I’ve become particularly interested recently in the increasing number of cases where the outcome of inspection does not seem to bear out what happens in practice. Here are some examples of what I mean:

• The case of Children’s Services In Hackney where inspection ratings prior to the Baby P case had been positive
• The case of Basildon Hospital where the inspection report does not appear to have identified some real problems and reflected what was really happening on the ground
• The increasing concern about OFSTED reports by the local government association (LGA) and by Directors of Childrens Services
• Inspections of local councils under the comprehensive performance assessment regime that resulted in ratings that “poor’ or ‘weak’ councils with examples of good and excellent performance and good practice and vice versa
• Increasing signs of concern about the Audit Commission approach being voiced within the LGA

What do we think is going on here?

I wonder whether it is something to do with the methodology and the way that inspections are carried out? The difficulties seem to me to arise from the fact that inspections focus on the ‘professional’ and “organisational” end of the service and not enough on real examples of delivery – what actually happens on the ground.

So what we see often in inspection reports is critiquing and comment about policy, strategy, systems, processes and performance targets and indicators. What we see little of is real commentary about how services are delivered and what it feels like to users and citizens.

Maybe this is at the root of the current problems and concerns? A noticeable policy shift in the way that government, the major political parties and the public sector see the role and involvement of communities in the design and delivery of our public services. Total Place and the comprehensive area assessment (CAA) represent a move away from top down approaches to target setting to a world where partnership, collaboration, the community and the citizen play a pivotal part in designing, procuring and delivering local services within a place.

This signals a real paradigm shift.

So it not just about the policies, strategies, targets and processes. It is what is really happening on the ground, in the streets, in the wards and in families and communities that really matters.

Perhaps the inspection regime has some catching up to do? Unless it is to fall into disrepute, it will need to make that paradigm shift too.

Now what’s next.  I should write about my new path.  But not yet.  I want to write about something else.  I want to go more in depth of how much I lived in a fantasy.  I’m not sure you understand the gravity of me living in a fantasy world.

I remember when ever I had any free time or had time to just day dream my thoughts would go straight to fantasizing.  It was my hobby.  I could write books and books about what I day dreamed.  In years how much have I fantasized in my life?  I would have to say about five years of my life.  That’s if you put every minute that I day dream side by side.  I would have spent probably more than five years.  But I’m giving you an assumption of how much I would day dream.

I remember during recess time I didn’t play with the kids I would go off on my own and day dream.  I would even draw obscene drawings about a man and a women having sex.  But with my barbie dolls I would have two barbies having sex with one another.  The fantasies ran deep within.

I would fall asleep fantasizing and wake up and add to the imagination.  It was if I was living in a never ending day dream and my world was what I had to put up with.  I lived in an constant bubble.  Not letting reality hit me and not allowing myself to get hurt.  It was glass menagerie.  My illusion that I was living some what of a reality but stayed in my dreams when anything wrong was going on.  Never taking responsibility because I didn’t have to.  Especially since I had an older sister and two younger that took up my parents time.  I just slipped through the cracks and made it by as well as I could.  I remember when I was bored in church I would fantasize there too.  I didn’t know any better.  It was my reality.

I sometimes wonder if I were to go mad would I slip into one of my fantasies and believe it to be reality?  If I would forget my family and think that all the celebrities that I have made love to were my loved ones.  How much of me was lost in those daydreams?  How much of me was lost to the imagination?

I now live in the real world but I still day dream.  I still regress into myself right before falling asleep.  It helps keep the monsters at bay.  What monsters?  This is were I try to combine my Christianity.

When I was younger I would feel like there was some kind of presence in my room.  I never knew if it was safe or if it was some presence that shouldn’t be around.  I have always had some kind of spiritual experience.  A year hasn’t gone by in my life when I have had some kind of abnormal experience more like supernatural experience happen to me.  Now please understand that I believe that I have been redeemed with the blood of Jesus Christ and I have spoken in tongues.

