SMART contributes to the ‘T’ of SALT: Transfer / Transformation

[Autry Haynes]

Transfer begin with ‘mindset change’ with ‘S’ of SALT during the stimulation process. People begin to think differently; A different Way of Thinking [WoT]. Evidence of this is obvious when members of communities engage in conversations of Are we human? What makes us Human?; Identifying strengths and sharing common concerns and hopes, leading to a common dream. Members of these communities are motivated by these engagements.

 

During this period, there is learning which leads to action. This phase is considered our learning which influences, in us, a different way of Working [WoW]. Transformation within self and eventually, communities are taking place. This collective actions [WoW] is further influenced during the Self-Assessment phase when communities identify where they are on the scale of competence [levels 1-5] and then, where they would want be within a certain time period [short, medium or long term]. Here is where the SMART concept is best applied. The movement from the level where we are now to where we want to be is delineated by a SMART action plan for each practice. SMART: S - Specific; M - Measurable; A - Appropriate; R - Realistic; T - Time bound.

 

S - refers to specific actions that can take us from one level to the next;

 

M - that these actions must be measurable;

 

A - the actions must be appropriate to achieving the next level and to the common dream;

 

R - the actions must also be realistic in nature;

 

T - the action must take place within some time frame.

Following are links to some SMART actions plans where communities take ownership for their self development in responsible ways:

 

Carre d’As:

A small community of 15 families on the west coast of Mauritius considered marginalized and vulnerable. Le Pont du Tamarinier supports this community to acquire homes and to develop ways of building stronger families. Leading up to the SMART plan the community did a collective dream and identify practices [big steps or stepping stones] to accomplish their common dream.

 

Stepping stones / SMART actions	Who will lead this action	When will this action be completed	How do we know we have completed this action	What are some special consideration needed to complete this action
We care and sustain a healthy environment
Clean up campaign	Delphine and Crystal	August 22	Pictures and After Experience Reflection on August 25	Completed
We have an effective and harmonised community
Bring and Share	Crystal and delphine	September 05	Pictures and After Experience reflection on September 08	Completed
We have an education support system that offers great opportunity for our children
Survey to get understanding of how parents can provide greater support especially to primary school children	Delphine with support from Autry and LPDT staff	September 30	Survey report	The idea is to stimulate families spending quality time with their young ones. Autry to help with design of questionnaire. Delphine and Maeva will fill questionnaire. There are only 15 families in this community that makes this easy to manage
We look for opportunities for strengthened economy and savings within our community
Training on economizing our home budget	Crystal and LPDT staff	October 10	After Experience Report; training report and pictures

Lalmatie:

Lalmatie is a small village in north east Mauritius where a group of women is very concerned about alcoholism within their community and wanted to do something about it. They met informally and eventually got the attention of  EtoileD’esperance an NGO working on rehabilitation and reintegration of women with drug addiction. Effort was made to engage the women of Lalmatie on local response to take ownership for their common concern.

 

Challenge: How can we effectively stimulate measured SMART actions towards our dream?” Desired result: ““By November 2015, we stimulate measured SMART actions towards our dream “Happy families which respect and love each other, living in a peaceful environment including our religious beliefs and where individuals can realize their full potential”		Indicators: Our Leaders identified and our group has a name; A concert to publicize our dream and purpose accomplished; An activity for children accomplished; An activity for adults accomplished; An engagement with persons affected by alcohol accomplished; Self-assessment conducted
Activities	Person responsible	Date of completion of each activity	Resources needed
Building trust within ourselves and our community
Identify Leaders and a name for the group	Team members	Week of August 10, 2015	Time of team and members of each community
Concert to publicize the dream and purpose of our group	Team members	October  2015	Time of team
Work in Communities
Stimulate work with children of Lalmatie	Team members	November 2015	Time of team
Engage persons affected with alcohol to stimulate support	Team members	November 2015	Time of team
Activity for adults	Team members	November 2015	Time of team
Cultivating willingness towards our dream
Self-Assessment	Team members	November 2015	Time of team

Poste Lafayette:

Here too is a marginalized village in Mauritius who engaged SALT in a way to improve the lives of families by aspiring to “raise mature adults with the children starting from providing better daycare service for their  babies.”

