritius...
7. Total sale this week: £19
8. Number of Visits on Blog: (I Don't Know) The total page view of the blog is 12,747

What am I going to Improve on?

• How can I organise my packaging better?
• Create a space in the office for packaging
• Cut off plastic bags for reuse
• How can I promote the shop better and be more confident about it?
• Share the message with other about the shop. I am still a bit shy to actually share it to people around me. 
• Write up a script to let people know about the shop so I can feel more comfortable
• First fill up the different platforms with your goodies and then start talking about it with people once you are ready
• Reconvert Ms.Cyclop to be the shop?!?
• What can I share with people that are valuable?
• I was thinking to write a book and sell it. I came across the owner of Electric Kitty who wrote a beautiful children book about child bereavement. It is such an important message to share.
• The other thing I was thinking was to share plants. I can easily grow them...I can easily share them. 
• When do you start taking a beautiful pic of you and your stuff
• M and I we have been discussing taking nice pictures of the item I want to share with people. He is a great photographer and I would like to look like Beyonce... 
• Who would you like to collaborate with and what would it look like?
• I really want to. I was thinking to create a small community of people who help each other with swapping 1 hour a week of time to promote each other shop... Let's see who I could talk to.
• What do you want to do about creating the visual of your shop
• I am still thinking. I am thinking though to maybe start first with filling all platform with the good I want to share and then if I have more money coming in, I can start talking with Z about making my shop better. 
• What do you want to do about the blog?
• I am still figuring it out. At the moment, it is just for me to keep a track record of what happens week to week. Eventually, it will be nice to write proper articles about sharing and caring about one another and everything that there is around us. 
• I haven't figured out how to do that yet. Maybe once I have filled all the different platform with the things I want to share. I can go back to the blog and figure out what exactly I want to write about.
• Something unexpected is going to come and I will figure exactly what I want to write about on this blog.

What are you grateful for?
The gift and surprises I receive everyday.


For you, reader!
Check MeganMakesGood Shop if you want ssome handmade Goodies
Check Zosia if you interested in graphic design
Check Eletric Kitty book in the Stars
Do you want pictures taken for Wedding, My husband is a photographer... Get in touch for more info
For Beyonce... well you know....
Do you want to feature? Let me know
If you want to give me any suggestions on how to move forward with some of the questions I am asking myself, please do not hesitate to let me know

Little by Little, the bird learn to fly - Purge Update

The message of the Week

• Petit a Petit, L'Oiseau apprend a voler
• Little by Little, the bird learn to fly

What went well this week?

• I sold 9 items.
• I relisted 124 items which are for grab NOW
• I reorganised my inventory at home so everything I am currently selling is in a wardrobe, ready to grab.
• I also brought together the items I am planning to photograph and sell next month.
• I tried to put a card in all my parcels.

What are you thinking to improve?

• I am thinking to improve the message on the card
• At the moment, it is just ''Thank you for your order it is greatly appreciated'' 
• Now I am thinking to write, ''Thank you for your order this week, it caused me to realise how much I love selling on eBay, packing the item and sending it knowing that someone somewhere is going to make use of it. As a result, I am going to post even more items in my shop. Keep on watching my evolution! Thanks again.''
• For the drawing, I make little cyclops. 
• I am wondering if I could make a little stencil of the Cyclops with written Bazar Heureux. The cyclops could be part of the logo.
• Eventually, it will be good to have an address to this blog onto the card. I am not at this stage just yet though. Until I have found an item to sell that people want
• For the packaging, at the moment, I am using plastic bags that I have at home. 
• I was thinking to maybe talk with Stacey to see if where she buys her bag and maybe get some in bulk with her. I will probably do that once I do not have any more bags. The other option is to grab materials from the hackspace, or maybe try to find on freecycle and waste not want not people who are giving them for free.
• For the listing, I will add items next months onto my listing
• I have been talking to my mum about getting some stuff from her. She is at the moment slightly reluctant so I am not going to force it.
• Eventually, I want to get an item that I can sell over and over again that people want. I am not sure what it is yet. It will be great if it is something which produces minimal waste. Something that is valuable enough that people want to retain it for a long period of time. Something that makes them happy.  Something I can sell in high volume with the effort of packing them up. Small enough that I can have to pack them from home. 
• I could sell an item with some cyclops branding on it in the future 
• I also thought that maybe Zosia could make me some skirts and tops with the fabric I have got left but we could sell it all from Sandrine Nyota page.
• For packing and posting, I am not sure yet how to proceed. 
• I am thinking that from the moment I receive a bid on the item, I will pack the item straight away.
• Then once I receive the payment, I can write the address on the item straight away.
• Otherwise, it will be good eventually to print the slip order.
• I need to get some tape from the hackspace or see if I can get some from free from somewhere
• For Pinterest, I completely deleted by mistake or not all the items I had on it. I am not sure how to proceed.
• I will probably leave it for now. I will see next month what is the best way to proceed. it seems anyway I receive more visitors from twitter so maybe I should focus on that for now.

What are you grateful for?

• I am very grateful for all the people who have visited my shop and made a purchase.
• I am grateful for investing time and energy into making bazar heureux reality.