We connect people, communities, governments and business together to learn how to make the world a better place for everyone. Our purpose is to propel the movement to build the world we all dream of right now. We believe that the path to realize the world we all dream of is one of transformation in community. We ourselves live a process of community development, just as we develop tools and methodologies that stimulate other projects for people and communities in the world. We do this through: Leadership Development and Lectures; Tools for Social Mobilization; Community and Local Development; and Revitalization of Public and Community Spaces.
Paradigmatic
- Seek shift from paradigm of scarcity to paradigm of abundance
- Seek shift from more individualist to more collective cultures. Work on the basis of community as a vital locus for transformation.
Integrated
- They speak of “transform[ation] inside out: the challenge of releasing the potential of the individual to collective causes”
Pragmatic
’- Their strategic approach/philosophy for approaching programs and projects involves 7 steps: Olhar (Gaze), Afeto (Affection), Sonho (Dream), Cuidado (Care), Milagre (Miracle), Celebração (Celebration), Re-evolução (Re-evolution). The Dream, Care, and Miracle steps are particularly about visioning, strategising, planning, and mobilising resources (e.g. to build a community playground): “one way for people and communities to perceive their great capacity for realization is through the materialization of collective dreams through hands-on activities.”
- One workstream focuses on “long term projects with a threefold foundation of Training + Mobilization + Realization, geared towards relationships between public and private institutions, companies and communities”
- Through practical, hands-on local community projects they support the cultivation of community relationships between both people and place/space, dialogue among multiple stakeholders, and development of individual and collective leadership capacities.
Key Publications
- ELOS Philosophy [video]: https://youtu.be/BTs63bgWkYY?list=PLVHxJsRp_lMCMVVgAjhTL6ukmJR434Aw2
Additional Notes
- Games for social transformation project: https://www.institutoelos.org/games/. Supporting creativity, innovation, cooperation, citizen mobilization and activation of resources. E.g. The Abundance Game for fundraising: https://www.institutoelos.org/games/games/view/jogo-da-abund-ncia.
- I chose the “Health” issue tag thinking of it as “Health and Wellbeing”
- I chose the “Social Movements” issue tag thinking of something like “Responsible Citizenship” or “Citizen Mobilization”