The Power of 'Consenso': Shifters Rewrite the Rules!
Okay, you might wonder what the big deal is about a video with young people simply saying “Consenso” (Trans. Consensus); but to appreciate this, we need to go back a few weeks.
Having supported a number of groups with different campaigns over the past two years (2022 and 2023), Fun Adults in Bolivia learned that while this approach had its upsides, it also led to conflicting messages and overstretched support towards the Shifters. That is why in 2024, Fun Adults decided to try a different approach: have 2 new youth groups work together on a single campaign.
Okay, you might wonder what the big deal is about a video with young people simply saying “Consenso” (Trans. Consensus); but to appreciate this, we need to go back a few weeks.
Having supported a number of groups with different campaigns over the past two years (2022 and 2023), Fun Adults in Bolivia learned that while this approach had its upsides, it also led to conflicting messages and overstretched support towards the Shifters. That is why in 2024, Fun Adults decided to try a different approach: have 2 new youth groups work together on a single campaign.
One of the two groups was the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Bolivia, an established group working to conserve biodiversity, cultural diversity and social equity. The other group (formed relatively recently) was the JCI Tunari and Partners Campus SS, an organisation of young leaders who create opportunities for continuous development via training and project implementation.
Given the (presumed) differences between the two groups, Fun Adults in Bolivia did what any good facilitator would do: anticipate the potential conflicts between the two groups and already put in place, a voting system to help Shifters in decision-making as they co-create their campaign plan. However, at the actual workshop, Shifters surprised the Fun Adults.
“NO, WE DON’T WANT TO VOTE BECAUSE THAT SHUTS OFF OTHER VIEWS AND OPINIONS.
INSTEAD, WE WILL COME TO A CONSENSUS AFTER DISCUSSING AND THEN LET YOU KNOW WHAT WE FINALLY AGREE ON”
At that moment, Fun Adults realised it was time for them to sit back and let the Shifters run the show. These small but truly amazing moments demonstrate how young people practice the values that we hold very dear at Shift: radical participation, genuine inclusion, co-creation, partnership, solidarity and collaboration.
As Fun Adults, there are two lessons to learn from Bolivia:
Be flexible in modifying the approach even if it deviates from what was initially planned
Prioritise and intentionally create spaces for young people to drive the process at every possible stage of your Shift journey