The Oasis School hosts a celebration evening for Mario van Boeschoten

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The Oasis Schoolhosts a celebration evening for
Mario van Boeschoten

• In Pictures

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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Guests begin to gather to celebrate Marios life
and work in his 80th year
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Mario van Boeschoten was introduced by Bryce
Taylor who through quotes and memories brought
the inspiring work of Mario to life. Mario has
worked alongside Oasis as a guide, mentor and
friend for nearly a quarter of a century.
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Mario told the guests of his own journey to the
UK from Holland during the war years and his
learning from the subsequent organisational work
in both the UK and internationally. Mario spoke
of need to work with the polarities of
organisational life and the need to understand
more deeply the nature of the self to be able to
bring ones core qualities into the work of a
consultant. Characteristically Mario communicated
both his warmth and deep humanity to his audience
through his words and presence.
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Some of the guests .. Alexis Ragaliuaskas
Shani Choudhari - Charlotte Ellerby
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Standing room only in the main
working space.
Making contact
Marion Ragaliauskas - Carol Clark - Claire
Maxwell - Rosie Burton
Consultant programme participants
ODEF Trustee
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Hilary Wilmshirst Nason Ndaireho Mario
van Boeschoten
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Paddy Neligan - Laurence Earnshaw - Colin
Wilmshurst Participants from Marios Learning
from Life programme
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Elizabeth Turnbull and Carol Clark both
participants from Marios 1995-97 Consultant
programme
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Daphne Please recently back from the Findhorn
Foundation and Zena Bernacca Director at Oasis
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Ali Cummings and Mario van Boeschoten
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Paddy and Chris Neligan and Shani Choudhari
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Lise Riberio - Claire Maxwell - Bryce Taylor
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Nason presenting Mario with a gift from Uganda
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THE ODEF GOAT HERD APPEAL During the Mario
evening an appeal to fund a goat herd which in
turn would benefit 2,500 orphans was launched to
support BODCO in Uganda. Mario was retiring as a
founding trustee of the Oasis Foundation and
through the generous donations of the people who
attended the evening event a herd of 21 goats
(equivalent to 1,470) was achieved. The thanks
of the trustees of ODEF are extended to all those
who bought a goat the amount of support
exceeded all our expectations. Anyone wishing to
contribute to the goat herd appeal can contact
Zena Bernacca on zena_at_oasishumanrelations.org.uk
or by ringing 01937 541700. Goats can be
sponsored for 70.00 each.
Nick outlines our agenda for the future
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Nick outlines our agenda for the future
Opa Mario looks on whilst his adopted
grand-daughter, Charlotte, cuts the ribbon to
officially open the Mario van Boeschoten
room. Opa refers to grandfather in dutch.
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Mario has been our organisational guide, mentor
and friend for over twenty years. He offers a
steadying influence and wise counsel. Mario is
Dutch with a strong loyalty to this country,
where he settled in 1974, bringing with him his
knowledge and experience of organisational
development that is drawn from the
anthroposophical tradition of Rudolf Steiner,
working alongside Bernard Lievegoed at
Netherlands Pedagogical Institute as well as in
the pioneering work he developed through
organisations such as The Centre for Social
Change and Transform.    Mario brought to Oasis
a reverence for the struggles and effort people
make when they are working things out together to
create new organisational forms. His emphasis
upon human meeting and the recognition of the
person were all at the heart of his approach. His
deep knowledge of organisational transformation
and their developmental phases ensured his
influence has been deep and wide. His range of
contributions to organisational life across a
wide cross-section of enterprises offered us a
great deal, both in our own learning about Oasis
and our development, as well as in how we
approach helping other organisations. Mario's
international consultancy involved working with
such organisations as Royal Dutch Shell, British
Gas, Laura Ashley, Phillips and other global
companies. He sustains a commitment to South
African organisations that grew out of the
struggles, such as CDRA and Olive, and acts as
mentor to consultants and facilitators around the
UK.   Mario continues as a source of guidance
to many of us as individuals, as well as to the
organisation as a whole. 
The picture and words in Marios Room
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James Lovelock natural independent scientist and
creator of Gaia
Mario van Boeschoten and the Directors at The
Oasis School at the completion of Marios two day
visit.