Municipal and Community Development Project Staff Oriented to PSA

Last Updated on Saturday, 19 December 2009 11:07 Written by Webmaster Friday, 18 December 2009 21:01

“We have seen that Inshindo Foundation has a vision and it is resolutely and patiently pursuing this vision. It is not like one of those organisations that start activities with no clear understanding of what they ultimately want to achieve. Inshindo seems to understand what path it is travelling and where it wants to go. We shall support you and work with you but well done. You are doing a very good job”

Mr. Chitafu, Secretary, Residents Development Committee, Natuseko Ward, Kabwe.

On 8 and 9 December, Inshindo Foundation facilitated an orientation of project staff of Kabwe Municipal Council and the Department of Community Development to the PSA program. This was the first step in the operationalisation of the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by Inshindo, the Municipality, and the Department of Community Development on 16 October 2009. 18 project officers, 4 from the Department of Community Development and 6 from Kabwe Municipal Council participated in the training. Other participants included 6 Secretaries of Resident Development Committees, agencies of the local authority that oversee community development activities at the community level, and the Chief Community Development Officer from the Municipality. 4 Inshindo staff and a volunteer university student working with the Foundation for a month participated in the orientation.

The purpose of the orientation was to familiarize the project staff with the PSA program in order to operationalise aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding related to the participation of staff from the two agencies in the accompaniment of groups. The first day of the training started with a review of the MOU which was followed by a presentation on the purpose and history of Inshindo Foundation and the Preparation for Social Action Program. Some time was spent reviewing key elements of the PSA conceptual framework and delivery methods. The participants were then oriented to the curriculum and spent close to 4 hours studying Planting Crops, the unit that most of the groups in Kabwe are studying.

The second day of the orientation started with a review of the status of the activities in Kabwe which was followed by a consultation between the participants and the PSA tutors. The afternoon was spent in the field visiting and consulting with the PSA groups.

The participants were very appreciative of the program most of them praising its vision and methods of delivery. They also expressed appreciation for the manner in which Inshindo has from the beginning worked closely with the community leaders and agencies such as the Council and the Department of Community Development. The presentations of the students confirmed to them that there is learning taking place while the projects the students are engaged in helped them see what is possible at the community level.

One of the participants, Mrs. Museteka, who serves as Chief Community Development Officer for Kabwe Municipal Council lamented the lack of effective collaboration between the Department of Community Development and the Municipality even though both agencies serve the same communities and have similar job descriptions. She said their relationship has many times been competitive and devoid of any structured communication and sharing of experiences. She expressed the hope that through the MOU signed by the two agencies and Inshindo the local and central government agencies will learn to unite their efforts. She thanked Inshindo for bringing the two agencies together, something that has not happened in many years.

The participants were joined at the closing session by Mrs. Muyenga, the District Community Development Officer, and Mr. Kayombo, the Director of Public Health and Community Development at Kabwe Municipal Council. In her remarks Mrs. Muyenga emphasized the idea that development has to be understood as a process through which capacity is built rather than simply the construction of structures. She praised Inshindo for promoting this conception of development and encouraged the staff to work closely with Inshindo in ensuring that the groups receive all the necessary support. Mr. Kayombo also thanked Inshindo for its eagerness to work with local and central government agencies and institutions at the local community level. He expressed his appreciation for the patient but determined manner in which Inshindo has engaged the local authority culminating in the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding.