The great reflections of life always start with a question, why.
I think asking us questions is one of the healthiest exercises that we can practice, with others and with ourselves.
One question is the beginning of this post blog, but the question itself is not what you read in the title of this reflection, because we cannot call this article, you will already understand us.
The question in question was, Ane and Ornella are encouraged to write a collaborative reflection on what we live in our last experience? The answer, luckily for me, and for you, was a yes.
The experience in question was the last PR Ull , which on this occasion took place in the area of Baja Island (northern Tenerife) and with which we could live together, the team of remote peoples, with 9 students from the University of La Laguna and with 3 rural entrepreneurs in that area.
In addition, I speak in the plural, because what you are going to read here is the result of the vision that each of us had, and therefore reboza of personality, vision and feelings very personal.
Delegate with tranquility (Carlos)
If I had to express with a single word what my experience of this last experience was, the word would be tranquility .
As an entrepreneur with a few years on the back, I can say that one of the most beautiful words, already more difficult to apply, is the verb: delegate .
As Anne commented in his reflection, teaching, learning to process and knowing how to trust can lead you to achieve results to which you would never arrive. Thank you anne for that work, that effort and desire that you always put everything and that with only 24 ... is a joke, with only 23 years.
And an experience like this is also, as Ornella says completely successful, to take bits of all the people who have participated. Those laughs, complicities and way of flow, have been largely thanks to you, ornella.
For my part, I can only contribute some small reflections and leave you with what they have written, which I think is more interesting than what I can write to you:
- In the experiences with young people, I am already less young (let's leave it there) with each one that we start up (think that some of the people who participated were not born when I was already in my first year of university, it does not help, hahaha)
- Even in times of stress, high workload and multiple open fronts, right people can help you get the best of yourself.
- Yes, when you finish anything, you feel that feeling of "emptiness" and they occasionally come to you, laughs and moments to the mind, it is that what you have done is well done (for everything else, I wrote a reflection just after the experience that was titled: "The void" , in case you want to take an eye)
Now, yes, I leave you with the reflections of Ane and Ornella, what do you enjoy!
It has been an incredible experience, where I have taken a lot of learning and people with me. I am very happy to have presented myself to the experience and I appreciate that they have given me the opportunity to have lived it - student of the last PR Ull - Baja Isla
Three years promoting immersive experiences with purpose in rural areas: Learning from ULL pueblos remotos (ANE)
A few days ago we closed a new edition of Ull remote villages, this time on the Low Island, and I still digest everything lived.
With this, there are already several experiences that we have carried out since we began to design this program in conjunction with the University of La Laguna .
I have been lucky to be involved from design to execution , coordinating together with the team of remote peoples the entire process and also modeling the project to be more replicable and can be maintained even if the facilitation equipment changes. This has been one of my greatest satisfactions: to ensure that accumulated knowledge is not lost .
Each edition has been different, but what excites me is to see how we have been improving with each step , refining the process, better understanding the territory and adapting to each context.
From this experience I take a lot of learning, but I especially highlight:
- The connection with the participating students , who have been selected with care, looking for affinity with the project values. Many have ended up being friends and we continue in contact, which has also made me recognize my capacity in selection of talent and management of people.
- The link with local entrepreneurs (cheese, farms, sweets, etc.), who have made me rethink my consumption habits and deepen my interest in ecotourism and traditional businesses with impact.
- The force of teamwork , especially in remote villages, where although we come from backgrounds and different generations, we share a clear mission. That shows and is reflected in what we get.
- The need to give continuity to experiences , which allows us to continue working on the applicability of the solutions worked by students. The interest in following is - by them and entrepreneurs -, but time is needed, financing and dynamic people who make it possible.
It has also made me reflect on the specific challenges of rural territories in the Canary Islands. Unlike other rural territories affected by depopulation, here the challenges have to do with gentrification, the lack of demographic diversification and the urgent need to generate real opportunities for youth, which foster entrepreneurship and employment in areas of low density of youth population.
It has been a transformative experience. Pueblos Remotos not only allowed me to connect with incredible entrepreneurs and communities, but also rediscover the value of the local, of the human. I get learning, inspiration and links that go beyond the professional. Thank you for creating these spaces where ideas cross with people and things that really matter are born. Hopefully there are more initiatives like this! - Student of the last PR Ull - Baja Isla
Do we generate impact from remote villages? Yes. Even if it is not immediate, nor visual, it is real and necessary . Because we get:
- Connect young people between 18 and 42, with very diverse profiles, creating united teams and friendships that last.
