Tricia Francis's Posts - Community life competence2024-03-28T17:21:38ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancishttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2523251515?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://aidscompetence.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=37q7e1dh5hdla&xn_auth=noRevisiting Our Family Dreamtag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2017-05-01:2028109:BlogPost:1608672017-05-01T16:30:00.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p>It was Easter Monday March 28<sup>th</sup> 2016 exactly 5 years 5months after my family and I di<b>d Our Family Dream</b>.</p>
<p>We were, all, gathered to celebrate the Easter holiday enjoying some good food and quality time while the little ones played. I took this perfect opportunity to surprise them with this little activity where we revisit our <b>Family Dream</b> to <b>assess ourselves</b> on <b><u>Where We Are</u></b> and I was excited for the outcome.</p>
<p>I started off with an ice…</p>
<p>It was Easter Monday March 28<sup>th</sup> 2016 exactly 5 years 5months after my family and I di<b>d Our Family Dream</b>.</p>
<p>We were, all, gathered to celebrate the Easter holiday enjoying some good food and quality time while the little ones played. I took this perfect opportunity to surprise them with this little activity where we revisit our <b>Family Dream</b> to <b>assess ourselves</b> on <b><u>Where We Are</u></b> and I was excited for the outcome.</p>
<p>I started off with an ice breaker which I thought would be very meaningful for the family. I give each person a twig to break in half and they all did. I then asked them to hold the two pieces together and break it once again; with a bit more force the adults were successful.</p>
<p>I asked “was that easy”? I received a resounding YES!</p>
<p>So, I put all the broken pieces of twigs together, then passed ‘them’ around, starting from the youngest 2 years old to the eldest asking them to break the entire bunch in half, no one was successful.</p>
<p>I asked “was that easy to break now”? I received a resounding NO!!</p>
<p>I told them that the twigs represent us and as individuals’ things could feel /seem more difficult but when we support and work together as a Family, as a TEAM, we become stronger and not easily broken. </p>
<p>This activity was so meaningful for us. We agreed that even though we are such a close family we tend to deal with some situations privately, thinking it might be an inconvenience to others, but now realizing the family was always willing to support each other no matter what, we are willing to be more open knowing that we can accomplish more and overcome situations easier.</p>
<p>At this point everyone was enthusiastic and ready for the next activity, and then came the big reveal! I showed them our 2011 family activity and everyone reminisced how wonderful that day was. The little ones were surprised to see themselves in the photos but can’t recall the activity. :-)</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540699614?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540699614?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="588" class="align-full" height="335"/></a></p>
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<p>I placed our family dream down and said “we will measure ourselves on Where We Are in relation to our Dream”. I had put together photos of some things we had achieved in 5 years that we had listed in our Dream. After taking a moment to view the photos side by side, I asked them “how they felt”?</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540700257?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540700257?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="591" class="align-full" height="390"/></a></p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540700395?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540700395?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="588" class="align-full" height="356"/></a></p>
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<p><b>Vickiola said</b> with tears in her eyes “Wow! I feel bless right now, at this moment I feel bless to see what we have accomplished. I can’t believe it, I wish kelvin (husband) could have experienced this today. We have to show him this”.</p>
<p><b>Penny said</b> “I got chills with a feeling of accomplishment. To see our Dream a reality makes me want to cry with joy. I knew what we dreamt was possible, but to see it in reality makes you say, hey this thing works and that means we can dream bigger and we can accomplish more, we can achieve what we want. It makes you WANT to Dream Bigger”.</p>
<p><b>Mom said</b> “I feel happy and amaze. To think we put our Dream on a piece of paper and go away hoping to work towards it, then it became a reality. It feels unreal looking at this side by side, I feel so happy, I feel a joy inside me, all over me, and it makes my heart want to cry”.</p>
<p>We all agreed that we knew we had accomplished things but to see that clear connection to what we had in our Family Dream was amazing.</p>
<p><b>Kids</b> said; they felt happy to see everyone so happy and that they enjoyed the STORY of the twigs and understood what it meant. <strong>Daniel</strong> also said “I am excited because I want our family to take a trip to New York because that is my DREAM and I am glad to see the things we drew on the paper came true so I know my Dream will come true”.</p>
<p>So with that being said, we updated Our Family Dream and set our focus to work conscience and unconsciously as Family towards our 2016 onward Dream, which most definitely included a family trip to New York but first getting everyone their Visa ☺.</p>
<p>So here I am one year later writing about our wonderful activity. I must say we have already accomplished something’s and even being tested as a Family. That test has proven that together as a Family, as a Team we are not easily broken, but stronger.</p>
<p>It’s not time for our next self-assessment yet, but what We do know is that we are at a <b>Level 3</b> as we continue to work on our dream and a <b>Level 5</b> in <b>LOVE :-) :D <3<br/></b></p>
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<p><b><u>Below (Part of Our 2016 Onward Family Dream)</u></b></p>
<p><b><u><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540723368?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="452" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540723368?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="587" class="align-full" height="280"/></a></u></b></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540723410?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540723410?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="285" height="326" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p></p>Inspiration from Responsetag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2015-01-01:2028109:BlogPost:1436752015-01-01T01:57:46.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
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<p>As the Constellation ventures into 2015, it is with sincere appreciation I am reflecting on the overwhelming response from all of you towards the Nomination of The Constellation for the 2014 Health Systems Social Media Awards.</p>
<p>It was truly inspiring; it offers hope for what the Constellation can achieve with our accumulative support to local response. Seeing the endorsements was great, but seeing that it came from all continents was so exciting! Showing that 'seeds of SALT'…</p>
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<p>As the Constellation ventures into 2015, it is with sincere appreciation I am reflecting on the overwhelming response from all of you towards the Nomination of The Constellation for the 2014 Health Systems Social Media Awards.</p>
<p>It was truly inspiring; it offers hope for what the Constellation can achieve with our accumulative support to local response. Seeing the endorsements was great, but seeing that it came from all continents was so exciting! Showing that 'seeds of SALT' are sown<br/> and we hope to water and nurture these so that in the future SALT flourishes everywhere.</p>
<p>Your words of appreciation for what the Constellation is and mean to you was heartwarming and are motivating.</p>
<p>Thank you and do enjoy reading the inspiring comments below: ...................</p>
