Developing the ability for abstract conceptualization was
the motivation behind The Art and Science of Thinking workshop. Under educated
people often find it difficult to be creative, to generate ideas, and then to
transfer those ideas to something that becomes real. This skill is essential to
helping people break out of their present circumstances. Further, that people
realize they have this ability because they were created in the image of God
gives them the courage and desire to try to break free.
For example, in Uganda women use a broom that requires that
they bend at the waist all the way to the ground to sweep. As a result the
mindset is that unless you are bending to the ground you are not really
working. Yet women in Kenya added a handle to that same broom which does not
require such strain. Why? Because they were able to identify a problem,
visualize a solution, and then make that solution a reality. The example is
simple but life-changing…just ask any American woman how she’d like to bend to
the ground to sweep her patio or driveway.
Pr Daniel Kadenge graduated from Bible School in a Briefcase
in Watamu about two years ago. He invited Surprised by Hope to teach a sampling
of the Entrepreneurship series workshops as a teaser for a bigger workshop
after the new year. Initially, the participants were few but as the days
progressed the number almost doubled.
We spent a considerable bit of time helping the group
develop an understanding of what it means to generate an idea in their mind and
then translate that idea into reality. Although the concept was difficult to
grasp at first, I believe we planted some good seeds that they’ll harvest
before we return for the bigger conference.