Final Day Of The Conference

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All good things must come to an end sometime so, sadly, the conference wound up on Thursday 6th December. After a great presentation from Dr.Warner Woodworth, Director of the Centre for Economic Self-Reliance at Brigham Young University (USA), Mary Liz Kehler and Luis Fernando Sanabria introduced the Fundacion's and TAMTF's new 'School In A Box', a comprehensive guide to how to generate income in schools.

Next participants were grouped together and given a seemingly impossible challenge by Steve and Dave. Each group were given a wood block with a nail nailed into it. Then 12 more loose nails were given to each group, which had to all be balanced on the head of the wood block nail without any nails touching the base (i.e balancing on the head of one nail).

It was the Argentinian and Bolivian group which came up with an ingenius solution first, proving the theme of this conference: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

Next each group was given an opportunity to come up with simply diagrams to illustrate how they think Self-Sufficient Education can be achieved. Representatives came up to the front of the hall and presented their group's ideas, visualized using anything from smiley faces to palm trees.

The last part of the day involved a panel discussion, with the main facilitators being (from right) James Tooley (Global Education Fund), Mary Anne Muller (Escuela Agroecológica de Pirque- Fundación Origen), Makonen Getu (Opportunity Internetional), Godfrey Nzamujo (The Songhai Center) and Martin Burt (Fundacion Paraguayay). The panel explored the most important issues raised during the conference and set the agenda for how the TAMTF can move foward and develop. Regional TAMTF committees were proposed, to follow up on the progress the conference had made and participants volunteering to join these committees then signed up to confirm their intent.

With a message of thanks for all who came together to make this wonderful event happen, the conference closed with a feeling of optimism and real hope that a strong, far reaching TAMTF network can make a real difference to changing the way global education works.

The Idea Tree

Steve Carver and Dave Germond are geniuses! Not only are they keeping everyone entertained with their brilliant MCing and group games, they have started the IDEA TREE.

Each participant gets a block of post-it notes every morning and when they hear a good idea from somebody else or even think of one themselves, they post it up on 'The Tree'.




First Day Speakers

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday 4th) attendees were treated to some inspirational speeches and presentations from our keynote speakers.



Fundacion Paraguaya Managing Director, Martin Burt gave an inspirational introduction to how The San Fransico School is creating a new generation of rural entrepreneurs in the Paraguayan Countryside.



Polan Lacki gave a though provoking speech about how rural education needs to be revolutionised to meet the needs of the rural poor and give them the skills to lift themselves out of poverty.

James Tooley reflected on the findings of his own extensive research across Africa and Asia and celebrated the success of the 'private school for the poor', schools which are setup by community members to provide lower cost yet high quality education to children from poor families.

Marianna Martinelli gave an inspiring introduction to the work of her organisation CODEER in Chile and Godfrey Nzamujo showed participants how he has been building the skills of young farmers in Benin for the last 20 years at 'The Songhai Center'.

Paraguayan Traditional BBQ






In the evening participants were treated to a superb feast of traditional local dishes. As a side accompaniment Afro-Paraguayan dancers providing some high energy rhythm, with our African particpants getting in on the act. During dinner a harpist and guitarist serenaded the diners until the wee hours....

Teach A Man To Fish Conference 2007 Begins!




Over 100 participants have been gathering at The Fundacion Paraguaya's San Franciso Agricultural School in Paraguay from Malaysia to Benin. Most arrived on the 3rd December and have already been treated to training in the 'GROW BIOINTENSIVE' method, tours of the school and an evening of traditional Paraguayan music and dance.

The official start of the conference is in a few minutes, with Nik Kafka welcoming participants and Martin Burt giving an introduction to the school. More to follow...