- Form them to address real challenges of local entrepreneurs, proposing viable solutions that have direct impact on their businesses.
- Inspire young people to undertake new professional opportunities in the rural environment.
- Weave collaboration networks between entrepreneurs who bet on a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.
Even so, we feel that to give continuity and climb this type of initiatives , it is necessary to have more stable supports and long term .
Especially from those institutions that already work for the economic and social development of the territory. They are the ones who have greater resources and maintain a direct relationship with citizens and the specific challenges of rural municipalities.
Until now, support by this route has been limited. Therefore, we simply want to express our willingness to continue talking and building alliances that strengthen these types of experiences.
Because we firmly believe in its value, and we know that they can contribute very positively to transforming realities that need it.
A PR Ull experience with Pueblos Remotos (Ornella)
As a child, I always wanted to have a lemonade post. But not to sell fresh drinks. My dream was to serve ideas who came with a challenge between hands. Listen, imagine and help.
The experience with the students in the last PR Ull of Pueblos Remotos was, in many ways, the realization of that childhood dream. And also a powerful confirmation of my current professional mission.
I felt the first stab of enthusiasm when Carlos wrote to me to co-facilitar this adventure. The approach was as simple as ambitious: 5 days, 1 accommodation, 9 students wanting to contribute, 3 local entrepreneurs with real challenges, 3 facilitators at the service of learning and impact.
About two months in advance, I joined the planning. I helped organize logistics details (food, materials, profile selection ...), but also to shape the intangible: experience, links or learning environment.
And just realized, the first day came.
When I stepped on the shelter in Garachico, I realized that I had been so immersed in the preparation I planted there with all the faith ... but without expectation. And what gift was that. Sometimes, to flow, control needs to be released. (Although, yes, the car wash at the last minute was a good final touch).
The room was filled with timbres, accents, tones and different frequencies. As neuroscience says, the brain can feel stressed at the unknown. But I believe that, with the right attitude, that uncertainty becomes a white canvas full of possibilities.
And what a collective work we create!
What we live
During those five days, we were exploring, sharing, creating. We connect with Baja Isla, we empathize with real entrepreneurs, we devise team solutions. We learned from the experience and unique stories of each person.
I am proud to have contributed to create a space where we could all feel comfortable. We were a diverse group, yes. But also harmonious. With authenticity, respect and a camaraderie that is not pretended.
I just want to say thanks to my monitors and the organizers of pueblos remotos. Since I have not only improved when applying my knowledge, but I have also grown up as a person, taking me much more than they guaranteed me. I never waited for me to, and all students, will receive their arms open and give us a vote of confidence to develop in our discipline. On the way to experience, students talk about the thousands of occasions that different teachers rejected our ideas for following an institutional trail. Here we have had the freedom to develop in different ways to those conceived in the classroom, not only fulfilling what they expected of us but doing a very good job (for what they told us) - student of the last PR Ull - Baja Isla
My favorite moments
- Share our dreams between sips of morning coffee.
- Elisabeth's clientele, local entrepreneur (Eva in the Canary Islands), who decided to listen during the interview.
- Having lost the most beautiful views of Teno Alto if Alexander (Naturten Queía) would have had a relaxed morning.
- The Ooohs and Ajás on the farm, for the sensory discoveries and the explanations that Pascal gave us (Finca La Canopea).
- See how ideas became real materials to support entrepreneurs.
- Form circles to think, create, share, eat, play, swim and dance.
- The phrases that became their own language.
- Musical trips by car.
- The night baths in the sea.
- The improvised plans.
- Discover everyone's talents and stories, as if they were surprise boxes.
- The murmur and laughter before falling asleep.
A lively experience that still resonates.
A gratitude that I feel long duration.
They told me once all the people around us leave a little piece of them. If that is true, I take with me cachitos de Gara, Copo, Octavio, Inma, Fran, Aday, Gabriela, Nayara, Rubén, Ane and Carlos. Thanks for being part of this path.
With love and gratitude,
Ornella.
To what I add live the connected rurality!
A hug,
Ane, Ornella and Carlos.
