What's cooking? The Hub Kyiv

Hey-hey! This is a note to say that the first steps for building the Hub Kyiv with a team of friends are being made: there will be the Start-up Picnic on June 19-21, 2009 in Kyiv.

More information can be found on our webpage, and more news at the Hub Kyiv blog.

We expect Bliss from ImagineChicago, Stine from the Bigger Picture, and Eleanora from the Hub Kings Cross, as well as people from Russia, Belarus, and other cities of Ukraine.

My Adventure in KaosPilot

All the diverse roads and people who I met on my journey led me to the Admission Workshop of the KaosPilot (KP) crazy and creative business school on March 30-April 1. This trip wanted to happen, it was blessed, even though it was quite an investment from my side. I can say now that it was million time worth jumping into it, although many people asked me twice every time I said I came directly from Ukraine only for these three days. Yes, I'm not normal in that sense, but I can recognize myself here.

New people, new personal experience of what KaosPilot really is, puzzles on a personal and team levels, supportive and compassionate attitude of the KP crew and facilitators (even though with stone faces throughout all three days, except the final intimate circle of feedback and reflections with Champaign and cheers), struggles of how to really show myself and the team in the best way (i.e. full potential!) within a short period of time, while being myself, who is not really going for showing off in life whatsoever.

It was one of the rules to keep it all confidential of what happened at the workshop, and I'll not go into details, but I would love to share some key insights, let alone strength and more passion about practicing facilitation skills for the Hub Kyiv:

• In order to be a leader I have to learn to lead myself
• Be proud of myself (even though it sounds strange, maybe - it'd be better to say be proud of my ancestors and of my future children and grandchildren ;)
• Go and practice: "yes... and" type of a reply in any circumstances
• Learn, learn, learn the art of putting the whole of yourself into a short presentation or comment or even word - so that people get to know your core from the beginning
• As it turned out it's easier for me to work in the team of smart people, for otherwise I waste my energy on the arguments about smart solutions and why they are important, rather than contribute to development of smart solutions
• Practice facilitation skills, and processes design, put your creativity on the floor to dance with the given to make a beautiful art-piece
• Remember: it's an art to empower, and it's so easy to disempower - be conscious about the context in which you allow your words/comments/thoughts to come
• Remember: it'd always be disturbing for other people to listen to another point of view from a totally different world, so disturb consciously, yet don't give up doing it
• Deliver my point of view and don't be shy of it
• Be more persistent to avoid people saying "third world" or "underdeveloped" country - it's not compassionate in the end
• Put the shit out of my head, if you want other people to treat you fairly
• Loosen up socially - go and meet people sincerely
• Start it all with high energy and music! Bring your whole self into the floor, be present now, and make the positive waves
• Free up my creativity

As I said the trip was really blessed, not only during the 3 days, but before and after it. Before I had a pleasure to meet with Ole and Natalka in Copenhagen, and then have one day of a trip - to Sweden, and through ferry back to Denmark. After the workshop I accidentally looked up and say Rowan from the KaoPilot Team 12, who lived in the UK and came home with the family for several days. So, I was invited to a great conversation and suppert in their house in Malling suburb. There was a great time... and at 2am I was at the trainstation to head home through Kastrup airport...

The photos will arrive soon.

It's really cooking here...

This is amazing to find out that something reeeeeally special is cooking here in Ukraine... Once you start it you suddenly realize that this is the right time for other like-minded people to kick-off with their ideas, and it's not a matter of one day, they also waited for this time, prepared for it, made the own journey of days, months, and maybe years...

Creative Cities: this is an international project designed by the British Council in order to help raise awareness about the changes that creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation can bring about in cities. It’s about improving people’s lives. The project covers a wide range of issues including: public spaces, arts and social activities, and policy-making.

BigIDEA: the social project of the creative team garage gang (gg}}gg) to create the new generation of civil society. The aim of this project is to strengthen communication among active citizens (young professionals and opinion leaders), inspire their creativity and start the process of social innovation - to bring ideas of social harmony. These will be the ideas of the new world. Watch up the video here.

I'm sure more is cooking... And together with the hub.in.ua team we are starting to map it all out - bringing the bright stories and ideas on the map of Ukraine, so that they are visible and inspirational for us and for others!

... and besides all it turned out that 2009 - is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation: In 2009 imagine, create and innovate! The year aims to raise awareness of importance ofcreativity and innovation for personal, social and economic development; to disseminate good practice, stimulate education and research, and promote policy debate and development.

So, together with the team, we are on the right track... just need smart and creative solutions to add some salt into the pot, and maybe spices... so that all the ideas are linked for synergy.