NOVEMBER 2013-JANUARY 2014 // ISSUE 10 [email protected] Prog A NEWS UPDATE FROM THE PROGRAMME RESOURCES DEPARTMENT AT IHQ Programme Resources

Commissioner Gerrit Marseille International Secretary for Programme Resources What is a Virtual Community of Practice?

ast year I had the opportunity What is new is that, in more recent days, to take part in a Project Officer’s the world of education has recognised 1 Programme Resources Conference for the South the value of these groups for informal What is a Virtual American territories, held in learning. In addition, new electronic means Community of Practice? Lima, Peru. The conference of communication have opened up new Lwas ably facilitated by Jo Clark of our possibilities in this area. 3 International International Projects and Development The term ‘Community of Practice’ (CoP) Health Services Section. The meeting was set-up to help was coined in the 1990s: Trained to serve project officers from these territories to ‘CoPs are groups of people who share discuss the issues and challenges they a concern, a set of problems or a passion 4 Photo pages all share. Normally they would be far about a topic and who deepen their apart, wrestling on their own with the knowledge and experience by interacting Projects from around the world complexities of our development work, but on an on-going basis’ (Wenger, 1998). during this week of formal and informal The concept has been implemented by discussions they were able to discover that self-forming teams within organisations, 6 International they were not alone. then across geographical locations. In 2000 Schools Services Events like this, which create friendships Wenger developed a simple formula to Haiti ... a brighter future and mutual understanding, should also explain a CoP: Competence + Experience + help people to be bolder in asking each Engagement = a Community of Practice. 7 International other for advice. This is nothing new in ‘Learning occurs as individuals Emergency Services the world of human interaction; it is as old participate in their CoPs, as learning is a The million dollar question as mankind. From medieval guilds and socially mediated experience involving apprenticeships to modern hobby clubs and active participation in an engaged and 8 Communications Section Internet forums, people have always been dynamic community. Wenger (1998) Reflections on found together with those of like mind, interests and activities. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 44 33CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 admits that the notion of a CoP is neither ‘In sharing with each benefit from a facilitator who keeps the new nor old and has the eye-opening momentum going in the group and can character of novelty and the forgotten other knowledge is identify the need for growth in members familiarity of obviousness. His contribution multiplied across the of the community. has been in naming what we intuitively knew about learning, yet had no vocabulary community’ The other challenge is this era of for articulating’ (Journal of Extension, electronic communication. We live in a October 2012). From my reading on the subject and global village and are linked with people In their earlier research on ‘situated comparison with my experience over on all continents through our access to learning’, Lave and Wenger relate delightful the years, a number of elements seem the Internet. As technology and high- stories of midwife cooperatives and master important. Communities of practice speed broadband became available, online tailors who formed communities of practice should be: virtual applications began to expand to pass on their skills to a new generation. opportunities for global co-learning. How These are places where on-the-job learning • Inclusive – They include a mix of can we use these resources to our greatest and learning-by-doing are a reality. Today, ‘newcomers’ and ‘old-timers’ to the advantage and what are the dangers for our a community of practice can be a group profession. Newcomers are given communications? of work-oriented professionals, a support space to ‘learn the ropes’ (Lave and A review of literature for online group for volunteers who do the same type Wenger call this ‘legitimate peripheral communities by the New Zealand Ministry of work or a group of workers/students participation’, a descriptive term that of Education showed why CoPs were that need in-service and professional makes sense when you think about it). effective: development. • Trusting/friendly – They are often based When you begin to realise it, you can on shared values. It may be competitive, • Implementation requires a shift in see them everywhere. In fact the project but it is not a combative environment. emphasis from formal training to leader’s meeting in Peru was a budding A CoP is generally supportive with a learning in practice. community of practice; as are the Catherine clear willingness to understand, learn • They go beyond traditional ‘one-shot’ Programme in Europe and the General’s from and help each other. Ambitious and ‘face-to-face’ models of event-based, Consultative Council, and so on. competition can destroy the interactions expert-novice forms of professional The point is that we do not often in a community. development. recognise these groups for the learning • Focused – There is a knowledge base • They allow teachers to act as co- hubs they really are. Some weeks ago I for an activity, craft or profession. In producers of knowledge, which visited the Centenary World Scouting sharing with each other knowledge requires greater personal responsibility Jamboree and in a discussion with a senior is multiplied across the community. for professional growth. (Lai, Pratt, scout leader we reminisced on the things A common understanding emerges Anderson and Stiger, 2006) we had learned about life through scouting and it becomes a lived-in world where in our teenage years. Scouting functioned knowledge is socially constructed. Communities of practice are an as a CoP for us! • Motivated – There is an intrinsic intriguing new way of learning, and yet Neither do we ask ourselves ‘What motivation among members to they are as old as the world. We need to do makes them effective?’ Learning may not be perpetuate the CoP and to continue to more thinking about this but do not want automatic or guaranteed. What attributes learn. What we learn is personal and to wait because we know what is needed. should be strengthened in a group for it to dependent on our investment in the As Nike says – ‘Just do it’! Start your truly be a place of learning? What qualities community. community of practice and learn as you are essential? • Facilitated – Many communities go along.

