Leadership Seminar

They participated in the yearly Leadership Seminar. The second year event was also held in Aspitia where ICA Peru has its own seminar facility. We can even say that this series of workshops is the most important event in the project because this "human resource development" seminar goes beyond the scope of the each component of the project and aims to offer the mind and the tools necessary for them to keep their efforts to develop their communities in the near future. It seems they know that because many people came even though they have to pay the half of the transportation, and we had difficulty in accommodate everybody.

In the left, Mr. Vicente is facilitating an ICA method component called Wall of Wonder. It enables the people to see the course of the development activities in their community by classifying them into 9 components so that they can grasp the balance of their activities. In another picture is a scene from Self-Image workshop. It is abstract, but it is important because it releases their self image which sometimes limits their ability.

The participants hardly have experienced the situation like this in which they have to sit on the chair long time. When a facilitator feels the participants' concentration gets disturbed, s/he brings the people outside and let them play mini game so that they relax and regain their concentration. Some lectures such as "Quality Control" might have been too professional, but I was impressed by young participants who were eager to absorb new ideas.

Of course we reviewed regular topics such as biodigester and photovoltaic system. Fito and Jorge were helped us again by accepting the roles of lecturer. People from San Juan also participated even though the activities in their community hadn't started yet. After observing the demonstration using models they were looking forward to welcoming us in their village.

During the second half of the seminar we visited the experimental farm of Mr. Berdersky in Chincha where organic farming is operated. Though its scale is huge, the basic idea used is same with those that have been taught by us in their communities. Through this field experience they have motivation to replicate it in their communities.

They were satisfied with this occasion to observe new activities practiced in the farm. At the end of the seminar we took commemorative photo in front of Neem tree which is utilized to ward off vermin.