Kenya, Africa

KENYA TRAINING TRIP EXCEEDS ALL EXPECTATIONS

When the World Impact Network Team arrived at the Merciful Guild International offices, almost 1,000 people waited to greet them. World Impact Network together with Executive Director Gabriella Van Breda and eight team members from the U.S. and South Africa had come at the invitation of Merciful Guild, to train sixty three leaders representing most of Njabini’s population.

Excitement was high as the team was introduced to political leaders (elections are due to be held in Kenya at the end of this year), community leaders, educators, pastors, self help group leaders, men, women and orphans.

Merciful International Guild leader Sammy Ngumba has made it his business to influence his community, training leaders to tackle the problems of their community – and this they are doing.

It is not often that African communities can boast of being outspoken advocates on the issue of Aids, spotlighting HIV positive leaders who encourage AIDS education and prevention. In a society where HIV positive persons are normally shunned and excluded from interacting with the community, South Kinangop proudly identifies two leaders who move about the community educating and encouraging prevention and testing. Youths at church services present skits depicting the evils of casual sexual exchanges and Pastors speak openly to their congregations about the AIDS pandemic, which has resulted in millions of orphans. South Kinangop and its leaders are doubtlessly on the cutting edge of what should be the norm in most African communities.

In Kinangop, leaders are also encouraged to break the back of graft and corruption and to resist the temptation of accepting handouts. Their focus is finding solutions to their own challenges. These leaders are hungry for the kind of leadership and skill training that will enable them to raise the standard of living in their communities and meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

These are leaders who know that they are stronger when they unite and stand together as one.

It was a privilege being invited to bring leadership and skill training to such a talented group of individuals.

Win’s executive director introduced the concept of “Appreciative Inquiry” and spent several sessions helping the sixty three leaders ‘discover’ the assets of the South Kinangop community. Because the approach was different, so was the result. Leaders began to blossom as they individually contributed to unveiling the incredible resources found in their community.

Appreciative Inquiry enables leaders stuck in the quagmire of abject poverty to explore the wealth and true richness found in every community but undiscovered because it remains hidden under the blanket of poverty and need.

This is a paradigm that works well in opening up the minds and hearts of leaders, to the undiscovered resources found at home.

It set the stage for team members from the U.S. and South Africa , to address issues concerning their spiritual and social well being as well as enhancing their community development and capacity building skills.

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