From Inside Out

[Christina Maria Padman]

Hi there everyone, realised that the blog I sent was incomplete. So here is the other part which was missing.

Example 2.  Society may probably perceive them as "pitiful" and as though they have limited education and abilities, but these communities have proven that they have the capacity to respond to their life situation. Like one of them said, "Where there is a Will there's a Way." They build their own network, working with the police, govt. bodies, schools and also patrol their area. With their creativity, they make and sell handmade batik products and costume jewelleries to generate income.

Example 3.  Just two weeks ago, two of my colleagues and I did a SALT VISIT to Henderson Community (Singapore). The participants brought out issues of Childcare and Child-minding.
As the discussion was going on and everyone was thinking of "What can we do to solve this issues as a Community?", one participant said, "I know the Principal of the Childcare, which my child attends, very well. I will speak to her and see what she can do."
Another said, "I will speak to the person in charge of T-Net Club, maybe some of your children can attend T-Net. I heard that the person in charge helps the children with their homeowrk.. I will also take care of her(another participant's) child, while she works on Saturday."
Two said, "I enjoy taking care of younger children. If there are any, I will help."

Another of our organisation's compass, " Believe that People are Gifts with unique strengths and abilities and are leaders in their own right."

Like many, I used to intervene, believing that I'm the expert and have the solutions and answers. Now, experiencing the above examples, the basis of my intervention is my belief in people's strengths to respond to the challenges they face.

Pesronally, the Principles of SALT is genuinely from inside, embedded in the human person. Its not a Tool or Mechanisim, but its a way of life . . .a way of thinking, working, talking. All aspects of our life. A Life of Listening, Learning and Believing.

[Jean-Louis Lamboray]

Dear Christina,

From Kinshasa, I am so grateful for your sharing.
You are combining the statements with telling examples.
See you soon, I hope!

JL