The Dance of Gift Culture at Change Festival

Contributor: Prakhar Bhartiya

Today is a beautiful day, like every other day in the collective journey we are on. Day after tomorrow, we will be welcoming new members of this community through Change Festival. At this point, we are witness to the dance of values of gift culture, inner transformation, trust, love and maitri that is emerging already at Youth Alliance. 

One of the most wonderful things about creating Change Festival has been our own learning of giving in to the space and not being afraid of experimenting. It is with that bhaav, that we decided to experiment with ‘Gift Economy’ as the new yet bright path that runs through our Festival. Sharing here, one of the value experiments that we are together doing this Change Festival. 

What is Gift Economy?*

In a gift economy, goods and services are given without any strings attached; it is an economic system in which the circulation of the gifts within the community lead to increase i.e. increase in connections, increase in relationship strength; in this context, hoarding actually decreases wealth. At its core, gift-economy is a shift from consumption to contribution, transaction to trust, scarcity to abundance, and isolation to community.

*Source: Nipun Bhai's Article on InnerNet

Once we realized that a GIFT is nothing but Giving In Full Trust, we began to be more aware and started acknowledging the sheer beauty and humility that this system creates all around us. All of us, ultimately, are living off the kindness of others, starting right from the gift of life that our mothers gave us. Living gift-economy is to first become aware of that kindness we're constantly receiving, then to hold gratitude for those gifts, and finally to pay it forward by opening each door with the humble question, "How can I contribute?"

The Change Festival in itself is created by the gifts that have flown in in full trust. The beautiful venue of Gandhi Darshan, the presence and support of amazing mentors, the self-service of volunteers, the financial capital (1)* offered by Youth Alliance and all the unconditional support that Youth Alliance have been getting are all different forms of gifts that have put together this year's Change Festival. 

(1)* Details of Financial Capital offered by Youth Alliance are:

• Food & Water: Rs. 73,400
• Travel: Rs. 36,478
• Financial Seed Capital: Rs. 50,000
• Decor and Materials: Rs. 40,950
• Professional Support: Rs. 1,27,800
• Reimbursement & Miscellaneous: Rs.18,000

Total: Rs. 3,46,628 Total per member: Rs. 3,466

With these thoughts, the entire Change Festival is hosted on the principle of Gift Economy trusting each member will pay-it-forward in whatever way they are moved to offer. It could be offering financially to let Youth Alliance continue hosting such engagements or coming back and volunteering, or taking the ripples forward or in any other way you feel.

Gratitude is a natural response to gifts. At this moment, we are feeling extremely grateful to be witness to the gifts and relationships that are spiriting the process. Would share more, soon. 

'Even after all this time

The sun never says to the earth,

"You owe Me"

Look what happens 

with a love like that,

It lights the Whole Sky.' - Hafiz