Well, that’s a wrap! Delivery of training in Malawi is complete, and what a fab training it was. A really good group of participants, with lots of really positive feedback about how the training will help the various groups of beneficiaries that they work with through their projects in both urban and rural community settings, as well as prisons.
One of the really wonderful things that came from it for me was the presentations that they gave today as the final assignment of the training. They worked in organisational groups for this, unlike most of the other small group work which was deliberately inter-organisational to get cross-fertilisation of insights and ideas.
But for the presentations, they worked with colleagues from their projects, and shared with the rest of the group how they were planning on utilising the training, which aspects of it would be used first, and which were the key messages that they would take out to the beneficiaries. Hearing their reflections, and seeing them demonstrate just how much they have taken on board of the training, and internally contextualised for their own work situations was so rewarding. It confirmed how worthwhile and important the training has been for the participants, and how much they see it as a vehicle through which they can bring new opportunities for healing and hope to the beneficiaries.
Two of the teams have already been in touch with senior management and got dates for disseminating the training to other staff members next week – apparently they told their managers that the training is so good and so important that everyone needs to hear about it as soon as possible! And the other two groups are planning on getting conversations going with colleagues as soon as they are back in the office on Monday (May 1st is a public holiday in Malawi).
One of them shared about how the training can help to mend shattered lives, and another reflected on the difference that the training will make with regard to helping people let go of guilt and shame, and to find hope again. Several said how urgently needed this training was, as Malawi feels like a country in trauma, with healing and renewed positivity needed at all levels of society. It was great to have the traditional chiefs there as well, and to hear that they are thinking how to try and share their learning with other chiefs as the information is so useful and insightful regarding the role they play in conflict resolution.
The day ended with several of them expressing an interest in working together to consider what a ‘360Life Malawi’ hub might look like. A team from across the organisations, seeking to take the training, the knowledge, and the trauma-informed approach out to other organisations, and in so doing reaching into NGO’s, schools, churches, community groups, government departments. That’s a big dream, and it’s not going to happen overnight. But, as they each said – with God anything is possible, and there’s no point dreaming small when we have a God who can help us dream big!
So wonderful to be part of this visionary and positive team, and exciting to see what comes next as they journey forth together. Hopefully it’ll include me coming back to this beautiful country at some point as well!!