Lal-wa-Sarjangal, Tue 28 Apr, 2009

Feedback from Afghan facilitators in CDP Lal has affirmed the project's attempt to include the Afghan staff in the designing and planning of the project.

In January 2009 one facilitator commented, "Everyone knows the plan, and can speak their opinion. I feel like a real participant. I used to be treated like a little boy, so I felt like a little boy, and I did not talk. Now I feel like a man, and I can think and speak."

While the project was largely snowbound during the winter, much activity was happening in the office. All of the staff worked on English language learning and devising improved, participatory literacy lessons. The women of the project used their background in community health worker training to adapt lessons specifically about topics outside the coverage of the Basic Package of Health Services. Local knowledge about midwifery topics was gathered, and a trial experience of Child-to-Child health training was conducted. One of the men of the project was trained in administration and finance, while the other men were trained in various skills in the project workshop. With research and development needs for WATSAN structures and greenhouse gardening there was plenty of opportunities for the staff to practice and learn about welding, steel and cement work, potting plants and greenhouse design.

CDP Lal's emphasis during the winter was to not only teach staff but to build them up and make them the backbone of the project. By late winter the men were enthused to hike a full day over a mountain pass into our newly selected target valley Safeed Chesma. These adventurous outings helped push the project ahead in a year when the mountain passes did not open until the end of May.