Today marks the much anticipated advent of the estimated day when seven billion people will inhabit the Earth, according to the United Nations Population Fund who have just published their latest report – State of the World population 2011- ‘People and Possibilities in a World of 7 Billion’.

In fact, the announcement of the birth of the “seven billionth baby” has already been proclaimed in Manila, Philippines with the arrival of…

The three of us looked at each other with confusion when we heard that sentence said by Father Anastasio Roggero of the Church of Our Lady Glorious Infant Jesus of Prague.  Dusit and I were visiting the church this afternoon when somehow Dusit got to talk with the Father who was from Central Africa and who was excited to hear that we were from Thailand.  When he learned that Dusit was Catholic, he seemed very pleased and said “Come with me.  I have a gift for you”. Then he turned towards me…

Frantz Fanon, Iconic psychiatrist and author of books such as “Wretched of the Earth”, wrote that “literature increasingly involves itself in its only real task, which is to get society to reflect and mediate”.

Paulo Freire’s landmark book, “Pedagogy of the Oppressed” is a prime example of literature that makes one reflect, cogitate and ponder all at once.

In addition, Freire’s…

After holding Knowledge Fair in Kazan we – Ruslan, Kamilla, Ilgiz (participants of the Kazan Fair and training for trainers) made a  visit to 12-14 years old pupils in a children art school.  We conducted  «Dance for life» project  with SALT visit elements.

First of all we created interactions between us by listening their knowledges  about HIV and AIDS, what’s the difference between them, can we beat it together  and how. We asked their opinion about people living with HIV and…

I always walk away from a conversation with Saeed Wame, founder and director of Namwera AIDS Coordinating Committee (NACC) of Malawi, with a new understanding. Whether he be blowing my concept of “capacity” wide open, or offering a completely new definition of volunteer, Saeed is the sort of community leader whose wisdom and humility always leaves you with much to be mulled…

[Participants from North, northeast and south of India, venues ranged from the railway station to home, weather varied from heavy rain to sweltering heat but the spirit remained strong throughout- it was SALT which unites us and we would like to promote it in big or small way, taking baby steps towards our dream of entire India immersed in SALT. Please read on how some members of India competence National Support Team (NST) celebrated Community action…

This week, Nina Lakhani reported on the disturbing case of the Evangelical Christian Church which has been encouraging members of its congregation to cease taking medication altogether in favour of prayer alone.

The report revealed that three people died after discontinuing Anti Retro Viral treatment on…

On October 19, 2011 at the University's Campus, Turkeyen, Guyana . 25 Social work students and two lecturers were sprinkled with SALT.Colleen and Myself facilitated the process.

The Weather Inside.

This a great way of taking…

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Building on how-matters.org’s earlier posts, “How to build strong relationships with grassroots organizations” (part 1, part 2, part…

A mother of 3 whom we engaged to do some cleaning at our premises was pulling out the leaves from some branches we were going o dispose off.   Curious, I asked her what she was doing and she explained that they were Henna leaves she could use to beautify her nails for Deepavali.  “Henna? Isn’t that something for grey hair?” I asked and she said “Yes but you will have red hair if you use this.”  We both laughed and I thought nothing more of the exchange.  The next day when I met her again,…

Last week, UNFPA hosted the International Obstetric Fistula working group in Maputo, Mozambique. Obstetric fistula is a striking indication of the insufficient maternal health care that exists in some parts of the world.

Obstetric fistula is a condition in which a fistula (hole/ communication) develops between the vagina (birth canal) and bladder or…

Appreciating Strengths….

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.

But, it was done differently for the 28 participants of the recent community life competence learning event in Guyana in September.

On the morning of the final day, each participant was…

Dear friends, 

Last month I attended the annual conference of the Human Capability Development Association (HCDA) in the Hague. Their research work is rooted in the 'Capabilities approach' of which Amartya Sen, Martha Nussbaum and others are the major architects. 

I just received their last newsletter and the short article on Sen's view on evaluation was really striking for me.

Although this blog is not a direct experience with a local response, I found that what I read…

Today marks World Mental Health Day, a day designed to raise public attention about mental health issues whilst also encouraging open and honest discussion about the topic.

This year’s theme is “investing in mental health” which seems highly apt given that the World Health Organisation estimates that the resources allocated for mental health are “inadequate especially in low resource countries”. “Low- and middle-income countries spend less than two per cent of their health budget on…

Community Action Day

Imelda Village, Midsayap, North Cotabato, Philippines, September 5, 2011Community Action Day

Geographical Location: Midsayap is a first class municipality situated in the province of North Cotabato, Region 12, Philippines. Its geographical coordinates are 7° 11' 27" North, 124° 31' 49" East.  Midsayap has 57 barangays (smallest administrative unit, also Filipino term for villages). Midsayap means “person wearing a…

Despite the fact that major childhood diseases have been identified and modern technology to combat them developed, yet, children in Sierra Leone die in large number from the attacks of these diseases. The adduced reason is deeply rooted in people’s…

Lou Compernolle sent us this as it reflects our principles.

An enterprise in Addis managed to get 90% of its staff to test for HIV in 120 days by using Rapid Results. The head of the consultancy says: 

What’s missing to turn poor places into rich places isn’t more information, money, technology, workshops, programs, evaluation or any of the other things that development organizations normally provide. …