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Henning Makell  shares his insightful observations on what he learned about storytelling and listening after 25 years of living in Africa,  ". . . a truer nomination for our species than Homo sapiens might be Homo narrans, the storytelling person. What differentiates us from animals is the fact that we can listen to other people’s dreams, fears, joys, sorrows, desires and defeats — and they in turn can listen to ours."

The New York Times, December 10, 2011
The Art of Listening   By HENNING MANKELL

Maputo, Mozambique
I CAME to Africa with one purpose: I wanted to see the world outside the perspective of European egocentricity. I could have chosen Asia or South America. I ended up in Africa because the plane ticket there was cheapest.

I came and I stayed. For nearly 25 years I’ve lived off and on in Mozambique. Time has passed, and I’m no longer young; in fact, I’m approaching old age. But my motive for living this straddled existence, with one foot in African sand and the other in European snow, in the melancholy region of Norrland in Sweden where I grew up, has to do with wanting to see clearly, to understand.
 
 

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We just heard from social innovator Mike Lin of Fenix International that the micro-documentary we produced with them has been selected as a finalist in the McKinsey Social Innovation Video Contest.

We're thrilled that McKinsey has recognized the important work that Fenix International is doing by bringing electricity to the 1.6 billion people who today struggle to live without it.  We are impressed by Mike and the San Francisco team and have been honored to collaborate with them in moving their mission forward.  

McKinsey gave them 1-minute to make their case and we are proud that their microdoc raised to the occasion.  Check out the finalists and vote for your favorite social innovator.