Orealla / Siparauta Village sets pace with Community Life Competence process

[Autry Haynes]

The “competent community” is one that is: [1] has unity / harmony; [2] people living a healthy lifestyle; [3] economically strong [4] good governance and [5] secured Amerindian cultural activities, where Amerindians seek to revitalize / sustain their cultural identity. For each of the five qualities, a description was made as determined by the dreams that were created.

This qualification of a “competent community” was developed from a creating a community dream by two teams of village leaders from Orealla / Siparuta. The two dreams were almost identical in content (see pics).

Both teams; mango and pineapple representing the two major fruits produced in Orealla wanted secondary education to be the vehicle for accomplishing the unity / harmony that will shield [with rainbow like colours, see pics] the threats to community competence were identified as follows: Diseases [chronic non-communicable diseases]; STIs, including HIV; praedal larceny; alcohol / drug abuse; domestic violence; human trafficking; emigration [mainly male youth in search of better opportunities]; poverty; political differences and teenage pregnancy.

In contrast to the threats, the community knows its strengths: qualified / knowledgeable human resource, financial resource, labour, assets [passenger boat to ply the 80 mile trek to the nearest township - Corriverton, cassava mill, mobile sawmill, tractor with trailor] and hopes.

Following the identification of strengths and threats to community life competence, the leaders completed the ‘self assessment’ doing in two groups. “Ways of Working” was unanimously identified as the priority practice with the current level of two [We understand our potential strengths to respond] and to move to level four [We regularly seek to find our own solutions to base on our strengths and opportunities].

In terms of action planning however, the leaders emphatically agree that a follow-up self assessment with a wider number of leadership members within the Orealla / Siparuta village. The participation will result in a more practical / meaningful action plan for about two years that benefits the community. Leaders [about thirty inclusive of the 14 council members and other leaders as identified] such as pastors of the nine Christian denominations, excluding Jehovah Witnesses [whom members know will not participate but respect their views / decision], business fraternity representative, Orealla Development Association, Orealla / Siparuta Development Association, youth and women groups, Parent Teachers’ Association. At that self assessment two or more practices will be prioritized. In the meantime, however, members agree that four activities could be accomplished, viz: guide for planning and implementation of activities and / or projects to implemented / executed by the village council;

Zoning of the community to encourage greater participation of villagers; improving a communication system to complement the present notice board, with a megaphone; and to effectively plan the next self assessment. The immediate next step was the presentation of the four actions to the monthly meeting of the Village Council who will endorse the actions for implementation. It was agreed that one council member other than the Village Toshao will do the presentation under an appropriate agenda item. This approach will seek the support of the fourteen member council members to ‘buy-in’ to the self assessment and support the involvement of the listed possible participants for the next follow-up self assessment. The Council will extend the invitation for the self assessment which should be accomplished by end of December 2010.

During the “what’s the weather like inside and reflection on the day before activity” participants heartily indicate the weather within themselves and reflected in body, mind and soul: “I am gloomy, inside, this village has huge potential, based on what we noted yesterday in terms of strengths [see above] but every time we have an activity as this training, we seem to fall to sleep.” This participant was passionate for doing things differently so the community could realize its potential, its dream and was pleading for action after the two days community life competence process.

The Toshao was in high praise for the “…..timely intervention….,” and wanted to move things forward even before the village council meeting scheduled for the first week in December.

This SALT visit was the first of four to be made with the National Tosahos Council [comprising all 172 indigenous peoples’ village leaders] with support of the United Nations Development Programme. The project seeks to make the executive members competent in addressing threats to the people they represent as well as developing model, including the production of a manual for future interventions in other Amerindian villages.

[Nicole Rhonda Cole]

Keep up the Good Work Autry! Its a very heart warming experience as can be seen from the photographs...

[Laurence Gilliot]

Dear Autry,

Great sharing and also beautiful pictures. What I learn from you is that you spend several days with the community to go through all steps. I think this is an interesting idea.
I also think it is a good idea to involve other members from the community and not only the leaders.

Good luck,

Laurence