Write shop in Ethiopia
4-8 July, Ethiopia
The Constellation and the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction organized a ‘Write shop’ from 4 to 8 of July to share and document the experiences of integrating the AIDS Competence Process (ACP) with the Community Managed Disaster Risk Reduction (CMDRR). 30 participants gathered coming from implementing partners, communities and technical partners to document the experiences gained during the pilot stage to strengthen and integrate the AIDS Competence approach into existing CMDRR works in Ethiopia. The intention is to publish a document that can be shared with IIRR/CORDAID partners and others as a practical demonstration of the conceptual framework and practical outcomes of this integrated approach.
The write shop process was a new approach for the Constellation team. Prior to the write shop, 2 IIRR teams visited implementing partners in Dire Dawa and Borana to begin the process of gathering stories from the field. These were used as the basis for further editing and refining during the write shop. Identifying key themes was important so that the stories and experiences could get focused. These themes were centered around decreased vulnerability, increased capacity to respond, organizational ways of working, integration of ACP and CMDRR. A booklet will be available soon and 15 videos are already available on Ning.
Participants also did a SALT visit in communities. Hussein Omar, facilitator from Ethiopia, shared about a home visit he did during the event. “I was expecting to see that when the visitors came, the girl (living with HIV) would ask for things that she needs – support, financial aid. But what I saw in her was different. She said that she could help herself, that she has the capacity to do something herself. [...]
I used to think that aid is necessary to accomplish something, to do something. That was my way of thinking before. But now, I’ve come to this place from Afar to learn these things – that one can do anything with only his own strength and courage and confidence. This lesson may seem simple, but for me it’s a really important lesson I’ve received. It will change my life when I go home to Mille.”
