ABSTRACT
Sometimes we encounter experiences in our working lives which stretch our thinking, practice and resilience. This chapter outlines the use of SF thinking during a research project alongside the Ministry of Education in Zanzibar. It provided the rare opportunity to work at an island-wide level from the local (schools) to the global (the Ministry) and to explore how SF ideas and questions can be utilised to support those elements that bring about change whatever the context. It will describe the challenges of using SF in an unfamiliar context, how to deal with seemingly unrealistic hopes regarding the provision of practical resources and how to bring a SF mind-set into a strongly problem-oriented and expert-led culture. We are very rarely faced with the perfect situation or resources, but we can create opportunities to bring out the best in the people we are working with to find constructive ways forward.
