Reda Sadki

The Geneva Learning Foundation: Spanning the full spectrum of learning

Reda Sadki September 22, 2022The Geneva Learning Foundation

We empower practitioners to tailor learning experiences that fit their own needs to drive change: Participants do not stop work to learn, every step of the process is embedded in and focused on their daily work.

Typical learning events include:

“Hackathons”: 2 to 4 days fast-paced context and challenge analysis and idea generation

“Peer learning exercises” : 2 to 4 weeks, on and offline facilitated learning among and between practitioners and international experts, including knowledge sharing, situational analysis and action planning.

“Full Learning Cycles”, a nurturing space for learners and leaders over several months to explore and take action together, identifying common challenges, generating and sharing ideas, testing innovative solutions, and implementing action plans.

To learn more about the Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF), download our brochure, listen to our podcast, view our latest livestreams, subscribe to our insights, and follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Or introduce yourself to our Partnerships team.

Motivation and connection for transformation at the heart of the Geneva Learning Foundation’s approach

Reda Sadki September 22, 2022The Geneva Learning Foundation

Our approach based on intrinsic motivation, continuous learning and problem–solving leads to impact. Practical implementation with peer support accelerates progress to get results and document impact.

How local practitioners use the Geneva Learning Foundation’s approach to accelerate progress to impact

Reda Sadki September 21, 2022The Geneva Learning Foundation

In the final stage of a comprehensive TGLF learning programme, alumni implement action plans they have developed together.

We compared the implementation progress after six months between those who joined this final stage and a control group that also developed action plans, but did not join.

How the Geneva Learning Foundation uses learning science to drive change

Reda Sadki September 21, 2022The Geneva Learning Foundation

As developed by our founders, the TGLF learning-to-impact pathway draws on the best available evidence and our own practice in the learning sciences and multiple other disciplines.

TGLF’s diagnostic instruments rapidly identify the most effective strategies to develop people, teams, and networks to drive change and performance.

Working with our network of founders and advisors, our approaches are continually honed and improved to ensure their effectiveness.

For example, TGLF co-founder Karen E. Watkins, working with Victoria Marsick, developed the framework proving the strong correlation between learning culture and organizational performance. This evidence-based framework is central to the Foundation’s learning-to-impact pathway.

Marsick, V.J., Watkins, K.E., 2003. Demonstrating the Value of an Organization’s Learning Culture: The Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire. Advances in Developing Human Resources 5, 132–151. https://doi.org/10.1177/1523422303005002002

What is the Geneva Learning Foundation and what do we do?

Reda Sadki September 20, 2022The Geneva Learning Foundation

What we do and how we do it have both changed rapidly since we launched the Impact Accelerator, the key component Geneva Learning Foundation’s learning-to-action pathway.

We catalyze large scale peer networks of frontline actors facing critical threats to our societies.

The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) unique approach, rooted in decades of research and experience in learning science, uses the spark of intrinsic motivation to inspire individuals to link up and lead change.
TGLF develops and implements learning experiences that reach people in 137 countries. Our programmes scale quickly to connect thousands of learners and leaders working on the frontlines of conflicts, poverty, and other inequalities. We catalyze local expertise into innovation, action, and results.
The insights generated by and with learners are gathered, analyzed, and shared, for the benefit of communities and partners to scale and develop truly ground-tested and evidence-based policies and programmes.

Digital challenge-based learning in the COVID-19 Peer Hub

Ian Steed September 16, 2022Global health, Learning, Writing

A digital human knowledge and action network of health workers: Challenging established notions of learning in global health

When Prof Rupert Wegerif introduced DEFI in his blog post, he argued that recent technologies will transform the notions and practice of education. The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) is demonstrating this concept in the field of global health, specifically immunization, through the ongoing engagement of thousands of health workers in digital peer learning.

As images of ambulance queues across Europe filled TV screens in 2020, another discussion was starting: how would COVID-19 affect countries with weaker health systems but more experience in facing epidemic outbreaks?

In the global immunization community, there were early signs that ongoing efforts to protect children from vaccine preventable diseases – measles, polio, diphtheria – would suffer. On the ground, there were early reports of health workers being afraid to work, being excluded by communities, or having key supplies disrupted. The TGLF quickly realised it had a role to play in ensuring that routine immunization would carry on in the Global South during the pandemic and then to prepare for COVID-19 vaccine introduction.

Peer learning vs hierarchical, transmissive learning models

Since 2016, TGLF had been slowly gaining traction in the world of immunization learning, with its digital peer learning programmes for immunization staff. These programmes reached around 15,000 people in their first four years, before the pandemic, about 70% of whom were from West and Central Africa, and about 50% of whom work at the lowest levels of health systems: health facilities and districts.

