One study by Cornell University (Ithaca, US) found that employing brain areas linked to 'off-task' mental states - including daydreaming or reminiscing - enhances performance on certain complicated mental tasks (See first link). Other studies have shown more benefits of daydreaming, such as the enhancement of creative problem-solving and increased memory function (See second and third link). … Read more
I Paid a Bribe website Countering corruption by online registration
In 2011 the I Paid a Bribe website launched in India as a platform to report corruption. In less than a year more than 10,000 bribes across 347 cities had been reported. The site also includes an option to nominate those who are setting a good example, provide tips of navigating paying a bribe and the key facts about the police that everyone should know. … Read more
Africa’s Heritage of Participarory Democracy A short article describing traditional governance structures
The link directs to a short article on the ways that traditional decision-making was organized in parts of Africa. It states that it may be a better idea to root contemporary African governance in such participatory, traitional methods, then to copy foreign methods, as is the case in any African countries, and which in many aspects does not seem to work out very well. … Read more
Minority Voices Web Training Manual For minority and indigenous activists, journalists and campaigners (in Africa)
This training manual is part of the Minority Voices programme run by Minority Rights Group (MRG). This is an EU-funded project designed to increase the inclusion of minority voices in media coverage. This manual will be used as the basis for training minority and indigenous activists, and their advocates, to undertake their own online campaigning and media work. It explains what online tools are available, how to plan an online activity and how to use those relevant tools to build a campaign or … Read more
Protecting the rights of minorities in Africa A guide for human rights activists and civil society organizations
The guide functions similarly to a handbook for activists and organizations working in the field of protection of minority rights and interests. There exists a large legal framework on international and pan-African level which support minority rights. The guide informs about these frameworks and the relevant instiutions, which can be used to the benefit of minorities. The link below directs to a website where the guide can be downloaded in PDF. … Read more
Traditional African education for peace building An argument for holistic African education to foster peace
Traditional African had an inbuilt mechanism to controlling violence. This instrument was education. Notably, African education aimed at developing the total man and making him or her responsible member of the community. The curricular includes physical, mental, spiritual and moral development of the citizens. The thrust of the moral education was solidarity. This link directs you to a paper by Okoro Kingsle of the Ebonyi State University on this argument. … Read more
Good education fosters ethical leaders Argument: Ethical leadership starts with good education
Patrick Awuah from Ghana pleads for an education system in African countries which stresses independent thinking rather than repetition, a sense of responsibility rather than entitlement, and ethics and engagement with their society. … Read more
Group Decision Making Method Using all expertise in the group to make decisions
The link below directs to a short description of several decision-making methods, as well as a short video about one particular method. This latter method explains how groups can make decisions using one primary decision-maker, while also including the entire group's expertise in the process. Even if this method may not appeal to the reader due to its slight hierarchical tinge, it might hold some interesting ideas to experiment with in finding decision-making models that work. … Read more
Group Decision Making Guide Developing interpersonal skills for good decision making
Good and smooth group decision making requires a good understanding of the decision making process, as well as developed skills of all individuals involved in the process. The below link directs to a very exstensive, step-by-step guide for proper group decision making. It includes an overview of different necessary phases in decision-making processes, a list of core interpersonal skills, a test to estimate your level of interpersonal skills, and more tools. … Read more
Charismatic Win Win Communication Speaking our inner truth
Charismatic Communication is the attempt to say what really wants to be said from deep inside. It works similar to automatic writing. All we have to do is to turn off the little voice in our head. This often takes a lot more courage than we think. Charismatic Communication is based on trust. We need to trust that we can share our feelings and dreams without being laughed at our made fun of. Our daily everyday communication acts like a shield, we hide behind facts and judgments. And yet if we … Read more
