New lenses for Kenyan fieldworkers
See beyond what you see; listen beyond what you hear; learn clockwise and counterclockwise!
In June, 20 field workers from 14 organisations in Kenya had the opportunity to experience and benefit from the Facilitation Skills for Fieldworkers (FAF) training by EASUN. The workshop took place in Nairobi, from 29th June – 3rd July. Participants in the Nairobi training came from partner organisations to Street Kids International (SKI), based in Toronto, Canada. The five day workshop was the first of two modules of the course. The second module will take place in October 2009.
The course, focusing on building skills in facilitating ownership in local project situations is designed to strengthen confidence and leadership of fieldworkers in the context of civil society organisations outreach in various community development activities. Between 2008 and 2009, EASUN has trained 100 field workers from 26 organisations in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
Organisations represented in the current Kenya FAF training mainly work with marginalised children, youth and communities through micro-finance services, entrepreneurial and business skills and adult education. The learning processes and activities included exploration of new tools, methodologies and practices around facilitation, participation, self-awareness and complexity in organisations and communities. The ultimate focus was on building the ability of the field workers to engage and facilitate new awareness and skills in ways that empower individuals, organisations and small groups in local communities. The quotes below highlight what stood out for the participants during the training:
"Since I now see beyond what I thought I saw, I will make effort to listen beyond what I hear in facilitating change in my community."
"There is so much to listening, and yet we pay such little attention to it. Listening is the most important skill of communication; it's an art we all need to cultivate."
"I now realise how my judgemental attitude towards those I facilitate has hindered their development."
"Through this course I have developed the art of tolerance and creativity."
"I have learnt to listen carefully in order to build the real picture with the people I facilitate."
Participants particularly enjoyed exercises on working with questions They shared the deep realisation that without questions there is no learning, hence no conscious development, or change. A major related shift for many of them was in the area of responsibility-taking; starting with questioning themselves and the practices around them, including their methodologies and the values that underlie them. To demonstrate their development from the week's learning, one group composed and shared a poem:
Our big thoughts were met with simplicity;
Detailed we were, yet the big picture was simple, Aha!!!
We have always participated, but was it authentic?
We have used questions, were they strategic?
In the action learning, we went clockwise;
In the helping conversation we went counterclockwise;
Movement both ways.
But down in the values, our behaviour to examine;
New lenses we acquired, the wisdom of the situation;
The responsibility was theirs, the three wise persons unveiled;
I am not a doctor, I am a facilitator.
For more information on FAF training contact: alando.anyona@easun-tz.org
________________________________
EASUN provides OD interventions on request
"Your organisation carries a core question for its development at any given moment"
We can help your organisation listen to its questions in ways that enable you to surface those things that are happening in the background of your organisational life but do not necessarily contribute to its acknowledged common purpose. This kind of intervention will help you identify and put in place systems and processes to renew excitement, energy and effectiveness in working towards the vision stated and cherished by your organisation. Contact us with your unique questions in the current situation and we will help you discover the real organisational development question in them.
In addition to supporting you uncover your real question, you may also benefit from the following intervention types, either as one-offs or as follow-up to an initial organisational survey:
- Practice reviews
- Team building
- Identity development and management
- Strategic thinking and planning
- Coaching of leaders and teams
- Board training
- Leadership transition support
For more information on OD interventions from EASUN contact: mosi.kisare@easun-tz.org
________________________________
Leaders in EASUN's FOD course speak out
The latest cycle ("L") of EASUN's FOD training started in August 2009 with 22 NGO leaders in attendance. Module 1 was held from 2nd to 8th August, in Moshi, Tanzania. The second module will take place from 1st – 7th November 2009, while module three will be held from 14th – 19th 2010.
The first module was a full week of learning, development, shifting of paradigms with regard to working with facilitation tools, the self, concept of capacity building and the challenges of mixing certain practices, such as being a donor and capacity builder of the same people one is funding. At the end of the week, participants felt compelled to tell you something about the FOD course:
"O, they say knowledge is precious;
They say knowledge is the key to life;
I say FOD is the master key;
To personal and organisational health."
"FOD course is a unique and innovative approach to building capacities of practitioners in the development sector to become true agents of change. I gained new ways of looking at the world around me, which will help me transform relationships and performance in my organisation."
"I have been through an experience of paradox, which tells me that 'their development' is indeed about 'them', rather than 'me'. So, facilitating 'them' begins with my own self-development."
"FOD encourages people to intentionally manage their development. I wish all CSO leaders had the opportunity to take this course."
"FOD is practical, energizing and fulfilling."
"FOD combines your own learning and development as a facilitator with motivation, capacity and tools for facilitating change in your own organisation."
"It is an excellent course that gives avenue for organisations to critically, step-by-step analyze their development path. It is unique in that it requires the self-development of the facilitator as a critical entry point for a successful organisation development process."
"The first training workshop I attended where there was no use of power point presentations. Emphasis was on the development of the self to become an effective agent of change in people's development processes."
"We cultivated ownership of who we are, what we do, and how we do it."
"Above all, the course is given in a pleasant and stimulating environment, with people from different countries and organisations."
The next cycle ("N") of FOD starts in August 2010. Be sure to inquire and apply now to secure a place in this powerful course. For more information and application procedures contact: lydia.bwenda@easun-tz.org
________________________________
This newsshot is also available at: www.easun-tz.org/enews/newsshot_11august2009.html
If you wish to unsubscribe from the EASUN eNews mailing list, e-mail: webmanager@easun-tz.org
If you have any comments, questions or concerns about this list, your subscription, and/or any of the news shots that you receive, e-mail webmanager@easun-tz.org directly.
________________________________
EASUN Centre for Organisational Learning
P.O. Box 6120 Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255-(0)27-2548803
Fax +255-(0)27-2548289
info@easun-tz.org
www.easun-tz.org
________________________________