The TGLF peer learning programmes were developed as an alternative to hierarchical, transmissive learning models, in which knowledge is developed centrally, translated into guidance by global experts, which is then disseminated through cascade training.

In the hierarchical model, health workers are merely consumers at the periphery of the process. COVID-19 brought the inadequacies of this approach into sharper focus, as health workers dealt with challenges that had not been foreseen or processed through existing guidance.

No technical guidance could address every scenario health workers faced, such as reaching the most marginalised communities or engaging terrified parents at a time when science had few reassuring answers. They needed to be creative and empowered to find their own solutions. Health professionals learned to rely on each other as peers, learning from each other how to negotiate many unknowns, without waiting for the answers provided by formal science.

The TGLF approach quickly demonstrated its usefulness in connecting peers during the pandemic. In 2020, the number of platform users doubled to 30,000 in just six months (compared to four years to gain the first 15,000 users) and has now trebled to 45,000.

Adoption doubled from 15,000 pre-pandemic users to 30,000 users in the first six months of the pandemic. It now stands at 45,000 in 2022.

Addressing Covid-19 impacts through challenge-based learning

The foundation of the TGLF approach was the COVID-19 Peer Hub, an 8-month project based on challenge-based learning, which challenged individuals to give and receive feedback as they collaborated to:

Identify a real challenge that they were expected to address in their everyday work
Carry out situation analysis, and
Develop action plans that are peer-reviewed and improved.

The Peer Hub was inspired by the works of several of academics who helped create the Foundation: Bill Cope and Mary Kalantzis, and their technological implementation of “New Learning;” George Siemens’ learning theory of connectivism; and Karen E. Watkins and Victoria Marsick’s insights into the significance of incidental and informal learning.

The Peer Hub demonstrated the creation of a “human knowledge and action network” formed through both formal and informal peer learning combined with ongoing informal social learning between participants. The network was built on the principle that participants were themselves experts in their own contexts, and creators, rather than consumers, of knowledge. Front-line health workers suddenly had the legitimacy and ability to share experiences with their peers and experts from around the globe.

Screenshot showing ten user-generated posts displayed as two rows of colourful tiles

In the first ten days, COVID-19 Peer Hub participants shared 1224 ideas and practices through the Ideas Engine, an online innovation management tool.

Results of peer-led, challenge-based learning interventions

More than 6,000 health workers joined the TGLF COVID-19 Peer Hub, where they:

Documented and shared 1,224 practices and ideas to maintain routine immunization through the Ideas Engine;
Developed 700 peer-reviewed action plans, informed by ideas and practices shared through the Ideas Engine;
Learned to support each other in implementing these plans during a four-week “Impact Accelerator Launchpad;”
Responded to concerns about vaccine hesitancy in the face of COVID-19 vaccine introduction, by developing a peer-reviewed case study documenting a situation in which they had helped an individual or group overcome their initial reluctance, hesitancy, or fear about vaccination. The resulting qualitative analysis – unique in accessing so many firsthand narratives from health workers – was produced by 734 participants.

Assessing the value of peer-led learning in a global vaccine education programme

The next challenge for TGLF was how to document and capture the value of this? Most of what was shared between peers was not new or innovative at a global level – but this did not make it less useful to the individual practitioner who had not encountered it before. How to account for the sense of identity, community and solidarity arising from peer learning that gives health workers the confidence and motivation to try new things? How to make a link between investment in peer learning, and children immunized?

“Participation in the Peer Hub has motivated me to organize my district to implement actions developed. It has also encouraged me to invite many Immunization Officers to learn the experiences from other countries to improve country immunization sessions”

Peer Hub participant

Global map with lines connecting countries where participants interacted

Tracking movement of practices and ideas shared through the Ideas Engine between countries

Because while health workers responded positively to opportunities to connect, learn and lead with one another, TGLF is very much a new entrant in a well-established institutional learning environment for global health. Here are some questions we’ve developed as TGLF challenges established norms and ways of working:

How would you feel as a global expert if you were asked to give up your role as ‘sage on the stage’ to be a ‘guide on the side’ to thousands of health workers?
Can self-reported data from thousands of health workers evaluated by peers be trusted more or less than a peer-reviewed study?
What does ubiquitous digital access mean for training programmes that have previously incentivised learner participation in face-to-face events through payment?

