After much planning and organizing, the Community Health Promotion workshop is now into Day 5 in Lira town here in Uganda. Participants range in experience, age, backgrounds and roles with NGOs, sub-county and district government and a school health facilitator represented. Our trainers George and Tauzen from Seeds of Hope/AFMAC, a CAWST Water, Education and Training Centre in Zambia, have lead the way with their knowledge, experience and good fun too.
Day 1 saw the group establish “ground rules” for their time together including a penalty of singing and dancing for law-breakers. While it was lots of fun to watch the singing and dancing in good fun, it’s an incentive for me to be punctual!
Click here to view the embedded video.
Antony, an Environmental Science student with MEDEC in Kenya, took on the role of timekeeper with assistance from Aneno of ClearWater Initiative in Gulu, Uganda. An old fashioned school bell was soon requested to keep everyone on track. “Earthquake” was soon known as the signal to change seats to get to know fellow participants.
Leeonard from RWIDF, Antony and Mary from MEDEC and Aneno from ClearWater.
Energizers through the day included more singing, dancing and a game of what in Canada we refer to as “broken telephone.” Team building and introductions were the first priorities and the group came together with shared interests and common goals for the week!
As the days progressed, topics of discussion included global water issues, the Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s), the health related costs of WASH and poverty, identifying vulnerable populations and the multi-barrier approach to reducing disease transmission. Learning and observation activities looked at new ways to connect with people and communities through active listening, think time and effective questioning. Day 4 saw the beginning of technical topics that include biosand filters, the sanitation ladder and latrine designs. Special guests included the Lira District Chairperson, Lira Health Inspector, radio and newspaper media (yes, even I was on the radio in Uganda!) along with a presentation from the Uganda Water and Sanitation Network (UWASNET).
Hellen from RWIDF talks with her group about barriers to disease.
To think that some participants travelled over 17 hours by bus in the wee hours of the morning to attend is quite incredible. Over 17 hours on a plane can get me home to Canada and that is a lot easier travelling than buses on Uganda roads. I’ll never complain about travel time again! As I returned to Kampala and bid farewell to the group and many new friends and colleagues, the learning continues in Lira with visits to schools and communities for practical experience starting on Monday.
Thanks to local host Divine Waters Uganda and our trainers George and Tauzen, the participants are in great hands…and I’ll start my journey home to Canada.
See more workshop pictures!
