Women Empowerment Program: Review Meeting Cum Capacity Building Training - 10th To 12th December 2019

The 2nd Review Meeting and Capacity Building Training of the year 2019 for the Women Empowerment Program (WEP) Field Staff was held at KROSS Resource cum Training Centre from 10th to 12th December 2019. Mr. Sebastian Souza, WEP Program Coordinator cum Trainer, KROSS welcomed the participants which was followed by lighting of the lamp.

Fr. Sebastian Fernandes, Director-KROSS before addressing the participants, welcomed the animators who had joined recently and were first time participating in the program at KROSS. In his address he congratulated the field staff for their commitment and hard work put in the past one year and said that this review meeting was to evaluate the work. Also the same has to be reported by each DSSSs properly so that when the report is consolidated we get a complete picture of the program and its achievements. He also told the participants of the visit of Mr. Diogo Ferriera, Financial Consultant, Misereor and explained what the agency expects from us as they too have a responsibility towards the people supporting them.

Sr. Zita D’souza, Chief Coordinator, WEP, KROSS explained of the activities that would take place in these three days and fixed a time schedule so that the presentations and the training could be completed within the time schedule.

On the 2nd day Mr. Jagadeesh, Coordinator, SMSSS-Shivamogga welcomed the participants. Fr. Sebastian Fernandes, Director-KROSS explained on creation of Model Gram Panchayats and said that the process that needs to be followed would be: Social Mapping, Identification of the Issues and Discussion with villagers, G. P. Members, SHGs/Federations and Government Authorities. Take up one or two issues, prepare an Action Plan taking into confidence all the above stakeholders and work on it on a monthly, quarterly and half yearly basis so that the implementation succeeds. Make frequent visits to the selected Gram Panchayat and most important was interaction with the stakeholders so that the momentum created keeps moving ahead.

On the 3rd day Ms Pusphalatha, Coordinator, BMSSS-Bengaluru welcomed the participants. As part of capacity building training the participants were divided into four groups and were given topics on: Pulse Polio, Roto-virus, Deworming and Vitamin ‘A’ and asked how they would conduct a successful campaign to impress on the people the need of the above to see that their children grow up well without any health complication. The groups put up role plays which was well appreciated as the message was loud and clear and reached to everyone.

Every DSSS then presented the action plan for the next year, i.e. January to December 2020 which was debated and finalized.

Each day after each DSSS presented their reports, queries were raised by the participants themselves and the presenter had to clarify. This was followed by comments, suggestions and feedback to the presenting DSSS by Fr. Sebastian Fernandes, Director-KROSS, Sr. Zita D’souza, Chief Coordinator, WEP, KROSS and Mr. Sebastian Souza, WEP Program Coordinator cum Trainer, KROSS. Finally the three days program was evaluated and learnings shared by the participants.

The program was moderated by Mr. Harish, Coordinator, KDDC-Karwar, Ms Sudhamani, Coordinator, JVSSS-Mandya, Mr. Jagadeesh, Coordinator, SMSSS-Shivamogga, Mr. Sebastian Souza, WEP Program Coordinator cum Trainer, KROSS, Ms Padma, Coordinator, MSSS-Bhadravathi and Sr. Zita D’souza, Chief Coordinator, WEP, KROSS. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Suresh, Animator, MSSS-Bhadravathi