“I can actually broaden my vision and be more imaginative, creative towards new ideas that have come up to improve overall immunization coverage.” – Peer Hub participant

Working with DEFI and other similar institutions, TGLF looks forward to:

Exploring and demonstrating the credibility of what we do through critical independent research and commentary
Demonstrating the potential of our approaches to large institutions and their donors;
Developing a bigger picture of how other sectors are adapting to the affordances of digital learning technologies;
Meeting others innovating in digital learning to be inspired and cross fertilise.

We look forward to fruitful dialogues!

Ian Steed, Associate, Hughes Hall
Ian works as a consultant in the international humanitarian and development sector, focusing on the policy and practice of ‘localising’ international aid. In addition to his work with TGLF, Ian is involved with financial sustainability in the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement and is founder and board member of the Cambridge Humanitarian Centre (now the Centre for Global Equality). He studied German and Dutch at Jesus College, Cambridge, and has lived and worked in Germany and Switzerland.

What is the Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030)?

Reda Sadki June 20, 2022Global health

The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) and the Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030 represent two interconnected but distinct aspects of a global effort to enhance immunization coverage and impact.

What is Immunization Agenda 2030?

Immunization Agenda 2030 or “IA2030” is a global strategy endorsed by the World Health Assembly, aiming to maximize the lifesaving impact of vaccines over the decade from 2021 to 2030.

It sets an ambitious vision for a world where everyone, everywhere, at every age, fully benefits from vaccines for good health and well-being.
The strategy was designed before the COVID-19 pandemic, with the goal of saving 50 million lives through increased vaccine coverage and addresses several strategic priorities, including making immunization services accessible as part of primary care, ensuring everyone is protected by immunization regardless of location or socioeconomic status, and preparing for disease outbreaks.
IA2030 emphasizes country ownership, broad partnerships, and data-driven approaches. It seeks to integrate immunization with other essential health services, ensuring a reliable supply of vaccines and promoting innovation in immunization programs.

Watch the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030) inaugural lecture by Anne Lindstrand (WHO) and Robin Nandy (UNICEF)

What is the Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030?

The Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030, on the other hand, is a collaborative, community-driven effort to operationalize the goals of IA2030 at the local and national – and to foster double-loop learning for international partners.

It emerged in response to the Director-General’s call for a “groundswell of support” for immunization and combines a network, platform, and community of action.

The Movement focuses on turning the commitment to IA2030 into locally-led, context-specific actions, encouraging peer exchange, and sharing progress and results to foster a sense of ownership among immunization practitioners and the communities they serve. It has:

has demonstrated a scalable model for facilitating peer exchange among thousands of motivated immunization practitioners.
emphasizes locally-developed solutions, connecting local innovation to global knowledge, and is instrumental in resuscitating progress towards more equitable immunization coverage.
operates as a platform for learning, sharing, and collaboration, aiming to ground action in local realities to reach the unreached and accelerate progress towards the IA2030 goals.

In April 2021, over 5,000 immunization professionals came together during World Immunization Week to listen and learn from challenges faced by immunization colleagues from all over the world. Watch the Special Event to hear practitioners from all over the world share the challenges they face. Learn more…

What is the difference between the Agenda for IA2030 and the Movement for IA2030?

Scope and Nature: IA2030 is a strategic framework with a global vision for immunization over the decade, while the Movement for IA2030 is a dynamic, community-driven effort to implement that vision through local action and global collaboration.
Operational Focus: IA2030 outlines the strategic priorities and goals for immunization efforts by global funders and agencies, whereas the Movement focuses on mobilizing support, facilitating peer learning, and sharing innovative practices to achieve those goals.
Engagement and Collaboration: While IA2030 is a product of global consensus and sets the agenda for immunization, the Movement actively engages immunization professionals, stakeholders, and communities in a bottom-up approach to foster ownership and tailor strategies to local contexts.

What is the role of The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF)?

The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF) plays a pivotal role in facilitating the Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). A Swiss non-profit organization with the mission to research and develop new ways to learn and lead, TGLF is instrumental in implementing large-scale, collaborative efforts to support the goals of IA2030. Here are the key roles TGLF fulfills within the Movement:

