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.

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Dear Tricia,

Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience. What difference did you find between SALT visit and usual community visit?

Loved the cute photographs of your baby nephews.

Regards,

Rituu