Simon Koolwijk

Project cycle management (PCM) is a process. It helps organisations to tackle difficult issues and problems through a well defined step model. It is a participative method which creates group involvement, ownership and responsibility. It is a perfect tool for communication amongst project actors and supports local organisations in their process of strengthening organisational capacity. However, it is a rigid and very systematised tool. Therefore, creativity and flexibility is needed in applying this tool. These were some of the comments of a KerkinActie development professional, stationed in Ghana, who participated in the training Project Cycle Management on the 26th January, 2011. The training was organised by the Hendrik Kreamer Institute (HKI) and conducted by Simon Koolwijk, development consultant . PCM is a 4-step model which is applied for project management. The method consists of a phase of a. analysis, b. design, c. implementation (monitoring & review) and d. ev

Youtube provides a lot of inspirational short video's which you can use for trainings or facilitation events. Whenever, you try to stimulate fun in your group or want to provide some hints for a role play or exercises, a compilation of ten video's to get your group started: Especially the television advertisements are inspirational for making caricatures of famous people or functional roles people play in society. For example the Cup a Soup advertisements with; 1. Louis van Gaal 2. Sjors, the coach/ inspirator 3. John, the manager are hilarious. And what about the advertisements with Even Apeldoorn bellen with: 4. Bill Clinton 5. The parking garage Another source of inspiration are the comedians : 6. Toren C, the job applicant. See video 7. Koefnoen, showing a media training with our former prime minister, Mr. Balkenende 8. Jiskefet, showing a father who is coaching his son , or is he coaching himself? 9. The two britisch soccer coaches or 10. the shocking Far

Video provides a great opportunity to explain somebody the art of facilitation. Following is a compilation of 12 video's showing different aspects of facilitation. 1. How to be a great facilitator Suggestions on how to become a great facilitator; See great facilitator 2. More effective meetings Animation movie on how to have more effective meetings; See more effective meetings 3. How to make your meetings more effective 8 tips on how to make your meeting more effective by having a facilitator; See video; 4. Creative facilitation seminar 2008, EAFIT University Visualisation of a creative facilitation seminar ; See creative seminar 5. Pinpoint facilitation in Action Video impressions of a facilitation event; See facilitation event 6. Open space technology meeting The principles and impressions of an open space technology meeting; See open space 7. Tips & tricks - Invite right brain thinkers Think about involving right brain thinkers in your workshop sessions. T

Participants name it the magic wall! You just stick a piece of paper on the wall and it will stick. The sticky wall, a cloth of material (size 3.5 x 1.6 mtrs), is an excellent tool for facilitation. Whenever you use paper or flipcharts and you want to move them quickly it is very helpful. Benefits · The sticky wall provides a space where you need to group and regroup participants' ideas that have been written on papers · It is light weight, you can use it for 2 - 5 years · It is easily portable so that you can take it to every meeting Preparation, use and maintenance of the sticky wall Ø To make your new sticky wall sticky, use 3M Spray Mount, Artistst Adhesive . Avoid over-spraying Ø You can use most types of paper on your sticky wall, but don't use construction paper because it may permanently stick Ø When you fold the sticky wall for carrying, be sure to fold with the sticky side in Ø For subsequent uses, first check the wall for stickiness Ø You can hang the sti

High performance! What are the key ingredients of an effective leader? High business performance! How to create entrepreneurship and more openess in the organisation? Many training courses and teambuilding workshops are focused on the rational behaviour of people in organisations and their commitment to get a better performance of the organisation. However, the reality is more unpredictable. 'Gossip', 'sabotaging or undermining the boss', 'informal alliances to slow down organisational change', 'fear of losing position as a manager when staff become super high performers', 'manipulation to get a higher salary or a better position in the organisation', 'managing your private affairs at work' and 'delegating impossible tasks or projects to your potential competitors in your organisation, so that you can blame them'. Social and political behaviour in organisations are still an underestimated force which are driving organisational

How to overcome a lunch dip? What to do when people are tired of using their heads? And how to get focus? Energizers and games are ways to refresh people's minds and get them active. The paper tiger is a popular one and fun to do. Make an animal from a piece of paper without talking. Make a group, each person tears a piece of paper without talking and passes it on to the next person. Make a maximum of 4 rounds and give each group a maximum of 5 minutes. Ranking on the chair is a nice one to get to know each other better . Make a line of chairs as many people as there are in the group. Give an assignment to the group by asking a question. For example; Rank yourself on basis of your age, or birth date? or what is the most south located place you have visited on the earth? The word game has a competitive element. Ask people to make columms, asking them for example 1. Country? 2. City/ village? 3. Name? 4. Animal? 5. Tool in the household? Each time a participants says a lett

Young people's lives today versus the lives of young people in the past from the mouths of adults. This was the main theme of the participatory video young people from Ulmu made from 1 to 3 November 2010. The video-making was guided by two professors and students of the Film Academy in Chisinau, Moldova. Support in the discussions was provided by Pro Community Centre and Kontakt der Kontinenten . Training Prior to the training Pro Community Centre organized an orientation meeting to allow young people to know more about the process. Professors from the Film Academy asked them to think about the scenario and locations / individuals to select for the story. Young people chose the theme; "the youth of today versus those of the past". During the training 10 locations were visited in their village to develop the story. The visits were diverse. Interviews were done with the mayor, a disabled mother, an elderly woman, a garment factory, a young entrepreneur and a family that