best practises reflect stories

8/3/2019 Best Practises Reflect Stories

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Theme: Inter-Clustering Circle Committee

Name of Organisation: MEDRA

Contact person (and written by): Lovemore Chreya, facilitator, 0775809224, Muzarabani District Ward 8

Why it happened? After the implementation of Reflect we discovered that we have more than onecircle. We had formed five circles. Of these five circles, two circles were the ones to be funded. But we

needed the other three working. As practitioners we sat down and discovered that there was a need to

come up with a plan to make the unfunded circles work. A proposal was made that we form an inter-

circle committee to fundraise for the three unfunded circles.

What are its functions?

Supervision and sustainable development The function of the inter-circle was to do the overall supervision of all Reflect circles. The inter-

circle was going to plan the next steps in Reflect to achieve sustainable development.

There was a need to eradicate the donor syndrome.How was it formed?

By sensitization of stakeholders. We called for all stakeholders, from village headmen and othergovernment stakes, e.g. MPs, councillors, council board, chief and other organisations that had

the zeal to implement Reflect as capacity building.

The circle members participated in the voting process.What was achieved? Stakeholders buy-in. Due to the fact that all stakeholders were engaged in the

system at entrance level, we managed to gain ground and favour from all stakeholders. We

disseminated on Reflect methodology ,this was simple because we had a large number of people 250

people across the ward.

What are we looking forward to?

Creating independent syndrome rather than dependency syndrome. To create an environmentwhere participants or community can rely on themselves rather than depend on donor funding.

To swing the funded circles to fund other circles To have a high improved standard of education in our area Rights based and gender mainstreaming. To address the issue of gender and the pupils rights.

Rolling out the Reflect approach. We are looking forward to implementing Reflect in all theDistricts in our area (Muzarabani).

Improve standard and quality of education and the eradication of poverty thereof.The structure

The Inter-Circle has a formation of a Chairperson, Vice-chair person, Secretary, Vice-secretary,Treasurer and two committee members.

These people come from the circles; some are circle leaders and facilitators.Values: Empowering communities and bottom-up approaches .


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Theme: Mainstreaming Womens Rights (giving them space)

Name of Organisation: MEDRA (Methodist Development and Relief Agency)

Contact person (and written by): Antonetta Hamandishe, trainer,[email protected]

Description of the setting: Muringazuva ward 8 in Muzarabani district with an apostolic sect. Circlemembers of Mudoka circle and Effort circle.

Practice, Strength and Lessons Learnt

Gathered baseline information most young women and girls cannot lead community projectsespecially when men were in those projects.

Could not finish school Shared information on the needs for gender equality Advantages of sharing responsibilities Benefits of including women in projects Training both men and women Holding a meeting with headman

Factors that contributed to change

Recognition of the ability that women can have if given the chance The river code tool of Reflect Facilitating in Shona (local language) by a female facilitator

Concrete achievements and impact

One of the five circles facilitated by a lady 18 out of the 24 circle members in Mudoka circle are females Increased chances of an environment for women to discuss issues such as GBV, HIV/AIDS, and

need for access to sexual and reproductive health rights (MDGs 5 & 3)

Involvement of women in development issues (active participation) Invitation of a Council Behaviour Change facilitator to talk on GBV IGAs in poultry to reduce economic dependence on men Domestication of national gender policy Increased literacy on GBV issues

Sustainability

Creation of a circle gender committee Innovative strategies to include more women in Reflect projects, for example, proposal to form

a womens literacy group on health issues

Working with the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Women and a facilitator from World Vision Gender sensitive A bottom-up approach

Comments

The circle succeeded in making the apostolic sect believe and accept women leadership. Morevillages nearby are requesting the female facilitator to come and facilitate the formation of acircle in the areas.
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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I suggest that more attention could be given also on addressing the needs of young girls, menand boys for proper gender equality and to have more men instead of only 6 in the circle.


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Theme: Working with government structures

Name of Organisation: MEDRA (Methodist Development and Relief Agency)

Contact person (and written by): Antonetta Hamandishe, trainer,[email protected]

Description of the setting

Muzarabani district in Mashonaland Central Province is a politically volatile area, so manyunemployed youths and most households rely on a seasonal cotton production

Too difficult to penetrate local government structures especially Ward Councillor and DistrictAdministrator

Practice, strengths and lessons learnt

Stakeholder mobilisation and sensitisation of the concept of REFLECT DA, CGO, Councillorsand other NGOs in the area

Training of Ward Youth Officers and 2 Headmen

Reporting all REFLECT activities to the Local Council Attending full Council meetings

Factors that contributed to its success

Will by the government structures to be trained Support from the Ward Councillor Long presence of MEDRA in the area Pre-training sharing of the concept ideas with CEO Acceptance of the concept of REFLECT by local structures Feedback to headman and CEOs by participants that where trained Shared with them some of the expected outcomes of REFLECT trainings and circles


Trained 20 facilitators on REFLECT including 2 Headmen, Youth Officer and a Council ProjectOfficer

Adaptation of REFLECT concept by youth in other projects, i.e. complementing governmentsefforts

Councillor (name can be provided) confessed empowerment on the ability he now has overwhat projects he will accept in his area

Donation to the Ward of a tractor for gully filling by the Council 3 Ward Councillors asking for TOF in Reflect

Sustainability

The ownership that is shared by the Council through supporting REFLECT activities Involvement of local stakeholders (Councillors) and Headmen in REFLECT activities Deep rooted and local facilitators More than 2 active circles in one ward A bottom up approach


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Comments: The introduction of REFLECT came as a new dawn to the area, which is usually marginalised

by NGOs and the government structures; they are so strict. As such, I suggest more TOF and refresher

courses for other Wards in the district.