Facilitation and leadership: TGLF leads the facilitation of the Movement for IA2030, providing a platform for immunization professionals to collaborate, share knowledge, and drive action towards the IA2030 goals.
Learning-to-action approach: TGLF contributes to transforming technical assistance (TA) to strengthen immunization programs. This involves challenging traditional power dynamics and empowering immunization professionals to apply local knowledge to solve problems, support peers in doing the same, and contribute to global knowledge.
Peer learning scaffolding and facilitation: TGLF has demonstrated the feasibility of establishing a global peer learning platform for immunization practitioners. This platform enables health professionals to contribute knowledge, share experiences, and learn from each other, thereby fostering a community of practice that spans across borders.
Advocacy and mobilization: TGLF calls on immunization professionals to join the Movement for IA2030, aiming to mobilize a global community to share experiences and work collaboratively towards the IA2030 objectives. This includes engaging over 60,000 immunization professionals from 99 countries.
Governance, code of conduct, and ethical standards: Participants in TGLF’s programs are required to adhere to a strict Code of Conduct that emphasizes integrity, honesty, and the highest ethical, scientific, and intellectual standards. This includes accurate attribution of sources and appropriate collection and use of data. Movement Members are also expected respect and abide by any restrictions, requirements, and regulations of their employer and government.
Research and evaluation: TGLF may facilitate the connections between peers, for example to help them give and receive feedback on their local projects and other knowledge produced by learners. Insights and evidence from local action may also contribute in communication, advocacy, and training efforts. TGLF also invites learners to participate in research and evaluation to further the understanding of effective learning and performance management approaches for frontline health workers.

Learning for knowledge creation WHO Scholar programme

Learning for Knowledge Creation: The WHO Scholar Program

Reda Sadki May 23, 2022Global health, Learning strategy, Scholar Approach

Excerpted from: Victoria J. Marsick, Rachel Fichter, Karen E. Watkins, 2022. From Work-based Learning to Learning-based Work: Exploring the Changing Relationship between Learning and Work, in: The SAGE Handbook of Learning and Work. SAGE Publications.

Reda Sadki of The Geneva Learning Foundation (TGLF), working with Jhilmil Bahl from the World Health Organization (WHO) and funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, developed an extraordinary approach to blending work and learning. The program started as a series of digitally offered courses for immunization personnel working in various countries, connecting in-country central planners, frontline workers, and global actors. The program was designed to address five common problems in training (Sadki, 2018): the inability to scale up to reach large audiences; the difficulty in transferring what is learned; the inability to accommodate different learners’ starting places; the need to teach learners to solve complex problems; and the inability to develop sufficient expertise in a timely way to ensure learning is greater than the rate of change (Revans, 1984).

The approach grew out of work with Scholar, an innovative learning platform, developed at the University of Illinois by Bill Cope and Mary Kalantzis. As the technology implementation of their ‘new learning’ theory, Scholar emphasized seven affordances of learning in a digital age that look at how new technologies change the way knowledge is created and how people connect and socialize (Cope & Kalantzis, 2016). The elements of the Scholar approach include: community-building functions and resources, such as dialogue area surveys and social media; and knowledge creation functions, including a collaborative publishing and critiquing space and tools such as language checkers, annotation functions, and a number of analytics including grade-level writing scores (see Figure 11.3).

**Figure 11.3. Scholar pedagogy framework**
Source: Cope, Bill and Mary Kalantzis, “Assessment and Pedagogy in the Era of Machine-Mediated Learning,” pp. 350–74 in *Education as Social Construction: Contributions to Theory, Research, and Practice*, edited by Thalia Dragonas, Kenneth J. Gergen, Sheila McNamee and Eleftheria Tseliou, Chagrin Falls OH: Worldshare Books, 2015.

Learning in this digital milieu is very different, not because it is new (given decades of experience with the internet), but because of the rapid rate of change compared to traditional courses that rely on a fixed understanding of how we learn when we share physical space. Published work is often generated by the learners themselves either from their existing libraries or what they produce within the course – which may also become available to other courses; from internet searches, source documents within their work, etc. Project-based learning is not new either, but the scale, the speed, and the meaning of such connections (i.e., how they are experienced) are. Learning contributions of this kind reduce the need for subject matter experts and are both convincing and situated in real-life contexts. Complex cases demonstrate the problems at the center of the course. Group dialogue and the development of proposals to solve real problems build a shared knowledge base. Participants develop action plans of how they will address the problems that are in their workplace. Finally, peer critiquing and support enable everyone to improve their plans from whatever starting place.

Deliberate efforts are made to create a learning community using tools that are already embedded in daily practice (keeping in mind that these tools are constantly changing) and structured activities like randomized coffee trials (Soto, 2016) through which learners meet outside of class to get to know one another socially (i.e., ‘to be human together’). Learning is scaffolded by a human knowledge network (Watkins & Kim, 2018) with peer review, staff support, expert resources, and a unique Scholar alumni cadre of former students who volunteer as ‘accompanists’ to support new learners in navigating the technology and whatever else creates a barrier for novices. Peer review is based on an expert rubric and facilitated by the Scholar team. This approach is scalable, with more than 800 learners in each cohort and 400 alumni volunteering to serve as accompanists. A small project team manages multiple cohorts at a time, with a duration of six to 17 weeks, depending on the course.