Well that was then.  I don’t know about now…

Anyway I have been baptized, I have danced in the spirit, I had a demon casted out of me, and I have spoken in tongues.  I have also given someone a tiny prophesy.  I know you might think she is crazy.  That there is no way that these things could happen to someone but please believe that I am not crazy and I have had these things happen to me.  They are real.  If you do not believe that their are demons, angels, or that you have been redeemed by the son of God then stop reading altogether.  Stop reading because you might not understand or care for the rest of this post.

There are things I cannot not explain that have happened.  That I wish I could scientifically explain and give proof but alas I have none of it.  All of my life I’ve had people say “If you just let go He can do great things in your life!”  If I could go back to them and say “I have let go not in the way you might have wanted it but what now?  What happens to this lost child of His?  I am even lost?  Or was this the plan all along?”  I know that Jesus loves us no matter what.  But I have had a huge fight with myself wondering if He does love the ones that have decided to become homosexual.  Sure sex can be perverted, if you pervert it.  But what if two women or two men have sex in love.  Two people of the same sex love each other and are faithful, have been with each other for years with no other partner… Does not God consider a partnership between two straight people that have had sex with only one another to be husband and wife?  So would they not be a married couple?

For Christians I’m sorry if this may seem blasphemous but do not preach to me what the doctrine says.  Come to me with an open heart and try to explain to me what you think… Not what you know or what it says in black and white.  Come to me with open arms and minds and answer me that.  Answer me what does God do with those who are born one way but in their heart they know its not.  But yet myself who has ran and ran from being a lesbian has had all these spiritual experiences.  Experiences where I should have been frightened but I have ran into God’s arms and have been covered.

I don’t know what else to say.  I don’t know where else to go with this.  This has been one heavy post but it was needed to be said.  I will elaborate more on another one.  But for now I will leave you with that.  Take it in.  If its too much, than I’m sorry but this is me.  I will not apologize for it anymore.  Take it or leave it…

XOXO

~RoMa

I’m typing on the kitchen counter at 10:45 on Thanksgiving Evening. We got home about half an hour ago, I’ve unpacked the Ouback from our mini-camping trip to my parents, and you’re upstairs nursing Ella (and now giving her a bath).

I was sort of dreading the tired drive home, but it flew by with the rich conversation we share so often that I sometimes take for granted. Cinnamon rolls are baking, I’ll go upstairs and give you a neck and back massage, and then we’ll take a shower together and go to bed. I am thankful for you and the life we share.

The scriptures say in multiple places that we are to give thanks to the Lord, because his love endures forever. May he help us to continue to do this, and may we our love continue to endure by his strength. We are not thankful to some nebulous non-entity–rather, we are thankful to a loving, holy, and sovereign God who upholds us, and shelters us under his wing. Thank the Lord for you and the faith he has given us to share. I love you.

I am currently reading through Philippians and well it is taking me a while… I can’t help but read, stop          ,and think about what Paul is saying. As I read through Philippians 1:1-11 i cannot help but ask what does Paul teach about Christian Partnership and how does this inform me about my partnership with other Christians?

Paul is greatly encouraged by his partnership with the Philippian Church. A partnership described as:

• in the gospel (v5)
• partakers with Paul in grace (v7)
• partakers through thick and thin (v7)

The Philippians have so greatly encouraged Paul in sticking with him through his imprisonment (see 1:12-14, 4:14-16 cf. Acts 16:12-40) that Paul knows with full assurance the partnership is not give and take, but it is genuine. The genuineness of their partnership is shown in the Philippian’s actions and Paul’s emotions.

Paul is joyous (v4), and filled with affection to see them again (v8). As a result Paul holds them in his heart (v7) drawing him to pray for them and thank God for them.

Which gets me wondering if we ever get so close to our Christian brothers and sisters? And even further do our conversations at Church produce such great partnership?

As I think about this I acknowledge that my conversations with people at church usually consist of ‘how was your week?’ ‘what are you up to this week?’. Not that there is anything wrong with that. But it never seems to get of the ground to discussing anything of great worth.