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Theme: Community Participatory Empowerment (CoPE)

Name of the organisation: Value Addition Project Trust Zimbabwe (VAPRO)

Contact person and e-mail address (and written by): Clever Mukove, trainer, [email protected];

[email protected]

Description of the setting

4.1 Community: Murape Ward 4, Goromonzi District, Mashonaland East Province,Zimbabwe

4.2 Reflect Circle: Murape Circle 4.3 Participants: Reflect Circle members, Reflect Circle Committee and Reflect Community

Committee

Description of the practice, its strengths and any lessons learned

Issue/Problem Identification Management of circles meetings & sessions Resolving Issue (HIV & AIDS) discussions and analysis, actions IGP Mushroom Production

Factors that contributed to its success

a. Stakeholders workshops/meetings to introduce Reflect & their buy-inb. Supportive Local Leadershipc. Building structures within the circle and the communities to lead the circled. Assigning roles and responsibilities to the circle, executive committee, all its members and

experience among circle members

e. Availability of natural resourcesf. Local Human Resource Utilisation

i. Arex Officersii. Health Officers

g. Proximity of the supporting organisation / Trainer offices from the circle (40km)h. Consistent Monitoring & Technical Backupi. Needs based capacity building of the circle to support the action plan

i. Leadership & Governanceii. Group dynamicsiii. Proposal/Business Plan Writingiv. Entrepreneurship & Business Skills Managementv. Mushroom Production

j. Market linkagesk. Financial linkagesl. Exchange visits


Circle Cohesion & Management

A circle of 30 members was establishment in February 2011 & functioning very well now with

minimum supervision

IGAs

Starting with one Mushroom house the circle now has 4 mushroom houses

From the mushroom proceeds they have now also engaged in drink/floor polish/tomato jam

making

Benefiting People Living with HIV & AIDS (PLWHA) and Affected HouseholdsPLWHA get mushroom rations in turns

PLWHA received skills training in Mushroom Production
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Donated school uniforms to 2 children from HIV and AIDS affected households

Skills Transfer

Murape Circle trained another circle which had not received seed funding to start a mushroom

production project. Resultantly the circle started its own mushroom project from own

contributions.

Other circle members have or are in the processing of establishing mushroom houses at theirhome steads from the skills gained from the circle.

Murape circle developed a mushroom production manual guide for use by own members and

communities.

Sustainability or prospect for the future

Establishing Income Generating Programmes (IGPs) Starting Internal Savings and Lending Schemes (ISALs)


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Theme: Sustainable Livelihoods through Craft and Food Production

Name of the organisation: ProAfrica Development Trust, 24 Livingstone Road, Suburbs, Bulawayo

Contact person (and written by): Julliet Bethule, Coordinator,[email protected]/ 0777016529

Description: Pelele irrigation scheme and craft circle, Ntalale, Yoanda Matabeleland South Province,

Zimbabwe

Roles and responsibilities of circle members

Contribution towards buying of seeds, $2 per member Contribution towards building of a market stall (moulding bricks, cutting grass for thatching,

organising of poles)

Monthly subscriptions $1 per member per month Lobbying of school authority to provide / conduct 15 lessons for out of school youths Planning for circle activities

Description of the practice

To acquire skills from NGOs and government departments

a) Working with local authority, local leaders, local NGOs and government departmentsb) Liaise with schools, supermarkets, hospitals and vegetable sellers to negotiate a marketc) Project relevant to circle members

Factors that contributed to success

Committed circle members Relevance of project Sourcing of markets Financial contribution by circle members Networking with NGOs and government departments Negotiating for markets Implementation of an IGA

Concrete achievements and impacts

Empowerment Income generation Food production Employment creation Available markets

Sustainability

Members started with their own contribution Reliable markets Sustainable food production through organic farming Capacity building from local NGOs and government departments Further education for youth A bottom-up approach


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Any other relevant information

Circle members have managed to start an IGA before receiving any form of financial support

Theme: REFLECT, local NGOs and government partnership approach

Name of the organisation: Pro Africa Development Trust (PAD), 24 Livingstone Road, Suburbs, Bulawayo

Contact person (and written by): Julliet Bethule, Coordinator,[email protected]/ 0777016529

Description: The organisation followed a REFLECT, local NGOs and government partnership approach:

On the ground, PAD works in partnership with locally based NGOs and governmentdepartments. This is meant to ensure that the formed circles that are within communities are

strengthened and empowered through the combined effort of development agencies and

government departments which are under different ministries.