<p><a href="http://socmedawards.com/user.php?iCampaign=28&tProvider=facebook&tID=1105311819"><img alt=""/></a> Adesoba Taiwo</p>
<p>2014-09-11 07:19:29The constellation is an organization connecting and stimulating communities around the world towards achieving sustainable health systems in different parts of the world. The organization uses the social media and a webpage to promote information sharing, exchange of ideas in a "community of practice" format. I admire the content of the constellation page which is rich on diverse health topics such as the recent ebola virus disease outbreak in West and Central Africa..</p>
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<p><a href="http://socmedawards.com/user.php?iCampaign=28&tProvider=facebook&tID=100002492940873"><img alt=""/></a> Rituu At Constellation</p>
<p>2014-09-11 07:43:03The discussions in the community of practice which has more than 1900 members centre around how communities are responding around HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, infant mortality, sexual and reproductive health, diabetes and WASH. India and Kenya teams working on HIV and truck drivers learnt from each other the virtual community, went back and applied and came back to share online. This process continued for more than a year. <a href="http://aidscompetence.ning.com/group/indiakenyalearningtogetherOnline">http://aidscompetence.ning.com/group/indiakenyalearningtogetherOnline</a> sharing can build strong community feeling and lead to effective learning through blogs and discussions.</p>
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<p><strong>PLEASE CLICK LINK below for the Comments</strong></p>
<p><strong><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540690581?profile=original">Nomination%20of%20The%20Constellation%20for%20the%202014%20Health...pdf</a></strong></p>
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<p></p>What CLCP Gives Metag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2014-08-01:2028109:BlogPost:1400032014-08-01T04:00:00.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p>I see Community Life Competence Process as something so vast; one can use it in so many ways. I was speaking with my dear friend Rituu and I was telling her that besides the multiple benefits CLCP generates, what I love is that it is also very inspirational.</p>
<p>I said “the feeling I get when I think of what CLCP gives ME, it’s like reading that inspirational quote that just gives you hope;”</p>
<p>for example (“Every cloud has a silver lining”) or (“Behind every dark cloud, there is a…</p>
<p>I see Community Life Competence Process as something so vast; one can use it in so many ways. I was speaking with my dear friend Rituu and I was telling her that besides the multiple benefits CLCP generates, what I love is that it is also very inspirational.</p>
<p>I said “the feeling I get when I think of what CLCP gives ME, it’s like reading that inspirational quote that just gives you hope;”</p>
<p>for example (“Every cloud has a silver lining”) or (“Behind every dark cloud, there is a rainbow.”) But the inspiration that CLCP gives me, goes beyond that quote, the feeling I get is realizing and knowing I can Draw MY OWN Rainbow However I WANT. <a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540692417?profile=original"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540692417?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" height="193" width="185"/></a>And what that means to me is that it makes me see and realize where I am, but most importantly it gives me that clearer understanding and picture of where I would like to be and what steps I can take in achieving it. It's like a Map just guiding you over your own rainbow.<a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540712441?profile=original"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540712441?profile=original" height="128" width="160"/></a></p>
<p></p>Why I choose to be SALTy in 2013!tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2013-01-01:2028109:BlogPost:1106462013-01-01T06:32:34.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p>Why I choose to be SALTy in 2013!</p>
<p>I believe to be SALTy is a choice you choose and I made mine a while ago.</p>
<p><br></br> To be honest when I first heard of the word SALT I was confused, it was at my first CLCP workshop and someone related a story that stayed with me, they said “I see SALT all around me every day, like yesterday I saw some kids fetching sand from the street into a yard, all of them had their buckets and they were working together and I said to myself, there it is,…</p>
<p>Why I choose to be SALTy in 2013!</p>
<p>I believe to be SALTy is a choice you choose and I made mine a while ago.</p>
<p><br/> To be honest when I first heard of the word SALT I was confused, it was at my first CLCP workshop and someone related a story that stayed with me, they said “I see SALT all around me every day, like yesterday I saw some kids fetching sand from the street into a yard, all of them had their buckets and they were working together and I said to myself, there it is, SALT”.</p>
<p>To me it was a nice story of team work, but what I notice was how everyone else appreciated this story, you see they were previously introduce to the Community Life Competence Process. <br/> But I wanted to see SALT everywhere too, I wanted to know what this SALT was and I wanted to give this story the SALT appreciation I saw. That night I went over and around trying to figure out SALT on my own but I got more confused.</p>
<p>So the next day I sought a better understanding on the word SALT and what I learnt was that SALT is an approach a Community Life Competence facilitator uses. It is how you choose to operate; you use SALT in your Way of Thinking and Way of Working and the story I heard was about an experience on Local Response. And this was my beginning of internalizing and consuming the Community Life Competence Process through Blended Learning.</p>
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<p>The blended learning course was a great teacher to me; it taught me things that eventually changed my life; it taught me how to use SALT and to understand how Salt changes our way of thinking and way of working, it taught me to look at each other and relate to each other as Humans. I can recall playing Usa’s video over and over and understanding the difference between being that expert facilitator and a facilitator facilitating a process with a community and believing with them and accompanying them in their journey of being competent.</p>
<p>Then, here it comes my first introduction to the word SALTy was from Farellia while doing the Blended Learning Course, In Farellia’s introduction video after explaining how and why we should work as a SALT team, she then I said in a very sweet and encouraging voice “I hope you will be more SALTy after this module and see you in the next module”.<br/> SALTY! why SALTY? So I asked my dear colleague for his guidance and he was very helpful with the help of blended learning also.</p>
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<p>You see SALTy means Stimulate & Support, Appreciate, Listen & Learn, Transfer and ‘Y’ means you. <br/> Being SALTY is a way of working and a way of thinking so whenever you use the approach SALT you are being SALTy because you are the one using it.</p>
<p>And you can make SALT your natural way of thinking and working and become SALTY naturally but it won’t happen automatically you have to work towards it and like every change it can be difficult but it could happen.</p>
<p>So I took Farellia’s advice and choose to be more SALTy :-) and I’m still striving to be SALTY and making it a level 5 and beyond where it’s a part of my natural way of thinking and working in 2013 and onwards. :-)</p>
<p>So if you are asking yourself how SALTY are you? you can play this game on saltiness :-)</p>
<p><a href="http://constellation.helsekompetanse.no/atutor/9/content/321/">http://constellation.helsekompetanse.no/atutor/9/content/321/</a></p>CLCP Workshop with Studentstag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2013-01-01:2028109:BlogPost:1105482013-01-01T06:23:26.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p>Community Life Competence Workshop with Hinterland Students</p>
