Dialogue and discussions, through the small groups, not only contributed our individual and collective understanding of transformative education and its effect on human development, but also enabled a deep process of personal transformation.
The following comments reflected the process participants went through:
"This conference is not just about exploring transformation in education, it is transformation in itself’". - Moroccan lecturer.
"It appeared to us that our process focused more on the process of transformation and growth of each of the members of the group." - Student from America
"In my group we found discussions touched on deep issues. We strived and managed to share with real sincerity about our human life predicaments, as well as educational experiences. The process was enriching and satisfying. We agreed on the last day that we had come together in a closer and more meaningful way than we had expected…" - NGO worker
"There was a sense that the process had been both helpful and enlightening. The diversity of group members and ideas presented, helped to create a fertile ground on which to discuss transformative education and apply it to our own lives. Overall the group discussions we had helped personalize the conference. Hopefully we have built relationships which will last longer." - university lecturer
"in fact, when we all came to speaking to each other in our human voices rather than our professional voices and seeing each other as human beings, I realised that we all shared the same concern about education. It was a shame that in my own university, there has never been such opportunity to discuss these issues with my students or the Dean of my faculty." - Academic researcher
"I felt that I was appreciated as being a group member rather than a leader or facilitator. In this process, I learned more about importance of listening, really listening, holding back and giving personal space…" - conference facilitator
"The conference experience was enormously beneficial and relevant to all our very different needs. I was particularly inspired by the way you engaged us all with the telling of our different stories - and it has inspired me to use a similar idea as a way forward with staff at the New School - it was a beautiful example of person-centred learning and the best possible way of illustrating the humanity we share." - Headteacher of a British school
"It is a kind of meta-conference, because part of the purpose of this conference is to learn how to create space, where real transformation takes place and people come out different. It is actually intended to have an opening-out effects and allow changes that continue and grow in the world. So, in this sense, I think it is not just the foundation had benefited and learned from this process. In effect, all of us who are here, have learned something from this process." - President of a global think-tank.