ProAFrica is not based within communities, but works with them following an annually plannedprogramme, going into the communities and out as planned.

During the absence of PAD, locally based NGOs and government departments remainsupporting the formed circles. Circles are strengthened in the form of numeracy and literacy by

all who are within the partnership. There is sharing of information to strengthen circles on

development education and provision of extra learning materials as per the expectation of the

REFLECT approach. In this way, circles can also benefit from resources provided by other NGOs

and the partners and government departments that we work with on the ground at community

level.

o Women affairs gender and community development provide training and informationon HIV/AIDS and gender issues. They also source support for womens activities;

o AGRITEX, the main government firm on agricultural issues and activities at grassrootslevel;

o The veterinary services department that provides expertise and information onlivestock management;

o The department of health and child welfare for support on health issues; ando The police for security and order within the village.

On the REFLECT approach programme, PAD has partnered with and received training togetherwith Women Affairs Gender and Community Development in Matabeleland South Province.

Since the Cluster Coordinator assumed duty, she requested permission from the PAD superior,that she is willingly giving the trainer part of her incentives from dvv international ($276

monthly). The coordinator gives $100 to the trainer and remains with $176. This is for the

motivation of the trainer.

Theme: University-Community Partnership

Name of the organisation: Thamaso Zimbabwe

Contact person (and written by): Jacob Tivenga, Coordinator,[email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Description: Organisation and circle members are involved in partnerships, organising deals with

technical issues in consultation with the circle members; circle members are involved in the

implementation, monitoring and evaluation

Partnerships are made formal by the signing of M.O.U with defined roles and responsibilities of

partners.

M.O.U helps in enhancing, resource mobilisation capacity building, monitoring and evaluation of

programmes for example DHAT (DISABILITY HIV/AIDS TRUST) supported by mobilising resources for our

strategic plan; while Z.O.U (ZIMBABWE OPEN UNIVERSITY) helped in the development of the plan.

DHAT has also offered us office space at no cost.

Z.O.U and THAMASO have developed a training programme, and will work towards a national

qualification framework for youths out of school in order to fund raise for the building of our National

office.

We share common vision with these partners, the partners appreciate our community involvementprocess through reflect, they want to learn more from us about sustainable community development.

It was also through realised that we need each other and complement each other in sustainable

development efforts.

The partnership focuses on programmes that raise income for both the partners and the communities in

need.

Such as resources targeted for building the national office; circle centre for O.V.C (orphans and

vulnerable children) in Zakat, that has been mitigated by Youths out of school.

Theme: Poverty alleviation through Poultry

Name of the organisation: Sheep Gate International

Contact person (and written by): Absoleme Mandrvidra, facilitator, [email protected] /

[email protected]

Description:

Tariro circle, Mudzi, 20 circle members

Construction the fowl run

Lobby to the local school to offer lessons to all circle members

Create a project fund for circle members

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTION TO ITS SUCCESS

Commitment
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Mutual respect for one another

Possessions of skills for example fowl run construction

Relevance to their day to day life

CONCRETE ACHIEVEMENT

Empowerment of the youth in the community

Income generation

SUHAINABILITY OR PROSPECTS

Fundraising

Technical advice

Capacity building

Ordinary level lesson (EDUCATION FOR CIRCLE MEMBER)

The circle hasnt get received any form of financial support but they have managed of start this project.

Theme: Low Education and Lack of Knowledge

Name of the organisation: Operation Hope Zimbabwe

Contact person (and written by): Lizzie Njobo, [email protected]

Description: MARKET GARDENING AND POULTRY

Arise and shine circle Dangamvura Mutare Zimbabwe

Young men and women, mostly school drop outs who had tried to run sustainable income generating

projects in the church and the community at large. Failed due to lack of expertise advice, best practices

and low literacy, numeracy and communication levels. Couldnt access community school and local

authority offices, government departments and also couldnt make decision on their own.

Had no knowledge of government policy on Non formal Education and other department like agritex,

Veterinary and the Ministry of Youth, and Ministry of Health and welfare

TEN MONTHS LATER THE GROUP GAINS WERE:

Access to a community school for projects and learning purposes.

Can access and call (invite) different department for expertise and capacity building

IGAS started after through scrutiny and expertise advice, and are growing from strength to strength.

Decisionmaking without selfintimidation now the order of the day

THE REFLECT APPROACH

The approach has helped the group to critically analyse themselves using the mapping, mobility map

and the tree tool. The river of life made it simple for those who didnt want to open up. Additional

education through workshops, m seminars and the literacy day exchange visit an important role the

group.


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Testimonies through the most significant change as a tool have been written by the facilitator who

started as a circle member, and one of the circle members. Members of families from the community

are advocating starting another circle in January 2012. The way to grow vegetables has been improved

and organic agriculture is now in practice

New ideas are coming up and a mushroom projects to be started in January for expansion. Double the

number of chicks is now order monthly. More than half the circle member will write formal O-level

examinations with each one taking an average of two subjects. They revived forgotten evening lessons.

The group contributed to buy utensils and equipment for the projects, before seed funding came. this is

recommended to help us establish more circles and we can also use seed funding to grow more circles

one circle at a given time

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