It's difficult to understand when it is just said and written, we all need to see it "in loco"

[Joao Arnaldo Vembane]

More than what I expected happened in a few days visit to some communities in Maputo (south of Mozambique - capital), Manica and Sofala (Central Region). A team of the ACP coachers and some of the Mozambique facilitation team plus me (of course not yet trained) paid a visit to some of Disabled people organizations implementing the ACP and some that are not.

On my first thought would have been a kind of refreshing training by the constellation coachers to the national team in an empirical supporting visit and I'd take the opportunity to learn from the discussions. Thus Ricardo and Virgilio were here to teach us on how to make things better. I was very clearly framed on this objective. I was expecting a high professional monitoring visit.

Driven the process, I found myself so involved on the process, discussing the issue with the team, facilitating processes, gaining knowledge, etc. I was doing it with such enthusiasm that at some stage I felt owning the process.

When I had break to meet with myself and have a small discussion with my intellectual I always wondered what gave me such force, energy, enthusiasm, creativity? Then I concluded: visiting, asking, listening, stimulating is all over there. I discovered the importance of just visiting as a human being that I am to my similar and not being a provider to the victims.

Today more and more I'm getting to understand what he ACP stands for. I've decided, and already started, to implement the ACP within my own organization. Not only because of the beauty of the process, but because it is a necessary step to respond to a big challenge concerning most of us - "HUMAN beings".

Joao Vembane
HIV&AIDS Coordinator
Handicap International
Mozambique

[Joao Arnaldo Vembane]

hey Rico,
sorry for tking long answer to this... I've been out of office (in meetings) nd travelling as well - like now I'm in Inhambane province. I just saw your message now on my mobile.

well on the next visit, I rather Rui leads everything, of course it is his role. we need to leve it on his responsibility. you understand that? I need to avoid jumping in...

[Ricardo Walters]

Hey, Joao...

I may try and call you sometime this week, or reach you on SKYPE. It's important that we can finalise some dates for the July visit as soon as possible.

R

[Joao Arnaldo Vembane]

Hey guys I want to thank to all comments on this my blog. Unfortunately I've been very busy with school. I'm killing my self with lots of work. But just allow say I'll come soon with something. I promise.

Take care

[Ricardo Walters]

Awesome reflection, Joao. Thanks so much for sharing. Your post captures powerfully the impact and transformation we were able to witness in you as we shared together in the process. Hope the work in HI (and with others) is going well. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

[Virgilio Suande]

Dear Joao
I realy feel motivated to continue with ACP work in communities by hearing your strong confidence and lessons leant from you, it becomes clear that we get tranformed together with communities when we are around. One of the reflections I heard last week after a SALT visit with the Salvation Army team was amazing by the way it has been said: ( We spent long time this week sharing our community concerns inside the room, but after the SALT visit it was clear that the community is the one who can share the concerns when space is provided and a SALT visits is a way for it)

Thanks for contributing to my own motivation

Virgilio Suande

[Gaston]

Dear Joao. You go the real core of the approach and you phrased it very well. Thanks for this great contribution. I hope your colleagues on this platform and in other countries can taste a bit of your experiences. Regards,