<p>I facilitated a three days’ workshop on Rights of the Child using the CLC process with some 40 students in a hinterland village and I learn so many things from these students.<br></br> These young Adults knew what they wanted to address, in our first exercise we did hopes and concerns and I never saw so many similar concerns all at once and when I saw it, I felt their passion towards these concerns.</p>
<p>Here is a bit of what…</p>
<p>Community Life Competence Workshop with Hinterland Students</p>
<p>I facilitated a three days’ workshop on Rights of the Child using the CLC process with some 40 students in a hinterland village and I learn so many things from these students.<br/> These young Adults knew what they wanted to address, in our first exercise we did hopes and concerns and I never saw so many similar concerns all at once and when I saw it, I felt their passion towards these concerns.</p>
<p>Here is a bit of what transpired, I shared out a heart shaped paper to each student and ask them to share from their heart something that concerns them as young people and one hope they have.</p>
<p><br/> Not one of them knew of this exercise or had knowledge of what each other wrote and of course they were reluctant to share what they wrote at first but with a little motivation they all shared and here is what surprised me, most of the concerns was on RAPE, out of 40 students 25 said rape, each in their own way, some just wrote the word RAPE, why are old men Raping young girls?, why can’t they do something about Rape?, people should be arrested for Rape etc,. <br/> Teenage pregnancy was the next set of concerns and I figured that came out of being rape and getting pregnant, then peer pressure and employment.</p>
<p>When I saw this written on their little heart cut paper I felt their pain and they were surprise too to see how many of them wrote and had the same concerns and I understand why they were so reluctant to share because they didn’t want to be that person to address this issue.</p>
<p><br/> But I see the bravery in these young adults, they were given that green light to express something that concerns them and they took this opportunity and said it and these concerns came from both males and females. And this shows that the males are concern about what is happening to their fellow young women in the village. At the closing of the workshop the students did a presentation for the Regional Education Officer, and other administrative representatives.</p>
<p>The three days’ workshop was positive, successful and an eye opening workshop for the participants, facilitators and Regional Administration. The regional administration received a full report on the workshop and made a promise at the end of the workshop to work on addressing the concerns that were mentioned and to work more with the young adults.</p>Community Action Day Activity 2011tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-11-09:2028109:BlogPost:828402011-11-09T00:02:26.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Community Action Day 2011 SALT Activity</strong></span></p>
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<p>We started one hour late due to rain. The rain however did not damper our spirit. It was here, our Community Action Day activity.</p>
<p>I planned a SALT activity with my family,…</p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Community Action Day 2011 SALT Activity</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p>We started one hour late due to rain. The rain however did not damper our spirit. It was here, our Community Action Day activity.</p>
<p>I planned a SALT activity with my family, we are a small but very close family and I wanted them to experience the SALT process. My family consists of My Dad who lives in St.Lucia so he was not part of the workshop, but everyone else was, my mom <em><strong>Margaret</strong></em>, My sister <em><strong>Penny</strong></em>, My eldest sister <em><strong>Vickiola</strong></em> who is married, my brother in law <strong><em>Kelvin</em></strong> and my three nephews <em><strong>Ryan</strong></em> 16 yrs, <strong><em>Daniel</em></strong> 2yrs and <strong><em>Nathan</em></strong> 1yr.</p>
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<p>We began with the Introduction where everyone introduce themselves and associate ourselves with a fruit and stated why? But since we all knew each other very well I decided that our name tags will be the fruit we chose.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2409265684?profile=original"><img height="176" width="192" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2409265684?profile=original" class="align-full"/></a> Nathans’ mom Vickiola said, “Nathan is a <em><strong>Sugar Apple</strong></em>, its rough on the outside and sweet inside, he is innocently rambunctious but very adorable.”</p>
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<p>Our Workshop was now officially on track and I choose to start with our <em><strong>family tree</strong></em>. I did this so that everyone could recognize and acknowledge where we came from and appreciate it. At this point I reflected that our fore parents in the family tree would have had dreams for their future generation, who are us. And that made us have greater appreciation for who we are now as a family.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2326584322?profile=original"><img height="214" width="201" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2326584322?profile=original" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>Having that understanding where we came from, we ventured into <em><strong>“Are we human?”</strong></em> to help my family understand that although we are a family, the human element applies to whatever we do for each other as a family. Also to acknowledge, looking at each other not only as family members such as sibling to sibling or parent to child, but looking at each other as humans. We all agreed that we are humans and that realization did not go unnoticed. They said “that thought never came across our minds of looking at each other on a human level.”</p>
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<p>We then did our Hopes and concerns where we listed a hope and a concern we have about our family.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2409267491?profile=original"><img height="134" width="189" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2409267491?profile=original" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><strong><em><span class="font-size-1">(Daniel Hope & Concern is there too)</span></em></strong></p>
<p>We broke up into three groups, to begin the exercise identifying strengths. One of the groups was <em><strong>“The Little Ones”</strong></em> because we are an inclusive family and choose to acknowledge the presence and participation of our little ones. We did the usual identifying strengths using clippings.</p>
<p><img height="223" width="207" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2409266636?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-full"/></p>
<p>But I had a surprise! I presented <em><strong>photos of our family</strong></em> to each group and ask them to identify and list the strengths. The groups exchange photos and continued to identify and list strengths, then we compare the strengths as listed by the groups. The comparison indicated that similar strengths were identified from the same photos by the two groups. From our family photos a combination of 41 strengths was listed and I said, “Look how many strengths we have as a family, and I know we can add so much more,” and they all agreed.</p>
<p>After this, I did a stimulating exercise where we pair ourselves off with a sheet of paper and at the count of three we tore it apart in our teams. I then set 1 min for us to fix the pieces back together as neat as possible… the reason for this exercise was that the paper represented our family and knowing that some difficult situations and complications will arise in the family from time to time and knowing that we can work together using our strengths we listed and even more, to mend and work through any situation in our family.</p>
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<p><em><strong>NOW!!! Its dream building.</strong></em></p>
<p>We started with our personal dreams; here we wrote one statement on how we see our family in five years and our future generation. We pictured our family as a <em><strong>MORE competent family</strong></em>.</p>