Recently, the Scholar team developed the Impact Accelerator, an extension to the courses that supports the implementation of course projects and encourages participants to develop new initiatives through collaboration. The Accelerator combines weekly webinars and assemblies, regular check-ins on implementation status, and support for developing in-country teams. Participants share best practices and challenging problems, for which peers provide help, responding as a culture without requiring prompting or intervention to do so. Initial findings from an evaluation of the Accelerator indicated faster implementation of action plans and improved collaboration among participants.

Over 20 country groups formed. In a short time, alumni documented that, as a result of what they learned and implemented, immunization coverage in their region improved. Learning involves a unique blend of a traditional format – an e-learning delivery platform – and consistent and deliberate use of actual work challenges and plans to generate improved workplace performance through a combination of peer support, healthy peer competition, and mentoring and coaching.

Sadki’s approach has been called ‘magic’. He disagrees. He says: ‘Learners are transmuted into teachers, leaders, and facilitators. In some countries, learners are self-organizing to take on issues that matter to them, evolving course projects into a potentially transformative agenda.’ He says success comes ‘from modestly intersecting the science of learning with real, lived learning culture and from reframing education as philosophy for change in the Digital Age. That, and a lot of elbow grease’ (Sadki, 2019). Sadki believes that impact is possible – even tangible – when educators connect the dots among the course, the individuals, and their context. His approach combines informal and incidental learning with conscious restructuring of context. The goal of his courses is knowledge creation focused on creating change in the workplace. The approach has gained sufficient momentum that ‘Scholar’ is more a movement than a learning approach. Sadki, a lifelong social entrepreneur and activist, has invented a new approach to learning and changing individuals and organizations. Table 11.2 summarizes features of the initiative map against the framework of learning in terms of separation, coterminous, seamlessly integrated or learning based work.

Cope, B., Kalantzis, M., 2016. Conceptualizing e-Learning. Common Ground Publishing, Chicago.

Revans, R. (1984). The origins and growth of action learning. London, England: Chartwell- Bratt.

Sadki, R. (2018). Peer learning support capacity building with Scholar. Poster presented at the Teach to Reach Conference, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Sadki, R. (2019). Magic. Retrieved from: https://redasadki.me/2019/03/25/magic/

Siemens, G. (2007). Connectivism: Creating a learning ecology in distributed environments. In Hug, T. (Ed.). Didactics of micro- learning. Concepts, discourses and examples (pp. 53–68). Munster, Germany: Waxmann verlag GmbH.

Soto, M. (2016). A simple tool to help M&A integration: Randomized coffee trials. Retrieved from: https://blogs.harvard.edu/ msoto/2016/01/26/a-simple-tool-to-help-ma-integration-randomised-coffee-trials/

Watkins, K. & Kim, K. (2018). Current status and promising directions for research on the learning organization. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 29(1), 15–29. doi:10.1002/hrdq.21293

Defunking Grunter

Reda Sadki May 11, 2022Thinking aloud, Writing

Part 1: The Journey Begins

Suspended in the swirling galaxies beyond our own, the celestial stage of the Cat’s Eye Nebula shimmered. The nebula was a kaleidoscope of iridescent gases, dazzling cosmic dust, and radiant energy, an ideal sanctuary for the Astral Scholars. Their gathering place, the Obsidian Forum, was a levitating, jet-black platform, as if carved from a fragment of the universe itself. It was etched with constellations, celestial bodies, and navigational lines of ancient wormholes–an atlas of the universe under their feet.

The youngest among them, Saci, was a fledgling star, her eyes twinkling with raw curiosity and a deep yearning for acceptance. A cloud of unresolved excitement perpetually surrounded her, compelling yet subtle, a characteristic trait of many passionate seekers before her.

One day, during a session of interstellar navigation training, her enthusiasm came to the fore. Saci hurriedly approached the Grand Orrery, a celestial model showcasing real-time cosmic patterns and wormhole trajectories.

“Look, Sumé,” she called, her finger tracing the holographic routes swirling around the Orrery. “The quantum oscillations of the Thule wormhole – they’re anomalous, aren’t they? Do you think they might cause instability?”

Sumé, a gentle smile on his face, looked at the eager apprentice. “Saci,” he said, his voice as calm as a placid cosmic sea, “those oscillations are part of the natural rhythm of this Nebula. What makes you interpret them as signs of instability?”

