Systemic Change Approach An approach to changing the unjust structures which oppress persons living in poverty A System A system is a perceived whole whose elements hang together because they continually affect each other over time and operate toward a commo ID: 326577
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Slide1
The Systemic ChangeApproach
An approach to changing the unjust structures which oppress persons living in poverty Slide2
A System
A
system is a perceived whole whose elements ‘hang together’ because they continually affect each other over time and operate toward a common purpose.Slide3
Systemic Thinking
A
system is composed of parts, but you cannot understand a system by looking only at its individual parts. You need to work with the whole of a system, even as you work with individual parts or isolated problems. Slide4
Social Systems
Social and political institutions are :
context
meant to provide the resources people need to survive
meant to ensure that basic human needs are met.
often exclusive, unequal and entrappingSlide5
An Illustration of How
Systemic Change WorksSlide6
Systemic Thinking
“If you want to change individual or local behaviours
, or if you want to resolve an issue, you have to tune into the system-wide influences on the behaviour or the issue. You have to use what is going on in the whole system to understand individual
behaviour, and you have to inquire into individual
behaviour to learn about the whole. “Slide7
Keywords
Root causes
Transformation
SystemsSlide8
Act locally
….
Change is Possible
Hope is kindledSlide9
Where to begin…Your storiesYour experienceOur spiritualitySlide10
Act locally….
Change is Possible
Hope is kindled
Each of us holds a piece of the jigsaw in ministry
Each of us sheds a little light through it
Each of us holds hope in our hands
Each of us can act for changeSlide11
Act Locally: Reflect
Start with your own experience
Who do you walk with?
What to you see? What are you called to do?
What is the challenge? What are systems that surround your people?
What causes the poverty?
What will transform it and the lives of the people?
Who can help?Slide12
Our stories and experienceAt the beginning of the process, each of the members of the Commission wrote a story, based on his or her own experience, about a work in which systemic change has taken place.
In each one of the stories presented, we identified effective strategies that might be used in working toward systemic change in our projects among the poor. Slide13
Strategies according to their orientation and main objectives:Mission oriented Strategies
Person Oriented Strategies Task oriented Strategies
Strategies oriented towards solidarity and networkingSlide14
From our own tradition we know that St. Vincent intervened in political situations to alleviate the sufferings of the poor. We know that he became a very influential public figure.
Vincent established strong, enduring relationships with kings, queens, ministers, public authorities, with the nobles, members of the church hierarchy and the poor themselves.
This set of strategies addresses the need to be a transforming force within society through networking and political action.
Our Tradition
Strategies oriented towards solidarity and networkingSlide15
Vincent raised the consciousness of the authorities of his time to their responsibility for charitable works.
He sensitized politicians to their moral duty to assist the poor. Thus, he was able to found and operate hospitals with public monies.
He used the expression “public good.” He was concerned with the good of social groups: prisoners, children, war refugees, etc).
Our TraditionSlide16
In 1849, Frederick
Ozanam
wrote: “Charity is not sufficient. It treats wounds, but it does not stop the blows that cause them ... There is an immense poor class which does not wants alms, but institutions.”
He encouraged the members Society to join people living in poverty in their quest to change unjust social structures. Slide17
The
Passage
:
“Serving poverty in the first world is constantly blocked by policy and legislation. The Passage openly takes government money and sits at the political table in order to have influence. It interfaces with the local public to educate and promote awareness; it builds bridges between sectors and it partners with other voluntary agencies. The Passage seeks to transform the immediate society in which it is situated as well as the lives of
people living in poverty.Slide18
A prophetic attitude asks us to consider
WHAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO (in the face of poverty, oppression and marginalization) so that ….the oppressed go free and the year of the Lord is realized.
Vincent, in his day, thought about a reversal of the status quo. Holding out
an alternative world to us and asking us to enter it, he calls his followers “servants” and the poor the “masters.”
Pope Benedict -
charity
begins with justice: (
“If we love others with genuine charity, then first of all we are just towards them”).Slide19
Vincent and Louise were skilled communicators of their vision; they kept their message simple and heartfelt in order to develop understanding, commitment and energy for attending to the vision (conversations, letters, conferences)
they empowered others to act; they understood that leaders do not achieve the vision on their own. Vincent excelled in the process of empowerment. He listened to others’ ideas, sought their advice, and provided the tools that were needed to achieve the mission. Vincent empowered his followers by stipulating core values, rules, and virtues such as respect and mutual support.
In today’s world they would be enduring models of systemic change leadership
.
Vincent de Paul and Louise de
Marillac
were leaders of change:Slide20
Act locally….
Change is Possible
Hope is kindled
Each of us holds a piece of the jigsaw in ministry
Each of us sheds a little light through it
Each of us holds hope in our hands
Each of us can act for changeSlide21
To work as Vincentian Family,
having
persons who live in poverty at
the center of our projects,
we seek to work first on ourselves,
with a renewed mentality and wider perspectives,
to be transformed ourselves,
in order to transform others.
Commission for promoting Systemic Change