<p>After everyone read and explain their statements I said “I know when you were thinking of your personal dream you were picturing it in your minds, so now I want us to go into our groups and discuss our personal dreams and merge our dreams to create our group dream and present it in a drawing.”</p>
<p>After the groups presentation we did <em><strong>Our Family Dream</strong></em>. Here we looked at all three drawings to create our family dream. The little ones Dream is represented in our Family Dream as the water. </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2409268237?profile=original"><img height="181" width="205" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2409268237?profile=original" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>After Lunch and an ice Breaker …….. Emanating from the hopes and concern and dream building was a vision statement. The family began to create Our Family Vision Statement from our Family Dream.</p>
<p>The major elements of the dream contributed to the vision statement. Having derived at the vision statement we identified what are key / major things we can start doing from now as a family and individuals to achieve our dream.</p>
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<p><em><strong>Self Assessment.</strong></em></p>
<p>Understanding self assessment using exercise, we assess ourselves on that since health is one of our main elements in our dream and vision. After understanding each level of self assessment we assess ourselves again using ‘savings’ to illustrate the importance of developing <em><strong>COMPETENCE</strong></em> as a family unit.</p>
<p>I then touched on <em><strong>Action Plan</strong></em> and emphasize on how important this is for us on this journey in accomplishing our dream. Finally, I explained how using the <strong><em>S-M-A-R-T concept</em></strong> is a good way in putting our action plan together.</p>
<p>MY final Sharing was explaining the process <em><strong>SALT</strong></em>. Going back to the question my sister asked me months ago, “What exactly do you do…….. Well, what exactly is Dream Building?”</p>
<p><em><strong>I said “well guys this it what I do, this process is called the SALT process.”</strong></em></p>
<p><strong>S – Stimulate, A – Appreciate, L – learn & listen, T - Transfer</strong></p>
<p>It’s a process that we as <em><strong>Facilitators</strong></em> use to connect and interact with any community. I know you are not facilitators by profession, but you, as individuals can still apply SALT in your ever day lives and I would like you to do so looking through the Human Eyes and become <em><strong>SALTY!</strong></em> I want you to be able to Stimulate the people around you, in your workplace etc, and Appreciate others for who they are, always looking for the strengths in individuals and situations, and to genuinely listen to others because you can learn from anyone anywhere and you must also Transfer your knowledge so that others can learn from you and last, the Y stands for YOU, because only <em><strong>YOU</strong></em> can make yourself become SALTY and when you are SALTy these actions flows naturally. </p>
<p>Recapping! I emphasized “As Humans we all have hopes, concerns, strengths and dreams and how important is it to look for strengths in each other as family members and also in people we interact with in our daily lives. Sometimes we as individuals forget about strengths, so every image in front our eyes we tend to focus / notice the faults/ weakness, so as we learn to look at things through the <em><strong>“Are You REALLY Human Eye,”</strong></em> you automatically see strengths first, then you tend to focus only on the strengths and that’s where you can stimulate positive <em><strong>OUTCOMES."</strong></em></p>
<p>I ended our 5hrs workshop with reflections which took the form of <em><strong>“what’s the weather like inside?”</strong></em></p>
<p><em><strong>My mom Maggie,</strong></em> “In reflection my weather inside is, am standing on top of a high mountain looking over the distance and I see the future, the sky is blue with brilliant sunshine and a nice wind blowing across the mountain top. What I see in the future is alls’ well with my family, we can accomplish our dream and I am proud of my daughter Tricia for taking us through these exercises. I think this has great meaning for us.”</p>
<p><em><strong>Kelvin, my brother-in-law</strong></em>, “Well for me the weather is very warm and so uplifting, for me the wind is so soothing. In my mind I can see our dream will come true, it is possible! I like how this workshop was put forward and I believe once we work as a Team with the togetherness we have it is possible. I learn to now focus on peoples’ strength, rather than weakness”.</p>
<p><em><strong>Ryan my 16yr old nephew</strong></em>, “I now know how to look for and identify strengths in others, and how we as a family always had so similar dreams.”</p>
<p><em><strong>Vickiola my eldest sister</strong></em>, “My weather is a cool sun setting weather. With all what we did I already see and feel we accomplishing our dream. I know we have to get up and start acting, to plan our future. I see a positive road ahead and I need to start acting because I don’t want to stay at level one, I want to be at a level 5 and I can see our future generation continuing on this positive road we set.”</p>
<p><em><strong>Penny my sister,</strong></em> "the weather in me right now is hot and sunny, and I’m also feeling a lot of wind, the reason why it’s hot and windy is because I want to start immediately and I’m full of energy and ready to get this process started and I can just see the future and I’m so excited. I found the workshop very, very useful very motivating and it’s a dream for the future but I can see myself in it right now, I can see us working towards it and accomplishing it and that’s the good thing, I don’t feel this is impossible. And Tricia, I can see how this process would work in communities and I would endorse this process. "</p>
<p>For me “This was truly a rewarding experience. I now know that my family has a better understanding and appreciation of the work I do and its value.”</p>
<p>The day despite of the rain was full of positive interaction and fun. I had initially planned this activity for Community Action Day but because of family commitment we are now able to accomplish something that we ALL wanted to do, an even though dad wasn’t here, he knew about the activity and supported us in sprit and love.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em><strong>You can check out the photos in my CAD album :-)</strong></em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Appreciating Strengths….tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-10-16:2028109:BlogPost:800322011-10-16T20:51:00.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Appreciating Strengths….</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Traditionally, mostly after the learning event, participants, on a blank page pasted on the back of their colleagues, write the strengths they have observed of that person over the period of their interaction.</p>
<p>But, it was done differently for the 28 participants of the recent community life competence learning event in Guyana in September.</p>
<p>On the morning of the final day, each participant was…</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Appreciating Strengths….</strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Traditionally, mostly after the learning event, participants, on a blank page pasted on the back of their colleagues, write the strengths they have observed of that person over the period of their interaction.</p>
<p>But, it was done differently for the 28 participants of the recent community life competence learning event in Guyana in September.</p>
<p>On the morning of the final day, each participant was given two pages and the facilitator said “I do appreciate our interaction over the past five days and I am sure you have observed strengths of your colleagues as well. I am sharing these pages with two columns, one has the names of each participant and in the other column I would like you to write strengths, you observed of each person over the five days interaction. Please complete by Close of Business (COB) today. I will share with each of you the strengths your colleagues shared” That was Friday.</p>