 

Stepping stone	SMART Action	Where are we?
We have a community centre and playground to encourage our youths	Acquire land from Government	Some families have to be relocated. A place for these families to be relocated to has to be identified and agreed to by the Honourable Minister responsible. This is also true for the land for the One-Stop Community center comprising a youth learning and development component with kintergarden and dayare services. An area for the Community center is identified. Marianne will engage with the respective Ministries for a conversation with community members in Poste Lafayette. During that engagement the places for homes and community center will be shared with the respective Ministry and agreed to. In the meantime, however, the core group members have planned activities as part of these two stepping stones in an effort to stay motivated and inspire others. [1] a day of football for kiddies [ages 7-12 yrs] will be held on Saturday June 04, 2016 at the play field. [2] Family bring-and-share on the beach or convenient place for strengthening families, sharing the community dream and stepping stones that were developed. Further discussion on this activity will determine the most appropriate date for this event. [3] We know we are by also knowing our bio-data. Guyline and Joanne will lead the acquisition of data to understand distribution of families in terms of age and gender. There is information on children age 1-16 yrs in terms of male and female distribution. Information will be acquired for the post 16 yrs age group of families.
We have houses with basic amenities we can call home with happy families	We get electricity and water installed in homes of 12 families
We have a mini market / bazaar to supply community needs	Permit has to be renewed	The permit was renewed and a place for the bazaar was identified! Devi has to do design ‘stands’ from which to sell from. Guyline and carpenter will determine materials need and seek support for same. The men of the community will contribute with the construction of the ‘stands’. Devi will also make a list of vegetables / greens and other items to sell. The bazaar should begin by the end of June 2016. Support will be sought for start-up capital.
We have bus shed providing comfort for residents while the venture in family welfare	Construct a bus shed	Although the bus shed is considered a not so high a priority, there was consensus that it is a do-able project which can inspire others and keep motivation high as an accomplishment. Guyline and Joanne will identify person[s] with capacity to design the shed and ascertain quantities [materials]. Support will be sought for the materials and the men of the community will contribute labour for the construction. Design and quantities will be accomplished by end of June 2016.
Learning, Sharing and linking with other communities	We  link with other like-minded communities to share and to learn	Resulting from the Mauritius Learning Festival a group of local facilitators with others from institutions such as MACOSS, Le Pont du Tamarinier, Kinuouete, Groupe Renaissance de Mahebourg, Flacq Coeur d Ville and Chrysalide met to explore how could SALT be sustainable in Mauritius. This group has a dream to achieve their pursuit and as part of that pursuit is seeking to link with communities that engages SALT with respect to local response. In this respect an invitation was extended to Poste Lafayette for a ‘community conversation.’ Members agree in principle for this engagement and will decide on an appropriate date before the end of June 2016. Guyline will take lead in this venture.

Lacaz A:

Lacaz A: An NGO in central Port Louis, Mauritius worked with homeless and others to provide a space for healthy living by providing meals and counseling. In this SMART plan, individual members identified what each can do to demonstrate love for self, families and those around them within the NGO space.

 

Practice : We love ourselves We look after our health, regain self-confidence, trust  and love for our own self and families
	ACTION	WHO	WHEN	HOW do we know
1	Stop taking alcoholic drinks	Alain	December 2016	Lakaz A & friends will witness
2	Have to go to the hospital	Alain	Before 8 September, 2016	Accompanied by somebody from Lakaz A Medical Report/ Attendance card
3	Have to go to the hospital	Tony	To-morrow 2.9.16	Attendance card Lakaz A will monitor
4	Return within  the family	Tony	End of January 2016	Lakaz A will work on 1st contact with other members of the family
5	Must avoid smoking and alcohol to improve my health	Naden	Sop completely by end of December, 2016	Friends at lakaz A will witness
6	Stop taking alcoholic drinks	Roland	10 January, 2017	Friends and Lakaz A will witness
7	Holidays in Rodrigues	Denise	23 September, 2016	Friends and SEL
8	Complete Medical Check-up	Denise	End of October, 2016	Will submit copy of medical report to Lakaz A
9	Reduce family chores ( from children and grand children) to avoid fatigue and aloow more time for myself	Ghislaine	October, 2016	Report in SEL weekly meeting