Thank you all for an amazing year, at Mthimkhulu International.  It has been exciting.  It has been wonderful.  And working together with you, Arthie and our team has been powerfully educational.

Our transformational teambuilding and diversity training programs have combined perfectly, to make the most incredible workplace diversity transformation program, in the country.  And, according to our international and local clients, perhaps the best in the world!

The Celebrating Humanity© program, has simply proven itself to be the most amazing means of bringing humanness and respect, to the workplace. 

We have travelled far and wide, to be with our clients.  From the Diamond Coast of Namibia, to the Bushveld - of South Africa.

Each client, by their amazing diversities, by their challenges and by their needs seemed different.  And yet the underlying need was the same. And that was to create a harmonious, united and respectful working environment.

Our 2 top projects

The most exciting and highly transformational workshops this year, had to be the team-builds for the South African Weather Service (SAWS) and the Department of Foreign Affairs - from Pretoria. Both groups had team members geographically separated, kept apart by their perceptions and through their personalities and communication styles.

The SAWS request was for "diversity training" and the DFA asked for "teambuilding."  In both cases we embarked upon the Celebrating Humanity Harvest© program,  over 3 days. With follow-up processes -  that would last for the entire year.

The timing between the contracts awards and the actual implementation, was very short. And lots of, very exciting, pressure was placed on us to deliver.

SA Weather Services

The SAWS project team members came to Johannesburg - from Pretoria, Cape Town, East London, Durban and other far-flung areas of the country. Initially it seemed, to the SAWS, team that all the problems and challenges of the past, were insurmountable.  Their diverse histories and cultures, races and behaviours had conspired to separate this wonderful team of people.

Nevertheless the Mthimkhulu International team, of Arthie and Brian Moore, arrived early at Glenburn Lodge, in order to transform the room and the training environment. 

And just as expected, when the SAWS team walked into the room, they were surprised at the festive setting.  It was not long, before they were all clapping together, in amazed unison.

Three days later, the team knew themselves and each other better, had developed a code of conduct and had cleared all interpersonal challenges. 

SAWS feedback

Their team leader had this to say, “I have to thank you again for the way you brought the human touch into our technical world and for the way you announced your appreciation, for the excellence and contribution of the whole  team.”

Another team member said, “One of the good things about the workshop is that all past grievances were cleared away and that we can all start from fresh again.

I have also learned that you must communicate with each individual in a special way as we are all different. This is important if you want to get your message across. “

And yet another said, “I think the most significant change took place within me, in the way I look at people and experience them. The workshop gave me insight into myself, and I saw lots of work there.

Finding out that one’s an ambassador for one’s culture, gave me new insight on how to conduct myself, not only in the workplace, but at home and anywhere where there’s people looking up at one.

The workshop was very enjoyable, fun and everyone was in good spirits, and I enjoyed it very much. I will definitely implement and practice what I have learned.”

SAWS follow up and support

One short month down the line, we met the team in Irene, outside of Pretoria.  There was a palpable air of excitement, as we sat down for the first Values Circle Meeting of this group.

Now in a few months, we will meet with the SAWS team again, for another team-build and to assess the changes and transformation of the past year.

The team is excited and raring to meet our facilitators and the team members once again.

We are just as excited, because we have followed the team's progress over the past year and we know that they have done some amazing things, with the foundations that we have laid.

Department of Foreign Affairs

With the Department of Foreign Affairs teambuilding, in July this year, all members of the team were involved.  From the former South African Ambassador to Geneva, to the general labourers – all together, all united and all respected as the human beings that they are.

In this transformational team-build, we were fortunate to have 120 people in the room.  The excitement, the intense human energy and the level of transformation were incredible.  A wonderful team of nine facilitators, worked with this stunning group of people, for three days.  They danced, they hula-hooped, they jumped, they shared, they laughed and built friendships & understanding..

The exciting processes during the day were augmented by some amazing fun and social events in the evening, on the first night, they all danced to Bhangra and Kwaito music.  On the second night, they danced to Greek music – with Nick the bouzouki player. He was supported by a wonderful singer and entertainer. This team had tons of fun, together.

Agreement and support

At the end of three days, they too had cleared and had agreed to a common code of conduct, that they would jointly manage into the future.  Six weeks later, we met again to set the ongoing process into reality.

We will monitor, and support them, as we do with all of our clients.

Feedback

Ambassador Nozipho January-Bardill had this to say, “Many thanks again for the wonderful team building sessions we did with you, your beautiful wife (in all senses of the word) and your splendid team.  

All the staff  here, are still on a positive high, and it’s been so nice to bump into them and see them smile from ear to ear. They had such fun and learnt so much. May the ancestors bless you all.”

Robert Botha, Head of the Sub-Directorate for Diplomatic Training, wrote, “To say that the time, with you and your group, was life changing would not be an overstatement.”

Namibian diamond fields contract

And wonderful news for our team, is that we have recently been awarded the supervisory teambuilding contract for Namdeb, in the diamond fields of Namibia.  The process has been ongoing, since 2005 and we expect to be on site fairly early in the New Year.

We have learnt so much along the way, with this tender process and on our other projects. (From greeting in Oshiwambo, to dancing the electric slide.)

One day Celebrating Humanity Eye-Opener©

Our Eye-Opener© program continues to delight delegates and this year, we had the 800^th person, from SunCoast Casino, go through a Celebrating Humanity© program. This is the 4^th consecutive year that the casino project has sent team members through this transformational team-building/ diversity program, and we expect to continue into the future.

We all can make a difference

Our interactions with the wonderful human beings in this country, in Africa and around the world have led us to believe that we make a difference.  We will always make a difference, as long as we live the core belief, “At the level of respect all people are equal.”

And when we understand that other people add to us and create our humanity, we will grow this country, this continent and this World into a far better place.

Other news and information

The Celebrating Humanity© Harvest, and shorter variants of the program, can be viewed on www.africa-dreams.com, and many of our successful projects can be seen on www.celebrating-humanity-projects.com.

Free stories and articles

For free stories and articles, or please visit our program or projects sites.

Holiday greetings

We wish you all a wonderful and safe festive and spiritual season.  May joy, peace, love and light be with you, now and forever.

From the Mthimkhulu Team!