<p>By Monday morning each participant received an email which read, “Dear ……., We at GCLC would like to say thanks for attending our workshop and below are some STRENGTHS your fellow participants identified in you. Have a great week ahead as you continue to be SALTY :-)”</p>
<p>What was surprising and heartwarming was the response from participants after they received their email with strengths about themselves identified. Below are some of their responses.</p>
<p>........................................………………………………………………………………………………………………………....</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Thank you so much for this. It has brought tears (of joy) to my eyes because I never realized that others can see so many strengths in me. I'm happy to have met and interacted with everyone in the workshop. I have enjoyed it tremendously and it is going to change my life forever. I pray that you all have a great week as well and I do look forward to being very SALTY always.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Warm regards.”</p>
<p>……………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Thank you very much for this. I would like to be involved in the implementation of this strategy/program at local/community level. I would appreciate it if you can let me know about the schedule of such implementation plan; if possible, I will accommodate my schedule according to the team’s one I could be attached to.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>……………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Wow! That is quite stimulating, thanks very much Tricia and through you and your team, I will also like to extend a heartfelt gratitude to everyone.”</p>
<p>……………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“The sessions were excellent as much as fully stimulated. With such, there is no doubt that I have learned well of how to be SALTY…I must add, the sessions have well informed me of how I can even start with myself in order to proceed further. Once again, on behalf of myself and The National AIDS Programme Secretariat, the warmest of appreciations for inspiriting me to aspire to be become SALTY. This will surely benefit me and my organization”</p>
<p>……………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“It was indeed a very salty training. I look forward to using these skills in our workplace activities.” ……………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Oh My!! All of this and I fell ill at the last moment. I do hope that my team mates felt that I was with them in spirit nonetheless. Thanks so much for this thoughtful note.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> Warmest wishes and Regards.”</p>
<p>…………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Thank You Tricia and Team. Y’all have a good week too. You will be hearing from me for your help to integrate this approach in the HIV Workplace Response. Thanks to you facilitators, you did a wonderful job!”</p>
<p>……………………………………………………………………………………………………...............................................</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“WOW...thanks Tricia, I should frame it made my day...I have a lot strengths, that I am not aware of!!!! :). Great week to you and team!”</p>
<p> …………………………………………………………………………………………………….............................................</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“Thanks Tricia, this was both heartwarming and humbling.” ………………………………………………………………………………………………….............................................…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>“This is empowering. It was a great learning experience. Well done to the GCLC team!”</p>
<p> </p>"What exactly do you do?”tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-08-24:2028109:BlogPost:718212011-08-24T18:00:55.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p> </p>
<p>At this point I realized that the closest people in my life, the ones I love so dearly were far from something so dear to me, my job, my passion for SALT and at that exact moment I decided not only to explain what I did to the fullest but to have them experience it too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> "Tricia, what exactly do you do?” And that was how it began, on a hot weekday afternoon in February 2011. I visited my eldest sister and my baby nephews, as I always do the day before I leave on one…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>At this point I realized that the closest people in my life, the ones I love so dearly were far from something so dear to me, my job, my passion for SALT and at that exact moment I decided not only to explain what I did to the fullest but to have them experience it too.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> "Tricia, what exactly do you do?” And that was how it began, on a hot weekday afternoon in February 2011. I visited my eldest sister and my baby nephews, as I always do the day before I leave on one of my many workshops to the hinterland. And that day it was very hot, so we decided to go outside in the back yard to get as much breeze as possible. As we sat on a wooden bench we spoke about many things like my trips, the kids, childhood and the usual sister chats, but I remembered we got silent and I was sitting back looking at the sky, when I heard my name called and it brought me back to where I was, it was the voice of my sister saying “Tricia, what exactly do you do?”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I was surprise at the question, it came out of the blues as people would say, and I guess it showed on my face because she immediately continued by saying “well, I know what you do! But, what is this dream building thing I heard you guys are doing now?” I smiled; I guess she was talking about what she had overheard when I was on the phone with my colleague, so I explained to her as best as I could, even though I had mentioned it to her before but not in detail. So I started with when I was first introduce to it and explaining that we are now using this process / activity in our workshops to engage Amerindian people to take ownership and responsibility for things that threaten their livelihood.</p>
<p>Then I said, “To me it’s more of an experience rather than an explanation,” and at this point I know she was wondering more about it, so I said “what about if I share some of what I do with you?” And she immediately said “yes!” That day I did three things with her, first was “What are your hopes and concerns?” then I did the “weather inside’ and finally “What fruit do you associate yourself with and why?” something I learned from my colleague Autry.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I have to say, it went well, and she was excited and wanted more! When her husband came home, she immediately said “Tricia ask Kelvin, ask Kelvin”, and so I did, but it did not end there, she wanted everyone to experience the little what she felt. And when my eldest nephew came home from school, it was his turn to share. She wanted me to ask him but I said, “don’t you want to ask him?” And she replied “NO! I want you to ask, I like how you ask it.”</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now it was time to go home, so she came with me for the drive and as soon as the cab pulled off, she said “Tricia ask Robert so I’ll hear what he says”, Robert our cab driver now had his turn to share with us, and when I got home she came in with me, so that I can ask my next sister and mom the three questions.</p>
<p>The next day she was still excited, so I told her, since my baby nephews are too young, one being two years and the other only eight months and since she is their mom and the best person to know their personalities, choose what fruit you associate them with. And as she did so, I discern the great thought that went into each answer and she was more emotional here.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> I enjoyed doing this little activity with my family and they enjoyed it too. I saw the concentration, the deep thought going into each answer and so I promise them to do the entire SALT activity with them one day. They ask several times after, when will it be? So in July, I decided I will do the activity for CAD 2011 so the whole family can be a part of the activity and we all decided to be available for that. And I smiled when I saw that Dr. Rafique had that same thought.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I believe if you really and truly understand SALT and believe in the outcomes of SALT you would want everyone to experience it, especially the ones you love and for that I will continue to use it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>(TRICIA)</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Advantages and disadvantages in starting with a dream or a vision.tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-06-22:2028109:BlogPost:560212011-06-22T03:44:22.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p> </p>
