Mindstorming in Manila

Kolektib – a Manila-based consultancy – is organizing its first “Wicked Problems Mindstorm” on May 17th. Rather than grappling with a specific client task or discussing a certain business-related theme, this event will deal with problem solving for the public community. The mindstorm will be open to the public and will be very collaborative in nature. Open source non-profit consulting if you will. This is what’s written on Kolektib’s invitation:

Wicked Problems – They are persistent problems that plague our local communities: Trash cans that no one seems to want to use. Steel flyover railings that are stolen in the night. Bunches of ugly black power and telephone cables. Stray cats. Let’s choose one. Let’s talk about it. And let’s find realistic, actionable and innovative solutions. Join the first Kolektib Mindstorm.

A little background on that bit about steel railing theft: the market for scrap metal is booming in Manila since China can’t seem to get enough of it. With perpetually high income inequality (a majority are at the wrong end of it) and now a struggling economy due to high food prices to boot, many have resorted to stealing public property metal like street signs, manhole covers and steel highway railings for badly needed extra earnings.