She looked back at him, her eyes sparkling with conviction. “Because, aren’t these patterns identical to the Arcturian Singularity that collapsed last millennium? I’ve read about it in the chronicles.”

Sumé chuckled softly, “Your diligence is commendable, Saci. But remember, not every rhythm plays the same tune. Sometimes, young star, the cosmos dances just for the sake of it.”

As Sumé’s words trailed off, the other Astral Scholars watched from the corners, a twinkle of amusement and anticipation in their eyes. This was just the beginning of a long and winding journey.

Little did they know, it would prove transformative for them all.

Part 2: Cosmic symphony

In the grand theater of the cosmos, the Obsidian Forum remained a tranquil sanctuary nestled in the heart of the Cat’s Eye Nebula. The Astral Scholars, guardians of cosmic wisdom, convened here, each bringing their unique light to the stellar discourse. Amidst them, Saci, a fledgling star, was on a path of self-transformation.

It was Sumé, Saci’s mentor, who first perceived the subtle shift in the cosmic tide. Sumé, the guiding luminary appreciated for his wisdom and empathy, felt the ripples between Saci and the Astral Scholars. Sensing the need for a gentle intervention, he decided to foster a bridge of understanding between them.

Beneath the timeless gaze of the cosmos, Sumé approached Saci, his voice as soothing as a cosmic lullaby. “Saci,” he began, his words imbued with an age-old wisdom, “A journey towards knowledge often walks hand in hand with humility. It’s about engaging in a dance of giving and receiving, a cycle as old as the cosmos itself.”

Saci listened, her fiery spirit quieted by the softness of Sumé’s words. Part of her perceived his counsel as a reflection on her demeanor. The protective shell of her self-awareness hardened, a comet fortifying itself against the cosmic wind.

“I appreciate your guidance, Sumé,” Saci responded, her voice vibrating with a controlled energy. “But do I really need to dismiss my very own thoughts? After all, isn’t the cosmos itself a cacophony of countless stars, each shining in its unique way?”

The celestial silence that followed was palpable, a quiet pause before the eruption of a supernova. Sumé regarded Saci, her resolute spirit flickering like the pulsating rhythm of a quasar.

“Indeed, Saci,” Sumé replied gently, his gaze unblinking. “The cosmos is a symphony, each star adding its own note. But remember, the harmony is born from listening as much as from contributing. Only then does the cosmic dance truly take shape.”

His words echoed in the Obsidian Forum, a quiet place that embodied understanding and unity. Yet, Saci remained cocooned in her protective shell, her fledgling light dancing between self-doubt and self-affirmation. This spirited exchange between Sumé and Saci marked a key turning point, revealing a complex tapestry of cosmic interplay. It was an age-old dance of wisdom and perception, a dance that had only just begun.

Part 3: The Dance of Realization

In the expansive theater of the cosmos, the Obsidian Forum was alight with anticipation. The Astral Scholars convened once more, their collective wisdom creating a celestial symphony. At the heart of this cosmic orchestra, Saci stood, her spirit dancing on the precipice of understanding.

A cosmic day dawned when Saci once again took the floor. Her voice, now more tempered but still vibrant, filled the forum, “I’ve been thinking, revisiting my understanding of TGLF and Movement. Perhaps I’ve been viewing them through a narrow cosmic lens, my own.”

Sumé observed her, a quiet sense of anticipation glinting in his eyes. “That’s a brave admission, Saci,” he commented, his voice as serene as the cosmic sea, “It’s only through recognizing our constraints that we learn to perceive the boundless.”

This time, Saci didn’t bristle at the mentor’s words. Instead, she took a moment, absorbing his wisdom. There was no sharp retort, no defiant glare. Just a simple nod, signifying her acceptance and understanding.

The days passed like comets streaking across the cosmic sky, each bringing with it a new opportunity for Saci to learn and grow. She began to approach the Astral Scholars, engaging them in thoughtful conversations, exchanging ideas and exploring possibilities. The once ruffled cosmic energy was now smoothing into a harmonious flow.

“I’ve come to understand that the cosmic dance isn’t merely about contributing one’s rhythm but adapting to the music already playing,” Saci said one day, her voice echoing the newfound realization.

Sumé smiled, his eyes reflecting the pulsating lights of the Nebula. “And that, Saci, is the beauty of our cosmic symphony. It’s about playing our notes while also tuning in to the melody of the universe.”

Saci’s journey was far from complete, but she was learning. She was learning to question her understanding, to seek wisdom, and to adapt. Her fiery spirit had not dimmed; instead, it was glowing with a newfound brilliance, illuminating her path towards becoming a true Astral Scholar.