<p>List the advantages and disadvantages in starting with a dream or a vision. Describe pros and cons.</p>
<p></p>
<p><b><u>Disadvantages</u></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nervousness – This feeling is usually the first when ask to share your dream or vision.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reluctance – During dream / vision building there are usually some individual/s who act this way.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Acceptance – There is always a…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>List the advantages and disadvantages in starting with a dream or a vision. Describe pros and cons.</p>
<p></p>
<p><b><u>Disadvantages</u></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Nervousness – This feeling is usually the first when ask to share your dream or vision.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reluctance – During dream / vision building there are usually some individual/s who act this way.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Acceptance – There is always a fear that the input might not be accepted. And think, that the </p>
<p> statement or contribution that’s made wouldn’t be what is required.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><u>Advantages</u></b></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Collaboration – Combining all your ideas individually or as a team, it’s a strength that just takes over</p>
<p> to bring that vision/ dream out. </p>
<p> </p>
<p> Team Effort – This brings a feeling of inspiration that we can accomplish what we want to achieve</p>
<p> Together.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Comfortable – Making the atmosphere/ environment comfy allows one to feel comfortable in</p>
<p>Surroundings expressing themselves.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Realization – During the process of doing the dream/ vision, it comes a point when you realize that</p>
<p> this can actually happen. It can become a reality.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Inspiration – This is the motivation that helps someone to make that decision on taking the first</p>
<p> step on the journey towards the vision/ dream.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>The illustration – Having that illustration of the vision / dream give a feeling of hope and it keeps you</p>
<p> focus on the path to achieve it.</p>
<p> I say it’s the blueprint of what the future will be and what I like most of all with having</p>
<p> that illustration, is that you can continue to dream more and add to that picture.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I enjoyed listing the pros and cons and I know my list could have been done in one sentence, but these emotion / feelings don’t come together; it comes separately even if it’s a second apart, (<b>it’s apart</b>).</p>
And while listing the pros and cons it showed me as a facilitator, that I should be more aware of the different expressions that is expressed, and it helped me to understand more my role as a facilitator on how to be <b>more competent</b> in the dream building practice. :)What is your personal dream? Module 3:tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-06-17:2028109:BlogPost:545772011-06-17T04:30:00.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<strong>What is your personal dream?</strong> <br></br><br></br>MY personal dream is to be able provide for the people I love in whatever way I possibly can. I dream of reaching out to the less fortunate, to the abused, to the depressed, to the heart broken, to the sick, to the people with low self-esteem, to the illiterate, to anyone who needs help and letting them know and letting them feel that it’s ok to accept who they are, that it’s ok to want positive change, and it’s ok to go after it and it’s…
<strong>What is your personal dream?</strong> <br/><br/>MY personal dream is to be able provide for the people I love in whatever way I possibly can. I dream of reaching out to the less fortunate, to the abused, to the depressed, to the heart broken, to the sick, to the people with low self-esteem, to the illiterate, to anyone who needs help and letting them know and letting them feel that it’s ok to accept who they are, that it’s ok to want positive change, and it’s ok to go after it and it’s ok to accept change and it’s ok to forgive. <br/>In my 29 year and going I’ve come to realize that change can be something very difficult to do at times, you would want it, you might dream of it and you could crave it, but to make that first step could be one of the scarcest feeling and it’s at these times I wish, I dream, I hope that I can be with that individual to support them and help them and let them know that’s it’s ok to face the unknown. <br/>I always say time has a way of changing things and when this change comes, it’s the beginning of a new chapter in your book of life and it’s for you to write your story. <br/><br/><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Which of your strengths you could use in order to fulfill it?</span></strong> <br/><br/>I think one of my greatest strengths is my personality and the way I look at things. When I talk to people and hear their problems, concerns and pain I always look for the positive in any situation. I would say, “We all know there are advantages and disadvantages in everything, but let’s focus on the positive, on the good, and when that negative situation presents itself we will deal with it then and we’ll deal with it using our strengths”. <br/>I learn from my mom at a very young age that my personality is very important, and how I can use it to help others. From the garbage collector, to my cab drivers, my colleagues, friends, family and a stranger sitting next to me in the airport I give my warm personality. So at any moment or any time they feel like wanting to express a personal problem or concern to someone, I always make it welcoming to approach me and when it do happens, I pray that my positive energy transfers to that individual along with positive hope. <br/><br/><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Can you make it on your own? If not, who and what could help you?</span></strong> <br/><br/>Can I make it on my own to help everyone who needs help, NO, but I do try to help as much people around me as possible, and as best as I can. Sometimes I get overwhelm when there is not much I can do, but I also know that a pleasant smile, a hug, and good advise goes a long way. <br/><br/><strong><span style="color: #000000;">Who and what can help me?</span></strong> <br/>I love this SALT approach /process; I can’t help but say it over and over, and by using it I see what I love to do, worked, I see it help people, I see it help me understand things more clearly. <br/>This process works best when you use it knowing that it can change lives and the individuals’ way of thinking and working. So when you use this process because you believe in it and what it can do rather than just another method of approach the results is magnificent. <br/>So what can help is this same approach. I use it to reach my participants and anyone I can share it with, so they can be inspired and know how to identify their strengths and build their dream and go after it with their action plan and knowing where to start because they know which level they’re at and by identifying their priorities. <br/>And who can help me are my colleagues, my fellow facilitators working with me, and we supporting each other and we all having the same enthusiasm using this process and believing and knowing that it changes lives and situations for the better.Guyana coaches T&T delegation in use of ‘Community Life Competence’tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-05-22:2028109:BlogPost:494922011-05-22T04:30:00.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p><a href="http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28455%3Awith-unaids-intervention-&catid=2%3Anews&Itemid=3" target="_blank">http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28455%3Awith-unaids-intervention-&catid=2%3Anews&Itemid=3</a></p>
