Dear Positive Deviance fans,

In this period of unprecedented events from the Covid-19 pandemic to climate upheaval, we decided it was appropriate to look at the positive side of our humanity collective endeavor to erase disparities, embrace diversity and address the complex problems of our time by looking at what is working against the odds. The Positive Deviance approach does that in a powerful way.

We are celebrating 30 years of Positive Deviance starting in December. You will find in this newsletter more details on the announcement and invitation to a virtual celebration with different ways you can participate in this event.

One way to celebrate Positive Deviance is to remember and honor the individuals who made it all possible. In this issue of the newsletter, we are starting a series of individual portrait profiles with their reflections of what the Positive Deviance has meant for them and their thoughts on its future.

Our website continues to be updated with a new bibliography with the latest articles and publications, a useful tool for the many researchers and academics.

For those eager to use or curious to explore the many faces of this powerful and transformative approach, you will find featured case studies and publications on the many ways and sectors this approach has been applied.

Most of all, the PD Collaborative invites you to share your thoughts and suggestions on how to celebrate this special anniversary.

Stay safe,

Monique Sternin
Co-founder, Positive Deviance Approach

Linh Nguyen
Manager, Positive Deviance Website

In this two-hour, virtual event, we will celebrate 30 years of the Positive Deviance Approach improving lives around the world and discuss how to best use Positive Deviance for present and future challenges. A recording of the live event will be shared on our website after the event.

• Learn about the many examples of how Positive Deviance has benefited communities and organisations worldwide
• Discuss academic research and how Positive Deviance should evolve to meet future needs
• Gain practical tips for your own practice from leading practitioners across the globe
• Share thoughts, try things, have fun!

Co-Create with Us: Work with us to co-create the main event on 15th December, smaller self-organized events, and follow-up projects. Share in the collaborative Padlet what you want to learn, how you can contribute, and other ideas. Follow us and share on social media for the latest updates.

Donate: The event planning work is pro bono and participation is free. However, we need funding for social media activities and a professional short video that explains the Positive Deviance Approach. If you would like to help support these efforts, please click to donate to our GoFundMe.

Jerry Sternin (1938-2008) is regarded as the founder of the Positive Deviance approach. An international development practitioner, Jerry served the Peace Corps for eight years in the Philippines, Nepal, Mauritania and Rwanda, and 16 years as a Save the Children Director in Vietnam, Bangladesh, Egypt, Philippines, and Myanmar. Thanks to Jerry’s passion for this behavior and social change approach and his exceptional communication and training skills, the PD approach has been applied in over 60 countries around the world. Click to view a video honoring Jerry and his legacy on the world →

Richard was instrumental in negotiating the funding of the PD nutrition Viet Nam project with British Petroleum (BP) for the INGO, Save the Children in the late 1980’s. He championed the use of the PD approach in business via his yearly course at the Oxford Said Business School and at many other venues and platforms. Over the decades, he provided his full and steadfast support to the PD Initiative and was instrumental in making the PD approach part of the mainstream behavior and social change approaches. Click to watch Richard speak on PD →

Gretchen Berggren has dedicated most of her life to children survival in the developing world and especially in Haiti. She was a health advisor at Save the Children when she introduced the Sternins to the work of Marian Zietlin and others on the use of Positive Deviance in Child nutrition. In Viet Nam, she provided invaluable advice and coaching on growth monitoring and other technical aspects of childhood nutrition. Click to read about Dr. Berggren's insights and the learning cycle theory she introduced in Vietnam →

Muhammad Shafique is a sociologist with 20 years of experience in social and behavior change communication (SBCC). His aspiration is to bring about positive social and behavioral changes to improve the quality of life for all community members. Shafique’s encounter with Positive Deviance started in his home country Pakistan in the North East Region in 2001. He has applied the PD approach to maternal and newborn health, malaria prevention and control, dengue control, and polio eradication in Pakistan, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Click to watch Muhammad reflect on 30 years of PD →

David Gasser is a free lance consultant who has been involved with the Positive Deviance Approach for over 17 years. He first encountered the approach through Jerry Sternin in Mexico in 2003, working on the PD Merk project. His sector of expertise with the PD include the private sector, public agencies, health care, and education in the US, Puerto Rico and a few countries in Latin America. David also volunteered many days working with the PD Initiative in PD training design and facilitation. Click to hear David reflect on his journey with PD →

Official Positive Deviance Bibliography

Discover the full library of publications on Positive Deviance with our new online bibliography!

• Advanced search and filter options
• Monthly updates with new publications
• MLA citations provided

Click to explore the bibliography →

Using the PD approach, the Family Center of an NGO in Hawaii decided to focus on the strengths, assets, and resourcefulness of the Native Micronesian families and launched the Sundays Project, turning the educational tide. As a result, Native Micronesian families are now deeply engaged in, and contributing to, their children’s academic success. Click to learn more →

The Grub Hub was a place where parents could go with their children after the school run, where they are all provided with a hot meal and can relax and socialise together. The Grub Hub emerged as a project following Positive Deviance training in 2014 in Cambridgeshire and ultimately provided invaluable support to local families. Click to learn more →

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