Delegates from at least twenty countries under the auspices of the Global Tapestry of Alternative (GTA) held the first ever physical assembly in the country to brainstorm on possible intervention measures in addressing challenges facing humanity
The weeklong summit hosted by the Society for Alternative Learning and Transformation (SALT), at Bantu Mountain Lodge in Nanyuki at the foot of Mt. Kenya was held from the 8th to 13th August where participants from all shades of life freely shared their experiences from their respective countries.
The assembly deliberated on the challenges posed by the current crises of climate, inequality, conflict and authoritarian governments with the objective of strengthening network among civil societies to push for positive change.
Kiambu County ahead of the Assembly, Simon Mitambo from Society for Alternative Learning and Transformation (SALT) said proposals to open a weaver group in the country were floated during the deliberation making Kenya the only country in Africa and the fourth globally to be accorded the coveted the privilege.
“ We will be discussing what alternatives that national and regional organizations are working towards in order to seize the opportunity ,weave our story together through solidarity so that if various systems collapse we have a basket of alternatives to work on”, he said
Mitambo who works extensively with indigenous and local knowledge systems to revive tradition by cultural diversity explained that at the grassroots level they want to work with communities to empower them to build their own autonomy, making decisions on how to be governed on matters of farming.
In a press release the GTA stated the network connects various players in the civil spectrum around the world to exchange their experiences and ideas in a learning curve to strengthen their solidarity in the movement of resistance, resilience and re-existence that are multiplying every day all over the planet.
“The physical meeting of movements from around the world at the Assembly allowed for the building of solidarity, exchange of experiences and learning and strengthening ties between movements and individuals” The statement read in part.
Prior to the Assembly, Kenyan civil society organizations and the GTA facilitation group earlier embarked on grassroots mobilization strengthening of local networks where talks on issues focusing on social, food and climate justice concerns were tabled. .
The team visited local communities of Tharaka Community and Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy, to see ground-level work in the country.
The GTA is a process that emerged in 2019, driven by multiple organizations and civil society networks across the world with a specific focus to exchange ideas on emerging challenges affecting communities.
Some of the key focal sectors the assembly addresses include agriculture, energy, food security, resource and knowledge with a new worldviews to re-establish humanity’s place within nature, as a basis for human freedom, dignity, and equality.
By Wangari Ndirangu