<p>Guyana coaches T&T delegation in use of ‘Community Life Competence’ to fight HIV/ With UNAIDS intervention … <br></br>Written by…</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28455%3Awith-unaids-intervention-&catid=2%3Anews&Itemid=3">http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=28455%3Awith-unaids-intervention-&catid=2%3Anews&Itemid=3</a></p>
<p>Guyana coaches T&T delegation in use of ‘Community Life Competence’ to fight HIV/ With UNAIDS intervention … <br/>Written by Shirley Thomas <br/>Sunday, 22 May 2011 02:34</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540682277?profile=original"><img height="257" width="356" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540682277?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" class="align-left"/></a></p>
<p><br/>A high powered team of Trinidadian HIV Change Agents on Saturday left Guyana for their homeland, empowered to respond to the challenges of HIV/AIDS at the community level, after two days of coaching by facilitators from the Guyana Constellation, in what is known as the Community Life Competence Process.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540682277?profile=original"></a></p>
<p><br/>In this process, a novel approach to treating with HIV/AIDS and other social problems, communities self-assess their strengths and develop their own action plans to achieve HIV-prevention, while addressing issues such as HIV-related treatment, care and support. They learn from their own experiences, and the exchange of knowledge and skills with other communities. <br/><br/>Increasing in popularity, the approach, aimed at building on the strengths of its communities, captures local responses to HIV that individuals, organizations and communities undertake to address their HIV-related challenges. <br/><br/>‘The Constellation for Community Life Competence,’ headquartered in Belgium, was first introduced in Thailand and has since spread to several countries of the world where it continues to make a big impact. It was introduced in Guyana by UNAIDS in September 2010, through the instrumentality of UNAIDS Country Director, Dr. Ruben del Prado. <br/><br/>The response has been phenomenal, and within the first six to seven months, Guyana, as a shining star in the Constellation, has taken on the mantle of sharing the programme with other Caribbean countries. In April, Guyana’s lead facilitator, Mr. Autrey Haynes, HIV Focal Point within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, teamed up with two other external Constellation representatives and took the pr</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540682277?profile=original"></a></p>
<p>ogramme to neighbouring Suriname, where they facilitated a learning event, applying the Community Life Competence to Water and Sanitation. <br/><br/>And as Guyana continues to forge ahead, there has been another plus for the local group, with Haynes being designated Coach for the Constellation. <br/>The Constellation is both a movement of communities and an organization of facilitators in the Community Life Competence Process. As communities connect for sharing and learning, they create an ever growing Constellation. In this regard, said Dr. del Prado, the role of facilitators is to stimulate those local responses and those connections. Its mission is to ‘stimulate and connect local responses around the world, using the Community Life Competence Process’</p>
<p><br/>According to Dr.del Prado, the local body has assisted with the training of 30 facilitators to implement AIDS competence in a wide cross section of organizations and communities throughout Guyana. Of these, seven have been certified as facilitators, by the Constellation for Community Life Competence. <br/><br/>Meanwhile, Guyana’s coach and team of facilitators have been able to impart valuable experiences with their visiting Trinidadian counterparts whose task it will be, on their return home, to train and pass on their newly acquired skills to a team of community mobilizers. <br/><br/>While here, the Trinidadian delegation studied the Guyana Experience with ‘Community Life Competence’ and the revolutionizing of HIV Prevention. Buoyed by the experience here, the group, during a wrap-up session with Dr. Del Prado at the Cara Lodge on Friday, the delegation was loud in praise for the collaboration with the Guyana team. They expressed profound appreciation to UNAIDS and the host team for making the exchange possible and for being excellent hosts. <br/><br/>They commended the facilitators for a great job, taking note of their experience and content of the exercise and the bonding it engendered, as well as breaking down of walls to achieve a feeling of oneness. <br/><br/>In general terms, the programme was rated as very successful, educating, entertaining, enlightening and empowering. The Trini team was optimistic about taking the process back home with the idea of helping move their local programme forward. <br/><br/>Among the delegation were Trinidad’s Roger Samuels, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister; and Dr.Lincoln Douglas, Minister of State in the Ministry of People and Social Development. <br/><br/>With a passion for working to combat HIV, Minister Samuels who is on a ‘Save the Nation campaign’ against HIV in Trinidad and Tobago, says he intends to wage an all out war on HIV/AIDS using whatever skills could fit into the Trinidadian culture.</p>
<p>Said Minister Samuels, “I came here very inquisitive, because I observed, and have been very concerned that the initial drive for HIV had fallen over the years…” As one on whom much devolves, in terms of advancing the fight in Trinidad and Tobago, the minister said he has been preoccupied in recent times with trying to envisage how this could be done. <br/>Noting that the journey ahead is one he would not mind tackling head on, Samuels affirmed, “For as long that HIV remains under my portfolio, I do not intend to slacken up on it. I intend to take the fight and the drive across Trinidad and Tobago, tremendously, with the idea of saving a nation.” <br/><br/>The next task, he said, would be to see how well the Guyana experience could gell with his country’s culture, and so be able to tweak it in various dimensions to adapt to the culture of Trinidad and Tobago.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2540682277?profile=original"></a></p>Dream Building Works!!!tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-03-28:2028109:BlogPost:407612011-03-28T02:30:00.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p> </p>
<p>Dream Building Works!!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It’s been five years now since I was expose to facilitating and I facilitated many workshops and interacted with hundreds of people of all walks of life, sharing experiences, answering questions, giving and getting advises, basically communicating with the participants genuinely, honestly and informatively which contributed to successful and productive workshops. But it was not until September 26<sup>th</sup> 2010 that I experience an approach…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Dream Building Works!!!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>It’s been five years now since I was expose to facilitating and I facilitated many workshops and interacted with hundreds of people of all walks of life, sharing experiences, answering questions, giving and getting advises, basically communicating with the participants genuinely, honestly and informatively which contributed to successful and productive workshops. But it was not until September 26<sup>th</sup> 2010 that I experience an approach that not only works but inspires you greatly, I was introduced to Dream Building.</p>
<p>Since then we’ve been using it in our workshops and for each workshop I feel I’m experiencing dream building for the first time once again. I see the curiosity in the participants eyes when we mention the words “Dream Building” and I know what they are feeling because I felt that same way, I see their puzzling actions wanting to know what it is, wanting to ask what it is, but then again knowing that the words explain it clearly, but still they are puzzled and curious wondering what approach is this.</p>