I am struck by Paul’s prayer:

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil 1:9–11 ESV)

I dont often consider the strength of these words.

Do I really try and encourage people to grow in love based on the Gospel so they may bring praise and glory to God? Do I allow my conversations to be based on the Gospel and to encourage people to reflect on the message preached in Church? Do I discuss what I have been challenged with as well as being interested with what they have been challenged with?

How is your Christian Partnership going?

Zim, SA set to sign BIPPA

www.herald.co.zw
Herald Reporter

Zimbabwe and South Africa will today sign the long-awaited Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, a development likely to remove the remaining skepticism potential investors had on the country.

In a statement yesterday, Secretary for Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Dr Desire Sibanda, said BIPPAs created conducive investment climates.

“Now that the BIPPA will be signed, this will go a long way towards removing the remaining skepticism that potential investors had on Zimbabwe,” he said.

Dr Sibanda said such agreements give confidence to prospective investors as they are assured of doing business without fears of nationalisation.

He said Government recognised the importance of attracting investment as it spurs economic growth.

“South Africa has traditionally been our major trading partner since the 1980s. However, this trend is likely to change once the BIPPA with South Africa is signed. This has the potential to unlock the dormant value for the South Africans to invest in a big way,” Dr Sibanda said.

Last year, South Africa exported goods worth US$1,7 million to Zimbabwe, while the country’s exports to that country were valued at US$759 000.

Yesterday, Dr Sibanda said the ministry planned to carry out investment road shows in South Africa, China, Europe, Australia and Americas to promote investment opportunities in Zimbabwe.

Beaumont Leys picked up two awards, including the top prize, at the Partnership for Schools annual national award ceremony earlier this m0nth.

The Leicester City phase 1 school was awarded “BSF School of the Year” and also the special “Grand Prix” prize for the most transformational team.

Beaumont Leys wins top BSF prize

Head Teacher Liz Logie later commented:

“When we were working with the architect, I was clear that I wanted a building that was fabulous and gorgeous, inclusive and secure, open and flexible.

I think we succeeded. Building Schools for the Future has had a dramatic impact on everyone’s sense of well being and this is clear in students’ attitudes, behaviour and effort.

There is a real sense of pride, which is great to see”

Beaumont Leys - Interior view

An honourable mention for Soar Valley College, which  was nominated in the Most Inspirational Use of Outside Space category, and also to Leicester City Council – considered for the Innovation in PE and Sport prize.

London Shh...

Ho già citato più volte lo splendido lavoro di Jim Richardson e l’agenzia SUMO: curano tantissimi progetti nei quali gli ambienti culturali diventano oggetto di un’azione comunicativa originale, di sperimentazioni a cavallo tra new media e installazioni offline.

London Shh (London Small Historic Houses) è l’ennesimo progetto curato da SUMO e vede la partnership di 6 piccole “case” della capitale inglese, in cui hanno vissuto diversi personaggi d’importanza storica. Tutto questo per sfruttare sinergie nel campo del marketing e dell’offerta promozionale.

Un’operazione di partnership simile, viene realizzata anche in altre parti del Regno Unito: dove? Leggete qui.

I had a thought earlier today.  Being alone again… there’s nobody to tell me, “Mary, that’s a dumb idea.”  Not that John ever quite said it that way or ever treated me like that– I’m a little more blunt.

But at the same time there’s nobody to tell me “Mary, that’s a dumb idea.”

With John it was more the gentle reminders that I needed to get some sleep.  Or “did you feed the horses yet?” (which by the way, I haven’t yet).   Or “we need to remember to…”  Or the “what do you think about…” Or “don’t forget to…”

Confiding in a soul-mate and sharing a partnership together are some of the things I miss the most.  I miss them everyday, but I miss them most when it comes to matters of Nathaniel.  I don’t want to be the person that decides if it is safe for him to get vaccinated for H1N1 of if it is dangerous for him not to get it.  (He has gotten his first shot and is scheduled for dose number two.)   I want to be one of two parents who decides together how to best raise their child.  You know the way it ideally is… in a perfect world.  But, in a perfect world your beloved spouse doesn’t die of cancer at 35…

