Blog of Visionary Program Director – Olga Shirobokova: What does an executive educational program have in common with a children’s camp?

At the age of 11-20 there was nothing more desirable for me than going to a children’s camp – first as a participant and later as a camp counsellor 🎉.

I was lucky to land in the hands of very caring people. I felt we, youngsters, were accepted as we were, listened to, given a chance to discover our talents, be bold & experiment, learn what a true community is and co-create projects and performances.

The entire crew of the camp, both kids and counsellors, would dive deep into these 2 weeks together with full passion and do our best to create meaningful experiences from dawn to dusk ✨.

My most favorite part of the day was coming together as a group before going to bed and sitting in the circle around a candle – sharing what made that day special for us. I still have that feeling in me – 🕯️it’s dark and quiet, the shadow of the candlelight dances on the wall, one after another people are speaking their hearts out and the rest are all ears.

Then a counselor would take a guitar and play some songs we all would sing along. This shared wave of singing would tie us even closer. And we were then ready for a good night of sleep.

I am blessed to have this safe space experience deep in me.

When I recently read a post of Birgit Radl-Wanko, participant of this year’s Ashoka Visionary Program, about her experience with us, I suddenly got the flashback of the camp and felt honored:

“Perhaps most moving: The wonderful individuals who facilitated and weaved a truly trusting community of learning – no matter if we were 25 or 52 years old, no matter if we had 5 or 20 years of work experience, no matter where we were coming from – all united by a purpose to make change happen.”

Creating a trusted community where people feel united in their values and visions and in their passion to learn has been truly rewarding 💫.

Making sure we get to know each other as humans via deep check-in’s, become thought partners to each other in real life challenges and projects, visit each other’s homes, families and countries, dance, cook and walk together.

If I am asked what I am most proud of lately, I would say that the group recognized the value of keeping the community strong and lively beyond the program and established a Community Weaving Committee.

Our official journey together will end next week, but already in September they self-organized to spend a workation together in a magic mountain hut of Julian. 🌄

My heart is filled with warmth and love.