New Initiative in Colombia
The Social Network for Success in Subud was born in Cali, where a pilot project has been running. Here’s what it’s all about, in the words of Subud Colombia Chair, David (Rabindranath) McCormick.
The project “Social Network for Success in Subud” was formulated from the assumption that Subud members who have received the Grace of God and who have not succeeded in their lives in this world should see their situation as an opportunity to put into practice spiritual tools and the support of their network of Subud members in order to succeed.
… an opportunity to put into practice spiritual tools and the support of Subud members in order to succeed …
There are no valid arguments which justify staying in the same situation ignoring the problem or, on the contrary, going to great lengths to mitigate the difficult circumstances of Subud members through paternalist actions. The project Social Network for Success in Subud aims to create a dynamic which will help us find and open ways for Subud members to be successful in this world by using two tools: kejiwaan experience which has been gained in the groups through testing by the members and by creating support communities (initially from the local group) which help them find support, advice, information, resources and contacts in order to resolve their own affairs.
An early planning session of the Cali initiative
Machrus Garcés, zonal representative from the previous period and Daniela (International Helper), are supporting the Project and told us that in New Zealand there was a lot of enthusiasm from Subud members from around the world. In addition the project was very well-received at a national level and all groups in Colombia are interested in the development of this project and its extension at a national level. In November 2009 I was elected national chair of Subud Colombia and the National Committee has supported the project as a real necessity for all of Subud Colombia: The Cali Subud Committee has demonstrated leadership in organizing the details of the pilot project and the helpers of the Cali Group have shown a real engagement and sincerity in their desire to support Subud members by being channels of God’s Guidance.
In November and December 2009 we met with the Cali local committee and all the helpers (26 in total) in the Cali Subud house and we agreed to do testing about what the project content was and what was the role of each of the helpers in this project. The results were excellent and the tests generated a lot of confidence that we were working on something really important and in accordance with the Will of God.
The Experiment
First we put a poster up in the Subud house, publicized the initiative in several meetings with members in the Subud house and by sending out emails and text messages invited interested members to sign up to the project. The result was 24 cases, most of them of members with economic difficulties, unemployed or going through critical situations (some lacking basic things such as food, not being able to pay their children’s school fees, without health cover, going through very difficult family situations etc.)
To start with we analyzed several of the cases. We agreed that the Cali helpers would do testing with the Committee members of the group and with each of the Subud members interested in the project
The tests were:
- If it was correct for the member X to be part of the project? The helpers insisted that the testing start with this question.
- How was it for the welfare of member X to be part of the project?
- Then the helpers did latihan with each of the members concerned. Tests were carried out with each person, with questions like:
- Who was member X?
And depending on the case:
- How did member X relate to the material forces?
- How should member X relate to the material forces?
Normally we tested between dialogue and questions about what each of the members wanted to do. The idea was to get to know the skills of each person, their work experience etc.
When we had a better idea of in which area we could give support in each case, we named a team of experts in order to support the member. These people were supposed to make a plan of action developed with the same person and follow-up each case until results were obtained such as finding a job, resources etc., with the idea that “with the help of all, we can achieve anything.”
Advanced cases which now have a solution
Case 1: We tested with a member who had difficulties with a business partner. We tested his attitudes and how they should be. As a result there was a radical improvement in the business situation.
Case 2: A Subud member with two teenage children, unemployed because the firm he was working in had been sold, and in a serious economic situation, had to take his children out of school due to lack of money: He had no health cover for his family and no access to credit, despite having a degree in business administration. To start with the support team, with the member, developed a fruit-distribution project that he would manage. Market studies were carried out on the viability of the project. Finally this project was rejected because he found work through a Subud member.
Progress and results in the group
At the moment, the diary of the 26 group helpers is completely full, and they are working Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons, as well as the latihan days Monday and Wednesday, finishing at 10pm every day.
A very special dynamic has been generated in the group in just a few months since the project was started. There is a very pleasant atmosphere with a lot of joy, more communication between the helpers and the local committee, the latihan groups are bigger and a lot of union is felt between all the brothers and sisters.
We also feel blessed by the fact that we have the support of the national helpers, Daniela and Reinaldo, who are totally behind the project and have been participating in the testing because they believe that this projects gives Subud a lot of strength.
… the idea is that we all support each other in order to be successful …
As the idea is that we all support each other in order to be successful, we would like to post cases here, in order to look for the people or experts who will be able to help or advise in each case. We would also like to have an international fund to support cases in the Subud world. Initially in our pilot project, it was your idea that the support obtained be at a local group level – it could also be at a local, regional or international level because this network could become very big.
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