Chab Dai's Learning Community began in 2005 as an innovative response to ending human trafficking (we started in Cambodia, but that doesn't mean it's not happening in your neighborhood!). Our solution was & still is sitting in a circle.
What's so innovative about sitting in a circle, you ask?
Well, imagine for a second a room full of people with different skills, backgrounds, training, and experience. And take into account that they all have the same shared vision. What if no one spoke with the man next to him about what he was thinking? What if he didn't even know the other man existed? What if one person lacked skills and the man next to him was an expert in the exact skills the first man (still next to him) lacked?
A circle draws all of those skill sets, experiences, and strengths together and lays them on the table.
A circle facilitates the sharing of ideas and prevents reinventing the wheel.
A circle levels the playing field, and recognizes that everyone from every background has something valuable to contribute to the discussion.
A circle coordinates networking.
A circle adds volume to advocacy.
A circle allows others to see others, to talk with others, to share with others, to learn from others, to build trust with others, and to work with others
And now you see, the power of a circle:
Learning from each other.
Sharing with one another.
Seeing value in everyone.
Coordinating others with others.
Advocating as one voice.
Trusting & working together!
If traffickers can form rings, we can create circles. And with the power of the circle we can outwit, outsmart, and stop abuse, trafficking, and exploitation.
