Unfolding different meanings of one word

One of the things that really caught my interest at the DEDI Dialogue Forum was unfolding the understanding of different words. It was the unfolding of our different interpretations and understanding of them.

The forum created a space where different keywords like leadership could be explored and discussed. The word had many different meanings even though it could be very straightforward.

One of the key discussions came when one of the Egyptians explained that the word leader had a very different meaning in their language. The discussion came in connection with the discussion that Egypt needed a new leader. As it turned about at the forum it seemed like that the Egyptians needed to redefine, create a common understanding or make a new word for ‘leader’. The word leader had too many bad associations.

This was interesting to experience, that creating a common understanding of the word leader, might be a step before finding a leader.

The forum and camp created a space where subjects, ideas, thoughts and opinions could be talked about to a much deeper level than normally. With the combination of diversity, passion, time and openness we reached new understandings and eye-openers, which sometimes moved us from a self created understanding to a common understanding.

This story was written by Morten Starup, a Danish participant, on his experience in joining the DEDI Dialogue Forum in Newiba city, Egypt.