<p>What I realize is that people usually don’t be asked to put their dreams on paper, after all it was not until late last year that I knew I could have put my own dreams on paper by myself, and I love to see others realize that their dreams, their imaginations, their life can be seen on paper and most importantly they realize that they are the ones making it visible and more real.</p>
<p>But now even though my Dream Building experiences feels all new once again, my curious and puzzling actions is just anticipation of what wonderful dreams my participants will have. And who would have known, putting your dreams on paper can make it come to life, it brings out a confident feeling that lets you know that you can achieve this dream.</p>
<p>It’s the first step on a wonderful journey to solving any solution in such a magical and inspiring way. IT'S DIFFERENT & IT WORKS!</p>
<p> </p>Our Way Of Thinking (Module 2)tag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2011-01-17:2028109:BlogPost:332672011-01-17T21:06:33.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p> </p>
<p>To what extend do you support local response?</p>
<p>I personally support Local Response greatly, because it allows one to see how ways of thinking are transformed. As a facilitator, it allows me to see in actuality how this process evolves, and how important it is for one to realize and support local response.</p>
<p>My own experience of local response in communities is that I saw them identify their own threats and strengths; then they were guided unknowingly, but willingly into…</p>
<p> </p>
<p>To what extend do you support local response?</p>
<p>I personally support Local Response greatly, because it allows one to see how ways of thinking are transformed. As a facilitator, it allows me to see in actuality how this process evolves, and how important it is for one to realize and support local response.</p>
<p>My own experience of local response in communities is that I saw them identify their own threats and strengths; then they were guided unknowingly, but willingly into creating and developing an action plan together, on their best way of moving forward, and then acting on changes that would benefit them. It also allows them to bring their dreams and hopes out and guide them into creation their own solutions on bringing it to realization.</p>
<p>So rather than assuming what should be their vision, with the SALT approach their way of thinking is transformed into one vision and their local response comes into action and then, we as facilitators believe with them and guide them…</p>My Lesson on a Local Response Experiencetag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2010-11-18:2028109:BlogPost:292922010-11-18T14:47:47.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN" xml:lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">I never realize how I could have observe or experience Local Response until I read the course module, I know it was there but never pay much attention on what it really meant.…</font></font></font></span></p>
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<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">I never realize how I could have observe or experience Local Response until I read the course module, I know it was there but never pay much attention on what it really meant.</font></font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">But a local response I came across was with some villagers and their way of communicating.</font></font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">In this village they have a village board which they update everyday with any activity/meeting the village has, but during a SALT visit, they aired their concerns and one was that they thought the village board was not as effective as it should be, because some members would not show up to meetings claiming they were not aware, or forgetting and being late.</font></font></font></span></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN" lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><font size="3"><font face="Times New Roman"><font color="#000000">So with that in mind they took action in creating a more effective way that can work for them in communicating to the villagers. So together they decided to continue with the Village Board but also purchase a Megaphone for village use, so that when an activity or meeting arrives they would use the village bike to ride around the village and announce it as the day arrives.</font></font></font></span></p>
<span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US" lang="EN" xml:lang="EN"><font color="#000000">And I think that action of local response took place because they knew what was not working for them and realize as a community everyone should be involve and they wanted each other to be involve in making decisions, interacting and working as a community. So letting everyone be <strong>aware</strong> of what was happening will encourage them to be <strong>involved</strong> in what is happening, and that will lead to the community working more closely together. And I thought that experience was an action of local response.</font></span>My First SALT Visittag:aidscompetence.ning.com,2010-11-14:2028109:BlogPost:285772010-11-14T06:04:43.000ZTricia Francishttps://aidscompetence.ning.com/profile/TriciaFrancis
<p class="MsoNormal" style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I had my first <strong>SALT</strong> visit a few days ago and I must say it was an extraordinary experience for me. My <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">colleague</span> and I went to Orealla in region six, one of the hinterland regions in my…</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">I had my first <strong>SALT</strong> visit a few days ago and I must say it was an extraordinary experience for me. My <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: EN-US">colleague</span> and I went to Orealla in region six, one of the hinterland regions in my country. The workshop was held with the Toshao, Councilors and other leaders in the community of Orealla / Siparuta.</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We started our workshop on time and started engaging the participants so they can feel comfortable with us in their environment. We then stimulated their thought with the question, what do they think Community Life Competence is? And from the look in their eyes you can tell u had their attention, and then they began to share what their thoughts were.</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We then allowed them to identify the strengths of the community and then the threats; everyone became very interactive and wanted to contribute their opinions. I then did a personal risk assessment with them and this made them realize as individuals how a risky lifestyle can affect their community, we had a discussion after and everyone shared their thoughts and fears of what the Personal Risk Assessment made them realize about themselves and their lifestyles and It also made them think about the youths in their community.</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">We also did Dream Building with them and it was fascinating to see each individual dream was so similar, each person shared what dream they wanted for their community, we then allowed them to work together and put all their dreams together to make a community dream. They wanted so much for their community, to have good education beginning with proper schools, health care, better communication, co-operation, unity and harmony and so much more.</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">At the end of the workshop the participants way of thinking and way of working was much clearer, the willingness and enthusiasm that was within them, made them come together and start implementing procedures which they themselves created to start working towards their dreams of development for a competent community.</font></p>
<p style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><font color="#000000" size="3" face="Times New Roman">So at the end of my first workshop I experienced and saw the impact SALT has, not only on individuals but also on a community, it was a productive workshop and I’m looking forward for many more.</font></p>