The impact of appreciation on Stigma

[Onesmus Mutuku]

Dear friends,

Greetings and trust you are well!

May I kindly share with you this short paper that largely draws learning from Mauritius in the first quarter of our partnership with MCB FF in the context of applying CLCP/SALT in the issue of drugs.

We explored the power of appreciation and its impact on stigma among people using drugs and their families. In the spirit of appreciation, enormous strengths of reconciliation were evident and over flows to neighborhoods were inevitable.

Being mindful as a team to the link between home care and neighborhood change was a co-factor that really helped platform members, local community facilitators and their communities turn around the drug related stigma.  

Tipping points!

Relational links ...observers discriminate initially but if asked for their story they and other neighbors will acknowledge their shared concern...ie person centered confidentiality in the home...issue centered shared confidentiality in neighborhood...the fulcrum of expansion of response as people were stimulated to focus on what matters to them (The one or two or three family members in drugs and how that has impacted their relationships and livelihoods)

see the link to the lessons document below

The%20impact%20of%20appreciation%20on%20stigma%20FINAL%20FINAL%20No...

Warm wishes to you all,

Ones

 

 

 

 

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks Onesmus, grateful to learn from you.

I am happy to know from your experience that all actors involved in the response have a common dream. Their priority practices are amazing- how wonderful if government develops the perspective to learn from and listen to communities. What I take away from this is that when we begin the community life competence process we have to ask the question- who are the key players and who are part of this process and who is missing. Involving all the actors in the beginning of the process will also help in many ways including 'link' in SALT. Getting 'everyone' on the same platform is another challenge though:-)

[Onesmus Mutuku]

Dear Rituu,

In the case of MRU, the 3 spheres are collaborating at platform level and indeed walking through the CLC process with SALT visits to platform members and their communities embedded in learning cycle.

During Q1, the platform had identified 3 priority areas to work on the next couple of months.

1. Listening without making judgment

2. Vision, mission

3. Learning from communities

The 3 practices had an SPR , and would coordinate action implementation together with a small team drawn from the platform. All other platform members are invited to Join(policy makers, service providers and community/community facilitators)

Hope this helps,

Ones

 

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Hi Onesmus,

Thanks for sharing the document. I have worked with drug users and many of them said that what hurts them the most is stigma from their family members. 

I wanted to learn from you when you say 

The strategy to first, mobilise and invite the three spheres (policy makers, service providers and communities) to SALT is paramount. 

How did you bring these actors together and when?

Thanks

Rituu

[Marlou]

Many thanks. My heartiest congratulations to the team who constructed this pearl. The lessons will serve for any local response. Marlou