The next day...
A workshop of 2 days for compost promoters took place.
13 women who had motivation to be trainer spontaneously participated in it.
They have really a strong feeling of desire to share their knowledge about compost making and to improve their production skill.
At this workshop, I put a point of techniques of awareness raising/sensitization about poor solid waste management and sanitation related problems in the city.
Because they know already how to make compost although there are still many for them to learn and improve.
However, they have had neither experience of speaking outin public or teaching something to someone nor training.
So the workshop objective was to learn how to speak in public, how to animate a meeting and how to use effectively photos which help people to understand better the situation or subject.
At first, without any example demonstration, I divided them in 2 groups and asked them to prepare a presentation of sensitization about solid waste problems in their community.
Then they presented their groupwork.
Hmmmm...
It was as I expected.
As they are not used to speak out in front of other people, they came out individually, spoke quietly for a couple of minutes with looking down the floor and done...
Some had a photo in their hand but without using it or even showing it to listeners.
They didn't even choose a specific photo but just had one in hand...
Well, it was the first exercise !
It is normal ! (I told myself...)
Then, we recalled my way of sensitization and important information/problems that they should not forget to talk about.
I showed how to use different photos :
By showing a photo, ask people what they see on it or what they think about the situation on it.
Using photos and asking questions helps to have interaction between trainers and learners instead of one way teaching by trainers saying "it's not good", "you have to do that", etc...
1st day of workshop was done here.
2nd day.
We started with the review of the 1st day work.
Some did again the presentation.
It wasn't yet perfect but it was better than last time :
They mentioned much more information than the day before,
Others tried to complete the information after the 1st person demostrated,
They tried to get reaction from listeners by asking questions,
Some put some humor to make a good atmosphere, etc
Then 2nd day's work was compost making process review.
The same 2 groups prepared and presented their work.
Most basic information was covered.
But some advice to avoid failures or to make better compost wasn't come out unless I asked questions to get these answers.
Well, it is the same thing.
From the 1st time, it is impossible to be perfect !
Anyway, all agreed that 2 day training wasn't enough...
The women themselves expressed their worries about their capacity of animation.
So we decided to organise one more day in a week to review everything.
3rd day was much better although they still need to practice more.
At the end, I gave my handmade certificate of completing the workshop to each participant.
Most of them can read neither french nor dioula but I put their face photo on it so at least they can recognize that the paper is for her about compost workshop ;)
With the certificate, they got respectively a kit for hygiene promotion with 6 photos that they used during the workshop and a manual of compost production in dioula.
Besides, I added some seeds (tomato, spinach, salad) as a small gift to appreciate their motivation and commitment.
Also I wanted encourage them to continue compost making and use it for home garden for example.
To start sensitization by showing example by themselves, I used a piece of textile that people here use to make clothes as a bag (cover) of kit materials instead of a plastic bag.
This is a japanese traditional way to use cloth to wrap thing and carry them around, called "Furoshiki".
My compost partner, Yé assisted to the whole 3 day workshop as well.
Great help !
From now on, it is them who do the work, not me.
To be honest, I have still some worries if they are really capable and motivated to do this for free...
But I trust them.
And as much as I can until my contract ends, I will support their work.
The first step to follow their activity is attending to a meeting which will take place every 2 tuesday.
Go, promoter ladies !!!
