Week 3: Workshop Week! by Amanda Berrian

Figure 1. Violet steps into the role of teacher at the first workshop in Athol

March 20, 2016: Week 3 was a whirlwind with three workshops in three different villages across the Mnisi community. The first was in Athol and, after receiving a confirmation for 20 attendees, we were delighted to see 31 eager and interested participants. The church was bustling with men and women, young and old, all wanting to learn about how they could improve the health of their households. I was amazed at how the Environmental Monitors could capture each and everyone’s attention and how comfortable they were standing in front of the room next to a flip chart. I watched as the lessons I had taught them a week ago were being translated and presented by the Environmental Monitors to a new audience. I could see how they were applying the principles of inquiry and making the workshops learner- rather than teacher-centered. I observed the activities and looked on proudly as the learners “milked cows” and “picked vegetables” to learn the concepts of infectious disease transmission.

Figure 2. Participants, with the guidance from the Environmental Monitors, act out scenarios to learn about disease transmission in Activity 1

Figure 3. Environmental Monitors guide the learners through the curriculum at the first workshop in Gottenburg

Figure 4. Handry describes the One Health Risk Assessment Tool to a small group at the first workshop in Gottenburg

The second workshop was our biggest with 38 total participants. Five Environmental Monitors facilitated the workshop and again impressed me with their ability to apply the pedagogical concepts and teach the curriculum to their diverse audience.

Figure 5. Philemon address the group at the first Utha workshop

The third workshop took place in Utha and included nine participants. Two Environmental Monitors facilitated this workshop which consisted primarily of younger adults.

Figure 6. Participants from the Utha workshop learn about disease transmission during Activity 1

After the first workshop, each of the 78 total participants were visited by an Environmental Monitor to help them complete their household One Health Risk Assessment Tool and capture photographs. Each participant was instructed to bring their tools and photographs to the second workshop to facilitate the completion of a Risk Mitigation Plan.

Figure 7. Justify prints photographs of high risk practices for a workshop participant