Sharing fresh perspectives and discoveries coming from the ABioSA Community Engagement Pilot Project: Our purpose was to co-create alternative ways of co-operation and partnering which was centred around protecting Honeybush and maintaining its sustainable use and consumption.
Firstly, we wanted to discover how you develop a shared direction as a community and what that would look like. Could we develop a perspective for the Honeybush industry that left no one behind and did no harm? Secondly, we wanted to find out for ourselves if we could develop relationships across the industry that prompted creative ways to approach earning a living and learning from each other.
Over a period of four months we met three times, each time the circle of participation widened to include more voices who were active in the Honeybush industry or living close to where Honeybush grows. Together we took a deeper look at aspects about growth and betterment for Honeybush that we could all support, whether a government official, indigenous cultural leader, producer or wild harvester.
They way we communicated and related to each other created a space for community discovery and connection which became significant and meaningful. What emerged as a part of this way of community engagement were deeper insights, better questions and the beginnings of an informal purpose-led community, called Friends of Honeybush.
As this was a pilot process, we mimicked the three gatherings into a way of engaging called, The ABioSA Wayfinder, A dialogue process that invites curiousity and the spirit of community wayfinding. Naturally each community is unique, yet the principles of collective wayfinding remain a meaningful form of better practice. If you would like to explore collective wayfinding in your situation do get in touch with us. We welcome making the community circle bigger, as Friends of Biotrade.
