I was in the District of Karnataka, India recently working with a group of local NGOs (Myrada and MSK) and we were learning from each other. Together we visited 3 villages close to Bellary with whom the NGOs had a good working relationship. The NGOs were providing information and education about the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – How it is spread, how to avoid it and how to deal with it etc.
Sharing & Learning
We were encouraging them to try a different way of working. Over the previous 3 days we had visited each of the three villages to listen and learn what the issues and concerns were and what they were already doing to respond. On the fourth day we brought together representatives from the 3 villages, village elders, young women and young men to share their experiences in their own villages. This was something that hadn’t happened before. Indeed the different groups had not discussed it together in their own villages before this week.
We mixed people up and got them to tackle different issues in small groups of about 10 people. They were sat in circles on the floor of the village hut where we were meeting. A local NGO person was assigned to each group. The discussion was in the local Kanada language, so I could not follow the discussion. I watched instead the interactions within the circles. In one group it was apparent that the conversation was between one of the group and the NGO person, and then another of the group and the NGO person. The NGO person was providing the answers. I intervened. Through an interpreter I explained the role of the NGO person was not to educate and provide the answers but to encourage the group to share their own responses and experiences. It wasn’t working and the third time I intervened it was to physically remove the NGO rep from the circle. I got her to stand with me on the other side of the hall and watch. The circle closed up and the conversation restarted. Suddenly the dynamics changed completely – the conversation flowed across and back around the circle, first in one direction, and then another. People who had so far made no contribution were making their voice heard. It became animated, there was laughter and everyone shared and learned.
The NGO persons eyes lit up – the light bulb went on – now she got what I had been trying to explain! She went back and joined the circle as a listener – and learned things she had not heard before.
