ABCD-Training-of-Trainers-Tools-July-2013

ourselves that we have too many problems to overcome -- to slip into a paralyzing sense of
hopelessness. And yet if we flip the coin, we have so much to be excited about. ... We can if we just turn
ourselves around and start looking at our jobs -- and ourselves -- differently; if we kill negative talk and
celebrate our successes. ... In the long run, what is more likely to be more useful: Demoralizing a
successful workforce by concentrating on their failures or helping them over their lasts few hurdles by
building a bridge with their successes? (Thomas White, President, GTE Telephone Operations)
If you want to build a ship, then don't drum up men to gather wood, give orders, and divide the work.
Rather, teach them to yearn for the far and endless sea. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
Examples of Proverbs (can also be found in the Training Materials Guide)
(Source: Oxfam Canada Ethiopia Office, 2010)
There are many proverbs that can be used to describe what we mean by ABCD in a commonly
understood way. The proverbs below are examples provided by local ABCD facilitators in Ethiopia. In
plenary or in small groups, you could ask participants to brainstorm local proverbs that they could use
to help simplify what we mean by ABCD. It could also be a homework assignment.
Proverb Language Approximate English Interpretation and relevance to
translation
ABCD
B’ejyalework
endemedabyikoteral
Amharic Gold at hand is like bronze People often do not value asset
they have at hand
Ye
kotunawerdbilayebibitwant
alech
Amharic Trying to get what is on the
roof she dropped what she had
under her armpit.
People often try to get asset from
distance place and in the process
lose what they have
Kesbekesinqulal be Amharic Little by little, an egg becomes If we are patient we can grow.
igruatihedalech
leg.
Dirbiabiranbesayasir Amharic When spider webs unite, they
can tie up a lion
If we bring small assets together
we can build up our capital.
Ye abaynlijiwuhatemaw Amharic Children of the Nile are thirsty We sit in the middle of resource
but don’t know how to use it.
Cimmismanaguutteetqunxu
rmanafixxe
Ifaansoratandukkananyaat
u
Midhaangowwaa bona
nyaataniitumidhaangamna
agannanyaatu
Oromiffa
Oromiffa
Oromiffa
Saving fills the house; expenses
empties it
What we prepare when there
is light we eat when it is dark
Fool’s harvest is eaten during
summer (dry season);the
clever’s eaten during the
winter (wet season)
What we save during good harvest
we eat during bad harvest
Signifies the importance of saving
for the bad times.
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