Training in Neighboring Villages

Training in Neighboring Villages

24 & 25 April

We trained teachers from neighboring villages Wednesday and Thursday. Fifteen of the anticipated 47 teachers appeared Wednesday morning. By afternoon we had an additional 3 teachers. Unlike Lusaka, most of the teachers in Eastern Province are male. Four female teachers joined the training. English proficiency was less than Lusaka as well. Additionally, the teachers in Lundazi struggled to demonstrate empathy and listening skills. As always some distinguished themselves and readily exhibited these skills as well as the ability to generate creative solutions to problems and nurture a child’s internal coping strategies. Most of the participants though struggled in these areas. I still view the training as a promising start and an introduction to new and difficult concepts. In view of my trainers not completing the child’s life narrative and the limited skills of the trainees, I elected to eliminate the life narrative from this training and asked they not incorporate this section in their Strengthening Children groups as this component has a potential to elicit strong negative emotions in children.

We completed our training on Thursday. I took Kondwani and Kaunda to dinner as a “thank you” for the kindness they have shown me. While in Lundazi I was able to go to the one Internet spot to send emails and talk with Machelle via Skype. At the guesthouse I became skilled in cockroach eradication and learned to sleep among them. Mosquito net challenges reminded me to take my antimalarial medication as well.

Peace, Bob