When teaching people things, especially
very new things that can seem like radical changes to them, I think
it is most important to anticipate any issues that may come up or
excuses that may be used to not make a life change. That way you can
combat them up front and hopefully take away any excuses people might
have. This won't convert everyone but I firmly believe it will help
convert those on the fence. Without any clear excuses as to why they
can not try something new there are some people who will go ahead and
try it. If the change is a good one, and it works, they will be
hooked after trying it. It's that getting people to try things that
is most difficult. People are creature of habit and moving them out
of their comfort zone is like moving a stubborn cow. It takes a lot
of tugging and, more importantly, a lot of coaxing.
I have a training coming up in a little
more than a week where I will teach the people of my village about
nutrition and how to cook a simple nutritious meal. It will not be a
hard presentation in many ways. I'm comfortable with the language I
will be using. I know exactly what I will be teaching and how I will
do it. I have the support of my neighbor who will help me with the
training and any language that comes up that I'm not familiar with
yet. I already know the turnout will be high. And what I'm teaching
are very basic concepts and techniques that most people are at least
vaguely familiar with or will be able to grasp quickly. But I am very
nervous. This will be the first training I do here within my project
framework and area of expertise (or quasi-expertise). It is
imperative that is goes well. First of all, obviously, my ego needs
it to go well. If this is smooth I'll have confidence going forward
for other more difficult and technical trainings. But also, I am
starting down the path of behavior change and that is extremely
difficult. Getting people to change anything, whether it's the way
they eat or the the route they take to work, is almost impossible
within your own culture let alone in one you are unfamiliar with and
new to. That's what we as volunteers are here for but it is
daunting. I have tried my best to take away reasons not to do what I
am teaching. The meal I am preparing will be made with things you can
buy in town cheaply. It will be very similar to what people are used
to eating with a few slight tweaks. The biggest difference will be
the proportions of the meal and the diversity of the contents.
Nothing in it will be new but the combination of the things might be.
There should be no excuse to not at least try it.
It is a fear of mine that I will be
here for two years, do a ton of trainings, and nothing will stick. I
really don't think that will happen and I am confident in myself but
that would be a nightmare scenario. I think about it a lot and a lot
of my drive comes from not wanting to let the people here down and
from wanting to make sure that when I leave here in April 2016 or so
I have actually made a difference for people. This first training is
the first step. It will also be very important to follow up with
people to see if they are using things. I am going to try to do that
by stopping in on people during meals to see what they are making and
also by doing a similar training in concept in a few months but with
different foods for the different season.
I can't wait for this training. I know
it is going to go well and I know some people will leave it and try
to implement the things myself and my neighbor teach them. Even if it
is just 2 people that will be a success. It will be a baby step down
the path to behavior change and community betterment. I'm not sure if
there are any other steps you can take.
No comments:
Post a Comment