In the Academic Zoo, a wide river flowed, known to all as the River of Knowledge. The fish living in it were considered the most knowledgeable creatures, as they had access to the river’s ever-flowing waters, where the answers to any question could be found. For years, the fish swam freely, dispensing knowledge to the other animals. The elephants would come to them for historical facts, the birds for scientific discoveries, and the rabbits for strategies to navigate life. But over time, the fish grew tired of the constant requests and began to guard the river’s waters more closely.
One day, a curious young turtle approached the fish, eager to learn but frustrated by their guarded nature. “Why do you withhold the water?” she asked. “Knowledge should flow freely.” The fish looked at the turtle thoughtfully and realized their mistake. They had become so focused on their control over the river that they had forgotten its true purpose: to nourish everyone. From then on, the fish opened the river to all animals, inviting them to swim and explore. Knowledge became a shared resource again, and the zoo flourished with collaborative learning.
Moral: knowledge should flow freely, nourishing all who seek it, and shared wisdom creates stronger communities.
How do you experience access to resources (e.g. knowledge, funding)?
What are your strategies to foster collective access to such resources and how do you leverage them for the greater good?
Christa & Anne-Wil
