Unlearn. Rewild. Remember.
Introducing the First Berlin Learning Marathon
Unlearning is not forgetting, it is neither deletion, cancellation or burning off. It is writing bolder and writing anew. It is commenting and questioning, it is giving new footnotes to old and other narratives. It is wiping off the dust, it is clearing the grass, and cracking off the plaster that lays above the erased. Unlearning is flipping the coin and awakening the ghosts. Unlearning is looking in the mirror and seeing the world. - SAVVY Contemporary
At the end of September 2021 the first Berlin Learning Marathon kicked off with six curious humans embarking on a 4 month peer led learning journey.
The collective theme “Unlearn. Rewild. Remember” attracted a quirky international group of people who all have their own story of “unlearning” unhelpful paradigms and share a passion to make the world a more life-affirming place.
These are some questions we set out to collectively address, everyone through their own focus of enquiry:
- What must we unlearn and remember to create a world where all life can thrive?
- How can we rewild ourselves, our communities and the planet?
- How can we support each other to engage in work that feels truly meaningful?
When talking to all participants in the run up to the Kick Off weekend, I was happy to hear that everyone was very eager to meet in real life for all the sessions. I started feeling curious and excited about the tapestry of wonderful questions we would explore, spanning the topics of design for just and regenerative futures, making care irresistible and cool, mapping the fullest expressions of human beings, creating belonging, interoception as a tool for healing, and weaving a culture of inter-being.
It was a warm late summer weekend when we kicked off our journey. We were lucky to have the beautiful Remise of the Moos Space (an old bathtub factory) for us, which is located just next to the lush Treptower Park.
In between various exercises, games, presentations and the co-creation of our curriculum, we took a break for a delicious pot luck picnic in the park and treated ourselves to a silent disco tree dancing session, letting our bodies plunge into a sea of musical beats and flavours.
It was when I watched everyone dance in their uniquely funny, strange and beautiful ways that I knew this group would grow into a sweet container of mutual learning, support and friendship.
Here’s an introduction to the six wondrous humans of the Berlin Learning Marathon, in random order:
Saskia Rysenbry
Learning Question: What is a designer’s role in just and regenerative futures?
Saskia is a social designer and strategist with a background in sustainability, gender equity and community activism.
Currently at global sustainability non-profit Forum for the Future, her role as learning curator for the School of System Change is to translate and curate system change knowledge and resources into accessible and engaging materials for current and emerging systems change leaders.
She is co-founder and director of the Sathyam Project, an education and social enterprise organisation in India, focusing on income generation programs and is co-founder of Circology, a circular material design studio in Berlin, designing and open-sourcing circular solutions to waste.
She is passionate about education and has roots in community activism, previously part of the digital team of Precious Plastic designing tools and education resources for a global community finding alternative ways to recycle plastic.
Find Saskia via Her Website or on Instagram
Othmane Moustaouda
Learning Question: How can I make caring irresistible and cool?
Othmane is working on connecting (well)being, arts, inner-universe, technology and heart-centered life.
After a long career working in software, in parallel with learning and studying holistic practices, Othmane started shifting towards work that resonates with his higher purpose: to foster and cultivate a sense of Oneness between people, beyond labels.
Some practices and disciplines Othmane is studying and working with are: Hatha yoga, non-duality, meditation, non-violent communication, shamanic drumming, active listening.
Find Othman via His Website or on Twitter
Ioanna Polydorou
Learning question: How do we cultivate our interoceptive capacity such that it becomes a real-time tool for trauma-work, self-awareness, building on our intuition, courage, heart-openness, and ability for presence in our everyday life?
I’m excited about adventure, wonder, novelty, beauty, alchemy, and playfulness. Some of my interests include: seeing the interconnectedness of all there is, finding meaning, re-enchanting our life, metabolizing our traumas and creating a trauma-informed culture, developing our inner intelligence, realigning with nature. I studied biology and worked for many years in academic research from which I’m now pivoting away to embrace a more integrated world view and holistic approach to life. I am now working more closely with people, communities, culture, and consciousness.
Find Ionna at a Dance Event in Berlin 👯♀️
Szandra Ivan
Learning Question: How can I invite people to grow the feeling of belonging?
I am a community builder, people person, playful and cheerful. I value authenticity and creativity. I’ve been dabbling in design, creative programming, project management, events and facilitation. I’m full of curiosity and I love learning and developing. I enjoy spending a great deal getting to know myself and people around me and building long lasting relationships.
Find Szandra on Linked In
Jakob Wolski
Learning Question: What are the fullest and loving expressions of human beings that lead to the richest experience of life?
I am a bodyworker and student of anthropology and religious science. I am nerdy about people, design theory and community. I currently work as a Learning Guide for The School for Social Design, and as a freelance cultural strategist and facilitator. In my free time I like to tell stories and visualize human values.
Find Jakob on Twitter or on Linked In
Carolin Goethel
Learning question: How can I focus on facilitating cultures of interbeing?
I have always been curious about how humans can be in healthy relationships with each other and the earth. Drawing on my anthropological studies, my work in leadership education, community building and facilitation I have developed a varied toolbox for nourishing a culture of togetherness and interbeing.
I am currently engaged in various cooperatives in Berlin experimenting with local currencies (Circles UBI), co-living (GSP Wallenstein) and building bridges between the urban and the rural. I’m also training in eco-soul centric practices to guide others on wilderness rites of passage together with the Wild Minds Collective and run learning journeys and co-creation workshops together with CitizensLab.
I really enjoy dancing and singing, wild swimming, designing rituals, co-created festivals and solo time in nature.
As a lifelong learner I am excited to be hosting a Learning Marathon!