As the cosmic twilight descended, Sumé watched Saci. Her transformation was reminiscent of a celestial event, where a collapsing star forms a beautiful Nebula. It was a challenging process, as boundless as the galaxies themselves, but the outcome was worth the struggle.

Sumé knew that Saci’s journey was just beginning. There were galaxies of knowledge to explore, infinite cosmic mysteries to unravel. But for now, he was content. For now, Saci was dancing with the cosmos, and the cosmos was dancing back.

With her enthusiasm mildly tempered but not extinguished, Saci ventured further into the Astral Scholar’s realm of knowledge. She found herself engrossed in the study of the Trans-Galactic Light Flux (TGLF), a phenomenon as mesmerizing as it was complex. Her observations led her to draw parallels between it and Movement, an elevated state of consciousness understood and practiced by the Astral Scholars.

One evening, as the cosmic choir of distant stars filled the Obsidian Forum, she approached Sumé. “I believe I’ve found something significant, Sumé,” she said, a gleam of excitement in her eyes.

Sumé turned to her, his face illuminated by the myriad colors of the Cat’s Eye Nebula. “Go on, Saci. What discovery awaits us tonight?”

“I’ve been studying TGLF,” she started, her hands involuntarily weaving through the air as if molding her thoughts into tangible forms. “And I think… I think it’s a form of energy transport, you know? And there’s a parallel with Movement, an exchange of energy at a higher level of consciousness. They’re intertwined.”

There was a pregnant pause as Sumé absorbed her words. Then he replied, “An interesting perspective, Saci. Your innovative thinking keeps us on our toes. But remember, TGLF and Movement, though they might seem related, function on different planes. One is the heartbeat of the cosmos, while the other is the song of our souls.”

Later, Saci presented her ideas to the conclave. Her voice was firm, her gaze unwavering. She spoke with conviction, her words leaving ripples in the energy matrix of the Forum. Some Astral Scholars responded with applause, others with probing questions, and a few with skeptical silence.

As Saci navigated the nuances of cosmic academia, she began feeling the weight of differences in her viewpoints. She noticed her perspectives sometimes overlooked the tradition of ‘stellar contribution’, a fundamental part of the Astral Scholar’s social contract. It was like missing a star from a constellation, leading to incomplete celestial narratives.

“Saci,” Sumé began in a gentle tone, after one heated debate had dissolved into cosmic silence, “Your theories are like comets, bright and fascinating. But remember, each celestial body, each star and planet, contributes to the cosmic dance. This, too, is a part of our learning, our growth.”

Listening to Sumé’s words, Saci felt a twinge of isolation but also a spark of curiosity. The day’s lesson had been a tumultuous ride through cosmic wisdom, but she realized that her journey was only just beginning. The Astral Scholars watched her retreating figure, their eyes gleaming with unspoken thoughts. The journey was far from over, and there was still much to learn for everyone.

Throughout the cosmic days and celestial nights, Saci dove deeper into the intricacies of the cosmos. She brought forth radical theories and challenged age-old interpretations, her voice echoing throughout the Obsidian Forum. Her bright mind shone like a supernova, illuminating previously uncharted corners of cosmic understanding.

Yet, it was not without consequence. Her relentless drive to validate her theories sometimes made her miss out on the gentle wisdom carried by the cosmic winds. Her interactions started drifting towards a series of inquiries and statements that leaned more towards validation rather than mutual understanding.

One such day, during a meeting under the veil of a cosmic aurora, Saci brought forth a new framework about the behavior of Quantum Strings. “Isn’t it plausible,” she argued passionately, “that the Quantum Strings in the Sumé Belt oscillate at a higher frequency due to the influence of TGLF?”

The Forum fell silent, each Scholar processing her theory. After a moment, Cygnus, the oldest among them, replied, “Saci, your enthusiasm is a beacon of hope for all of us. Your thirst for knowledge, undeniable. But have you considered the universal harmony in your hypothesis, the subtle rhythm of the cosmos? And the ‘stellar contribution’ that each celestial body brings to this cosmic ballet?”

Saci met his gaze, her heart pounding with the intensity of a pulsar. “I… I have,” she said, “but the strings’ behavior is so compelling, it’s hard to ignore.”

Cygnus responded with a soft smile, “Indeed, it is. Yet, the cosmos is a grand orchestra, my dear. Not a single note out of place, not a single beat without purpose.”

