As mentioned in my "Preparation" blog post, these are the focus questions brought to you by the Niagara College CIDA funded youth internship program.
1. This question is an assessment of your Applied Community Based Research Methods as a development competency. Do you feel that the applied research training you received during your Pre-Departure Training has translated into applicable skills in the field? How have you found engaging in a participatory applied research project in your host country?
In my "Patience" posting, I spoke of a few things that could most definitely apply directly to this question. Connecting with the locals that live around my house has been fairly easy. Once you meet one single person, they invite you to their home for dinner, you get to know each other on a deeper level, and if they decide they like you, they will do this again and invite other people so that you can meet them. I find the people I have met in Ecuador are genuinely kind and warm people. Often, they will take you under their wing, and instantly give you advice that will help protect you.
Many of my mentors could tell you, that getting to know people professionally was something I feared before arriving to Ecuador. Everything I seemed to read and hear about of the environment at the ecuadorian workplace seemed to be very stern, extremely hierarchical and quiet scary for a girl that loves small talk. I was given some amazing advice to "Join the party". Any time there was a work event after hours, or during hours, I would be the first in line. When people take of their work hats, they relax, and are more laid back. They also get to know you on a more personal level, and this strengthens the general trust you will have for each other in your professional relationship. I found the more I got to know people, the more they spoke to me at lunch time, invited me to more events and asked for my opinion on things. The camping trip I spoke about in my "Bonding" blog post shows my turning point moment with the other employees at Pro-Bosque.
Connecting with people here is much more personal than it is in Canada. Here, they ask very personal questions the first time they meet you, to try to get to know you on a deeper level. In Canada, we prefer the small talk, and avoiding some of those same personal questions until a strong relationship is built, and the comfort level increases. When you meet someone for the first time, it's as if you receive a personal interview. Common questions include :
"Are you married? Where do you live? What do you do for work? How much money do you make? Do you have illegitimate children? Are you looking to marry an ecuadorian? "
 |
| Camping trip, bonding with tour guides |
2.This question is an assessment of Support Community Leadership as a development competency. What has been your experience been thus far in empowering community leadership? Have you found that you need to work on this skill set or that you already have well developed skills with respect to supporting local leadership?
Yesterday was my first meeting with some of the community leaders. These people have already successfully improved an aspect of the community, whether it is generating funds to renovate schools, or implementing workshops to the community, this group of people was inspiringly driven. Most of them however, because of many projects that have began and failed one after the other, these leaders began to lose hopes, and decrease in numbers. My goal was not only to motivate them, but also to better understand the community needs, make some suggestions about their current tourism development initiatives, and leave with a potential plan. I had a short workshop planned to help better explain my concept of community based tourism, and hoped that they would like the idea.
This is my first time doing anything of the kind, and I hoped that my age, race or sex would not jeopardize the likeliness of positive outcomes. Though I have worked with children in the community center as a leader, role model and motivator, I have never done anything of this kind to a group of adults. This made me very nervous.
During the presentation, as soon as the icebreaker was finished, it lightened the mood, and my nerves faded through laughter and the sharing of stories. The presentation was a success because I received a very good response with many questions. They were very much interested in developing the community based tourism, and I accomplished all of my goals. I learned a great deal about their current issues and concerns, and received some contacts for further information sharing. They also asked for workshop and training on specific skills, and said it would be very beneficial for them and the other members of the community. I gladly accepted the task, and am currently planning them.
The task of supporting community leadership was not as difficult as I thought it would be. They were already very driven, however felt a bit hopeless because of the history of failed projects. They were very enthusiastic about the ideas that I presented them with, and had many ideas to contribute as well. Together, we made a common goal, and will remain in contact from now on.
3.This question is an assessment of Facilitate Groups and Workshops as a development competency. In your experience thus far how would you evaluate your group facilitation skills in an overseas setting? How you been able to carry out a workshop? If so, did you find that you already had the skills necessary to hold a workshop or it is an area you need improvement in?
So far though my experience I feel that facilitating workshops is far more easy than leading a workshop. My first official workshop was a failed attempt through my eyes. The attendance was awful, and the people that did show up, misunderstood what was going to be happening. Many people were confused, and untrusting of me, which also didnt help with the level of participation. This happened last week Friday and I've learned a valueble lesson that I will never make again, if there is no trust, there is no cooperation. If there is miscommunication, there is no cooperation. I have to focus on being much more clear, when inviting people to a workshop, it would also help me if someone they trusted was the main speaker, and I was the assistant. Getting introduced by someone that is trusted, makes it much easier for people to warm up to you. That is how I met with the group of women in the first place.
After that event, my biggest challenge is "how do I interest them in coming to the next worshop?"
I've decided to create a program that is dated, and give everyone a schedule with times and topics that will be covered. At the end of the series of workshops, I will let them know that each of them will receive a certificate of participation which will help them secure jobs afterwards. A great mentor of mine here in Ecuador told me that she liked my idea, and that I had her full support. This is great news because shes already lived in the community for over a year now. The workshop program has been turned into "capacitaciones y charlas para desarrpolar Puerto Hondo", and I am presenting the idea to the women this week Friday, if all goes well. I may have to postpone it until monday, since I am currently dealing with some immigration problems. I hope this goes by soon.
4.This question is an assessment of Community Economic Development and Empowerment as a development competency. If you have had the opportunity to engage in empowering community economic development, what has been your experience?
5.This question is assessing Participatory and Gendered Community Development as a development competency. What has been your experience with consensus based approaches to community development? Have you found that the pre-departure training you received was an adequate introduction to participatory approach and gender inclusive planning, if yes, how?
6.This question is assessing Project Management Using RMB and Outcome Mapping as a development competency. Thus far, what has been your experience engaging with RBM and OutCome Mapping? How would you rate your competency in using RBM and OutCome Mapping?
7.This question is assessing Networking and Advocacy for Community Development as a development competency. Reflecting on your experience thus far as a field worker in international development how have you found networking in cross cultural environments? How has it been similar or different to the way you would approach networking in your home country? How have you found building advocacy for development work in your host country?
Networking in Guayaquil has been very different. When you meet someone for the first time, in both a professional and casual setting, it is not uncommon to be invited for food, or to their homes. It seems, personal relationships and professional relationships don’t have a line of separation here. On the other hand, in Canada, with the exception of work parties from time to time, most of my relationships with my coworkers and bosses have been “strictly professional.” Strong personal relationship is not only something that is greatly valued here in Ecuador, it seems that nothing gets done without one.
That being said, being a “people person” most definitely come in handy here in Ecuador. I enjoy being social, telling jokes, and have no problem getting to know people. I have been very successful in this domain and am happy to say that I have built a network of like minded people that are all interested in helping me and contributing to some of the projects I will be a part of in any way that they can.
I am greatly enjoying the networking part, and think I have met some lifelong friends here. However, I do find that part of things a bit more time consuming that I had expected. Upon my arrival here, I had made a plan of projects I wanted to begin. In nearly 2 months of my trip, I spent most of that time networking, learning about the country, the organization, and building trust within the Puerto Hondo community. That was not a part of my initial plan, and now I think the best thing for me to do is review my list of projects and choose the ones that I feel the most passionate about. That will not be an easy task.