The Constellation has facilitated the Linking and Learning journey where those grantees grew from focusing on their own particular cause to taking action towards a joint dream. The Constellation used and adapted its strength-based SALT approach (Support, Appreciate, Learn and Transfer) and several tools from its Community Life Competence Process for accompaniment. At the closing of the Voice project, a strong sense of solidarity exists between the parties, the journey is not yet at an end.
Go Girl Ghana post on https://www.facebook.com/GoGirlGhana the 31st of December 2023: a record of what the team learned from SALT-CLCP training.
Go Girl Ghana is a registered foundation in both the Netherlands and Ghana who “inspire girls to believe in themselves to be educated to create a better future for themselves and their communities”.
Exploring our strengths, our diversity and our commonalities as human beings; Learn Visits to local community groups; a Market Place that showcases good practices and eventually reflections on what could be set up in the future. Over the years, The Constellation keeps developing its signature elements as our teams are facilitating Learning Festivals with old and new partners.
In February, a team of The Constellation facilitators took on the challenge of organising and facilitating the Global Linking and Learning Festival for 70 persons in Maputo, Mozambique: staff, partners and rightsholders of the HIVOS We Lead programme.
In Kolhapur, Maharashtra, from the 20th to the 22nd of May 2023, a Knowledge Fair was held bringing together representatives of the villages of Pirwadi, Vashi, Nandwal, Kandgaon, and Kerli, where the Avani organisation led SALT conversations for the past two years, Indian organisations who also facilitate SALT-CLCP (Rural Aid and Purnata from West Bengal, Faith Foundation from Meghalaya) and the GFC. Avani organised the event with the GFC’s support.
The CATCH approach is a community driven response. The approach uses the SALT method to drive the community response to HIV and other health related matters. The approach has acted as an effective catalyst for the implementation of the National Community Mobilization Strategy.
On the 26th of June 2023, 13 people from 9 different countries had the opportunity to meet online and on-site with members of the executive team, governance and beneficiaries of the Temedt association, which has been fighting descent-based slavery in Mali since 2006. This is part of the Voice for an Inclusive World project of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, implemented by a consortium between Oxfam Novib and Hivos. The hosts were delighted to see the interest aroused by their action.
On the 17th of July 2023, 16 people from 6 different countries had the opportunity to meet online with members of COVAW which has been fighting for the rights of women in Kenya since 1995. This learning visit is part of the Voice for an Inclusive World project.
“As the underlying reason of the village situation is poverty, we focused on budgeting capacity building to ensure that women, and, through them, girls, and children, have access to the resources made available by the government or organisations to tackle the violence.” — COVAW.
“We did not understand much about budgeting. But we have now learned how to budget and to talk with confidence.” — A woman resident.
Villagers of Kandgaon weaved their dream for children and youth with the facilitation of the Avani team on the 4th of April 2023. An 11-year-old girl said: “I am very happy with this process, adults need to listen to us, and children need to have a say in the functioning of the village.” The elected female head assured that she will involve children in future conversations.
Rituu B. Nanda was at the C20 Summit in Faridabad from the 7th to the 9th of April 2023. She presented the above poster about the work on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in India.
“While we did the self assessment training, we shared stories of change amongst the facilitators. From those stories, we realised that it is the little things that add up to the big picture eventually. A good example is the story of a family that we visited. Their relationship was rebuilt, and they linked our facilitator to other families that had been facing the same issue as them. It makes us happy when we receive such calls from the community! ”
Aaliyah Busolo Quintonne, L’Afrikana
“Everyone joins an NGO with a dream to achieve something. Generally, no one asks the staff what their dream is. So, when you asked this question, it forced me to think about my own dream. Collective dream building enabled me to align my dream with other staff. Now I feel that I am working towards a personal as well as organisational dream.” Imran, one of the Avani staff members.
Historically, HIV campaigns in Pakistan have focused on fear-based messaging around prevention and medical information, which may have further propagated stigma and discrimination, deteriorating health outcomes of those affected. To address this challenge and create acceptance for, while addressing stigma against, people with lived experiences of HIV, Sujaag (meaning ‘to-awaken’) – a hybrid community engagement and mass communications project by IRD – was launched in the region.
“We began our first SALT visits in the beginning of 2022. We were thrilled to explore and learn with & from the people in the community.”
Following the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, communities lost confidence in the health system for providing quality health services to the population. The Constellation helped create a safe space for conversations, eventually leading to increased health care uptake and joint action.
Three years of supporting facilitators and communities in Assam, India, has provided us with huge opportunities for learning. The result is well worth waiting for!
In Botswana The Constellations SALT approach is adapted to help communities to take ownership of HIV/AIDS. For the first time local leaders are involved.
Introduction In June 2005, The Constellation facilitated a workshop in Mombasa, Kenya, where facilitators from 12 countries participated in an introduction to the Malaria Competence Approach. Participants came from National Malaria Programs and implementing NGOs....
Roots of Hope works at restoring young people’s self-esteem, their ability to dream and act in the Bujumbura area.
NCDs are contributing to over 63% of all deaths worldwide. This partnership process considers the importance of raising NCDs awareness and management at community level.
The Dutch Council for Refugees (Vluchtelingenwerk) has adopted the SALT approach throughout the organisation, as a way to foster integration of refugees. Trained facilitators and managers report growing work satisfaction in the offices engaged in SALT.