That night, as the cosmic choir hushed and the Obsidian Forum basked under the soft glow of the Cat’s Eye Nebula, Saci found herself wrestling with a whirlwind of thoughts. Her conviction wavered, her theories began to seem flawed. Yet, she was adamant about standing her ground. The Astral Scholars watched her from the corner of their eyes, seeing a reflection of their own past in her passionate defiance. They realized that their newest member was beginning a transformative journey that was as much hers as it was theirs. It was only the beginning.

Beneath the brilliant display of the Cat’s Eye Nebula, Saci’s fervor continued to permeate the Obsidian Forum. She was a force, a cosmic storm that stirred the otherwise tranquil conclave. She was bold and innovative, pushing boundaries and invoking intense debates. Yet, underneath her confident exterior, the Astral Scholars observed subtle signs of a silent battle.

One cosmic twilight, Sumé found Saci gazing at the holographic star maps, her face bathed in a soft celestial glow. “Saci, your presence reminds me of a fledgling supernova, ready to explode and scatter your elements across the cosmos,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

Saci turned towards Sumé, her mentor and her guiding star. “And what if the cosmos rejects my elements, Sumé?” she asked, her voice shaking, revealing a side she had often masked with her indomitable spirit.

Sumé took a moment to answer, his gaze soft. “The cosmos doesn’t reject, Saci. It transforms. Your elements, your ideas, they add to the cosmic soup. They cause reactions, start a chain of events that lead to new creations. This is the essence of ‘stellar contribution.’ Embrace the differences, the debates, and the questions.”

As Saci absorbed Sumé’s words, a realization dawned upon her. Her perception of acceptance had been rooted in agreement, while the cosmos and the Astral Scholars thrived on divergence, debates, and transformation.

While her confidence seemed unscathed, the Astral Scholars couldn’t miss the shadow of self-doubt that had subtly started to creep in. Sumé, the gentle mentor, understood this was a crucial turning point in Saci’s journey. He knew she was ready to embark on an introspective journey to revisit her beliefs, question her understanding, and transform her approach. As Sumé and the Astral Scholars looked on, Saci stood at the precipice of a great learning curve. This was her initiation into a deeper understanding of cosmic knowledge, a step towards becoming a true Astral Scholar.

And so, under the incandescent gaze of the Cat’s Eye Nebula, the first chapter of Saci’s journey among the Astral Scholars came to a close. It was a chapter of discovery, of challenging conventions, and of understanding the intricate dance of cosmic forces. But, most importantly, it was about the recognition of her own growth areas and the willingness to address them.

As the cosmic twilight gave way to the shimmering space-time fabric, the Obsidian Forum began to shimmer with the echoes of Saci’s thoughts. Her realization about her journey sparked a metamorphosis in her approach, a change as significant as the birth of a star.

Sumé and the Astral Scholars watched Saci’s retreating figure against the cosmic backdrop. They saw the uncertainty in her eyes, the self-doubt that threatened to overshadow her bright spirit. But they also saw a glimmer of hope, the promise of a new dawn, the beginning of a deeper understanding.

Yes, Saci had made mistakes. Yes, her ideas had stirred the cosmic pot. And yes, she had a long path ahead of her, a path fraught with learning and challenges. But she was just at the beginning of this path, and every path has its own wisdom to offer.

And so, as the Nebula watched silently, Saci left the Obsidian Forum, her mind full of thoughts, her heart filled with resolve. The first chapter of her journey had come to a close, but the story was far from over. In the grand cosmic dance, Saci was still finding her steps, still learning the rhythm, and the Astral Scholars were right beside her, guiding, watching, and learning alongside.

General Assembly of the Movement for Immunization Agenda 2030 on 14 March 2022

Reda Sadki March 14, 2022Global health

Summary of highlights from the Full Learning Cycle, Monday 14 March

# of participants: By Monday, 6,319 immunization professionals accepted to the Full Learning Cycle, including 3,592 Anglophones and 2,727 Francophones.
Participation: Scholars are participating with high motivation and bringing an incredible energy to build the IA2030 Movement. You can read their first-person perspectives on why they are participating in the Full Learning Cycle on slides 81-99. These slides show only a selected few quotes from more than 2,000 Scholars’ feedback to our “barometer”, a tool for them to share how they are doing in the Full Learning Cycle, which helps us to get the “pulse” of the whole group and adapt support.
By Monday, 313 ideas and practices submitted over the course of one week in the Ideas Engine. This number has now gone up to 559. You can see a breakdown of these ideas by country and by SP on slides 32-80.
Scholars are sharing with peers their immunization experiences in short 30-minute sessions with François Gasse and Charlotte. You can see slides 102-105 for a summary of experiences shared last week.