Training of Trainers Workshop: Positive Deviance and Hearth

Case 7 – Zambia
People live in towns, which have easily defined neighborhoods of 100 or more families with
informal leadership. Approximately 15% of households have lost one or more adults to AIDS.
The children are being raised by relatives and are the most likely to be malnourished. Currently,
there is a famine because of a multi-year drought. Prices for staple foods are very high. One half
of families are receiving food aid – wheat, oil, and corn-soy-blend (CSB). Health services are
available. Each town has formal leadership and many have health committees. 45% of the
children between 6 months and 3 years are >-2z scores weight for age.
Group conclusion:
Hearth is possible.
Tea break
„Community Mobilization
It was clear from participants’ expectations that Community Mobilization is an important issue.
It will be initiated today but it will continue throughout the workshop. In this session:
1. What is community mobilization?
2. Why do we want to do community mobilization?
3. Groups to look at strengths, challenges, lessons learned, questions
Group presentations
Group #1
Long complicated discussion. Came up with four words: think globally, act locally.
Why?
ü Key mechanism for sustainability, ownership, acceptability, community development,
empowerment
Strengths
ü Participatory involving all sectors of the community and different levels, integrated
Challenges
ü Motivation – how to keep communities, groups motivated?
ü Inability to reach certain populations
Strategies
ü Certificates for motivation
Lessons
ü Strategy needed, know the audience
ü Respect – make sure community leaders are respected, recognized
ü Establish linkages between government, community, VHCs, support groups, community
based organizations (strengthening the horizontal system)
ü Capitalize on existing formal and informal networks
ü Appreciative community mobilization – drawing on the community to appreciate the results
of their own efforts. Designing what and why and how and making objectives.
ü We can inspire on the individual level, break down the helplessness, give people a voice
ü Develop exit strategy (how long do you support a community?)
Group #2
Community means a group of people working together for common goal. Could be many groups
in one. Mobilization at design, planning and monitoring stages. They know best the what, why
and how of their needs. Mobilization can maximize the resources and make appropriate use.
20