Everything is now my decision to make- for wrong of for right.  In a way it’s nice to know that there won’t be any conflict in parental matters- it’s my way or the highway.  (Practicing for the teenage years.)  I can do things that I want to do- if I want to go take Nathaniel somewhere, I just do it.  No, “not now… maybe later”… “I’m tired…”  or “I don’t feel like it,”  or “why don’t you just go (aka I’m not interested and don’t want to join you).”  I’m tired of learning things the hard way.  Hoping I’ll be making more right decisions, but I’m fully aware that I’ll make wrong ones too.

All that being said, I think I’m doing mostly okay on my own.  I ask for opinions when I need them and make my own decisions.  I’m pretty good at researching and collecting data.  I’m an adult and quite capable of making my own decisions.  I just wish John was still here to help me make up my mind.

Founded in 1995, pioneer of the digital inclusion movement in Latin America, CDI (Center for Digital Inclusion) is one of the leading social enterprises in the world with a unique socio-educational approach. CDI Founder and Ashoka Fellow Rodrigo Baggio and our work at CDI have been recognized with more than 60 international awards. Today, we are a network of 753 self-managed and self-sustaining CDI Community Centers throughout Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay – monitored and coordinated by our 31 regional offices.

In addition to low-income communities, our schools are also present in indigenous communities, psychiatric clinics, hospitals for the mentally and physically disabled, as well as youth & adult detention facilities.  CDI is an international NGO with US 501c3 status, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro. CDI has operations in the USA, UK, and and Latin America.  With the support of James Wolfensohn, former President of the World Bank and the Wolfensohn Institute, CDI is in the process of expanding to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, to be followed by India and other parts of Africa. (CDI Global)

THE PROBLEM

“Computers and computer-based communications and information systems are opening up new opportunities in virtually every field of human endeavor. Distances of many kinds are being erased, and the “global village” is becoming more of a reality with each passing day. In education, in the workplace, and in many leisure pursuits, the computer embodies the fundamental difference between yesterday and today.

Unfortunately, however, the benefits of this remarkable tool are not being evenly shared. In countries like Brazil, where poverty is widespread and public education systems are extremely deficient, both the high cost of computer hardware and limited opportunities for training in computer skills deny access to those benefits to most people of modest economic means. As a result, in several important respects the gulf between the “haves” and the “have-nots” is widening, and with that widening, the opportunities open to economically disadvantaged groups are correspondingly curtailed.

The essence of the challenge that Rodrigo and his colleagues are addressing, therefore, is the urgent need to broaden access to computer and information science skills and, through those skills, to improve economic opportunities and more fruitful participation in virtually every dimension of modern life. The campaign in which Rodrigo and his associates are engaged is at the forefront of the continuing battle for social justice. It is also of central relevance for the future of democratic governance in Brazil.” (Ashoka.org)

THE SOLUTION

“We use knowledge to stimulate local economic development and job creation.  Technology is one of the most powerful catalysts of change at hand today. But technology, in itself, is just a tool. The true challenge is making technology relevant and useful in the context of marginalized populations. For 14 years CDI has empowered disadvantaged groups to use Information & Communication Technologies (ICTs) as tools to exercise their full capacities as citizens and tackle the issues that affect their communities. CDI Community Centers are technology and learning centers in impoverished communities. Each CDI Community Center is a partnership with an existing leading grassroots organization.  The community based organizations provide the infrastructure and CDI provides free computers and software, implements educational methods, trains instructors and monitors the schools.” (Ashoka)

THE RELEVANCE

“The Committee for Democracy in Information Technology, founded by Baggio, was chosen as one of the world’s top three Principal Voices in the field of Economic Development. (Ashoka Fellow)

THE SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR

“The Brazilian social entrepreneur, 40, has worked tirelessly to overcome what he calls “digital apartheid”, explaining that “79 per cent of the population of our planet is excluded from accessing technical development.” (Digg)

THE RESULTS