Putting the "Work" in Workshop
on Mark Stephens (Zambia), 24/Dec/2010 07:54, 34 days ago
Note: This is the last in a backlog of posts that were delayed by internet access constraints experienced for a few weeks. Since this posting, two additional workshops have occurred.On 30 November, a series of three-day workshops kicked off involving representatives from two of the 22“wards” that make up the Petauke District. The representatives (one elected person from each “zone” within the ward, and at least 40% female representatives) were from the Lusangazi and Nyakawise “Area Development Committees”. Each ward has an area development committee. The representatives arrived early, took a short lunch, and returned on their own later in the evening to continue working on hand drawn maps for their wards. The commitment and enthusiasm of the participants continued throughout the three days.Workshop participantsThe products were generated by the representatives themselves. While quite basic, this is one of the first efforts to introduce spatial considerations in this way, and to cooperatively identify project priorities”from the ground up” by those most directly affected. Good stuff! Hats off to long-time VSO volunteer and Decentralization Advisor David Dawson as the lead facilitator, District Planning Officer Dulani Phiri who has overseen the effort, others involved in facilitation and translation, and to theparticipating Area Development Committee members. Here’s hoping the following workshops go this well.    Workshop participants produced a schematic map of their area