My First SALT Visit

[Tricia Francis]

I had my first SALT visit a few days ago and I must say it was an extraordinary experience for me. My colleague 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Tricia Francis]

Hi Olivia,
Thanks for the kind words, it helps to motivate me on my SALT journey. It would be great it my team would be able to do an activity on Community Action Day, but arrangements are being made for us to return to that village in early December, because the participants were so inspired that they are making arrangements to have all the community leaders and more villagers attend the upcoming workshop so they can have that changing experience they gained at the workshop. And dream Building, Self Assessment and Action Plan are all part of the workshop and they are very excited awaiting our return, and we will surly be doing our follow ups.

[Olivia Munoru]

Hi Tricia,

Wow.. this is so inspiring.It makes me remember my first SALT visit. I felt the same way you did.... it is such a great way to feel about work (which isn't really even work!)

Really interested to see how broad their dreams were. It shows they have high expectations for their lives - a strength within itself!

Keep us posted on how they go. I'd love to see this from beginning to.... well, it never ends does it! But it would be great to maybe see a photo of their first self-assessment.

By the way, are this community going to do something for Community Action Day? Maybe they could do their self assessment then.

Thanks for inspiring my morning Tricia.

Keep in touch,

Olivia

[Tricia Francis]

Thanks Gaston and JL,

[Tricia Francis]

Hello Wiwin Winarni, thanks for the support and i'm glad my explanation was able to assist you in some way, and all the best with your next setting, i know it will be a productive one :)

[Jean-Louis Lamboray]

Many thanks Tricia!

Your explanation is crystal clear!

JL

[Gaston]

Excellent. Well shared Tricia. You are a great team. You are engaging in a really innovative interesting application of the process.

[wiwin winarni]

Dear Tricia..

Thanks for your sharing on how you found that salt visit is different with those any usual workshop. This enrich my understanding and inspiring more practices and facilitation that would be conducted next week at my setting.

Regards from Wiwin in Indonesia

[Tricia Francis]

Thanks for the support Autry and I will surly welcome any advice you have.

[Tricia Francis]

Hello Rituu, Well for me a usual community visit which I must say was also well facilitated would leave them aware, they were aware of everything you explained and told them at the workshop. And with a SALT visit you allowed them to identify their own threats and strengths, which brought their own awareness to their attention, rather than giving them what you assume they should be aware of. And with this awareness they are then 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.
So with a salt visit you just don’t leave them aware and hope they adapt to change, but you stimulate their awareness, allow them to bring their dreams and hopes out and guide them into creation their own solutions on bringing it to realization and you leave them motivated while they pursue their OWN dreams TOGETHER.
And that was the difference I found and thanks for the comments …..

[Autry Haynes]

Very well done, Tricia. Observed that you have qualities of Life Competent facilitation verses expert skill facilitation. looking forward to you sharing more experiences in the future. Welcome to community life competence facilitation.