The Africa Pre-World Conference
The Africa Pre-World Conference was a thrilling experience for me—educative, liberating, exhilarating, and eye opening.
Tim Jackins taking us “back to the basics” was interesting for me because I wanted to be sure of all that I had learnt earlier on. The three words that keep ringing in my head are love, restimulation, and discharge.
I was reminded that I get restimulated because of similar experiences that have happened in my past. Old feelings from the early hurts come back to be felt in the present. This is what always confuses me—the past masquerading as if it’s in the present. It makes it difficult to think and function as intelligently as I can.
I was reminded once again of the importance of discharging. Anytime I got the opportunity to be in a session, I used it to discharge.
It was exciting to get access to all the materials that were shared, especially about the Guidelines for the Re-evaluation Counseling Communities.
I also learnt what leadership means in RC—that it’s about thinking about the group we are in and not about commanding and telling people what to do. It’s about thinking about others. I need to look at the distresses that get restimulated for me as a leader. Also, it’s likely someone will get upset with me even if I do everything perfectly. I need to remember that it’s about how they were hurt and not about the mistakes I made.
I like that Tim encouraged us not to hide or be too careful or small when attacks come and that it’s okay to make mistakes along the way. They can be corrected, and they never justify an attack.
My sessions on attacks and my earliest hurts, and getting to think and listen, were all great. I’m glad I got the opportunity to be in sessions with different people.
Discharging on climate change was a good experience for me. The climate emergency should be embraced by all to help get the world back to a better place. The question I keep asking is, how are we going to move on from here? Is it enough for me to start planting trees in my backyard? Is it enough to reduce my use of plastics and get my children and the young people I teach to do the same? Is it enough to get other people interested in the climate crisis? What about the government? How can I get them to act?
I am tired as a young Black person who feels like my voice can’t be heard by anyone. I need a change. I need to see the change now. I need to see that change for my children and the generation unborn.
The highlight of the conference for me was interpreting for Tim on the last day. It was exciting for me because language liberation is very important to me as a young Black Ghanaian woman. I felt like discharging at one point because I could directly connect to what Tim was saying.
I learnt a lot from the Pre-World Conference 2021. I can’t wait to share my experience with the young adults in the Accra, Ghana, Area where I serve as their leader.
Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this conference a success.
Accra, Ghana
(Present Time 206, January 2022)