2 International Health Services

Major Dean Pallant UNDER SECRETARY FOR PROGRAMME RESOURCES AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES COORDINATOR Trained to serve Developing Salvation Army health worker training

ccording to the World Health There is no doubt that more health 3. Have local policies and practices that Organisation, a billion people in workers are needed. However, I am mirror Christ’s model for living and 57 countries face a daily struggle concerned that students should graduate serving in community. Ato access basic health care due from Salvation Army schools and colleges 4. Include a specific teaching/learning to health workforce shortages and uneven with an integrated, holistic understanding experience that ensures every student is distribution of health workers within of the people God created us to be. It is not thoroughly familiar with The Salvation countries. Hundreds of thousands of men, enough to be scientifically and technically Army’s local health ministry vision. women and children, mostly in rural areas competent. It is vital that health workers 5. Include a specific teaching/learning of the world’s poorest countries, live and die also understand and display Christ’s model experience to enhance the holistic health without ever seeing a trained health worker. for living and serving in community. and the spiritual well-being and maturity From its earliest years in health ministry, Captain (Dr) Judith Christensen – a of each student. understood the New Zealand Salvation Army officer and 6. Have a major focus on primary importance of training workers – hundreds experienced nurse educator – developed a health care as close to the family as of thousands of nurses, biomedical set of seven key principles for all Salvation possible, with a priority for the poor scientists, medical and dental students have Army health worker training schools. (Her and marginalised, as a vertical thread been educated, influenced and inspired full report can be downloaded from www. through every stage of the programme. in Salvation Army hospitals, schools and salvationarmy.org/ihq/healthdownloads) 7. Have a specific strategy for attracting colleges of health worker education. The principles were approved by the and retaining qualified teaching staff, This continues today. In the past decade, General in 2009 and continue to be strongly and also assisting current staff to there has been a major drive to expand and supported by IHQ. upgrade their qualifications when the upgrade Salvation Army health worker Every Salvation Army school/college school/college/centre is unable to meet education programmes in many countries of nursing/health worker training centre the current minimum requirements, or including India, Indonesia, Zambia and should: any higher requirements arising from Zimbabwe. I recently returned from upgrading a programme. Zambia where the existing training schools 1. Be an integral part of the local for nurses and laboratory assistants have expression of The Salvation Army’s The Salvation Army is committed to been upgraded into colleges for nurse and mission. health worker training and must ensure that biomedical scientists. The Government of 2. Be established and maintained with quality is not sacrificed for quantity. Zambia – with support from international the facilities and resources required donors – is funding a major expansion of to meet the local standards and other health worker training. Chikankata will requirements. soon have 420 full-time students studying and living in recently built (or refurbished) ‘It is not enough to be scientifically facilities. and technically competent’

Biomedical college at Chikankata, Zambia 3 Picture it

ZIMBABWE: Major Joan Gibson conducting a teaching session at the Howard Hospital

training4 centre, Chiweshe

ZIMBABWE: 4 Chief Medical Officer Dr Zaia in the operating theatre, Howard Hospital, Chiweshe

4 PAKISTAN: Officers responding

to4 floods in Punjab 4 MEXICO: Projects officers practising community tools as part of the project officer training – Children currently staying in a Salvation Army home discuss

what they like and what could be improved JORDAN:4 Major Henk van Hattem, The Netherlands and Czech Republic Territory, and Major Barrie Sampson, United Kingdom Territory with the Republic of Ireland, deployed by International Emergency Services visiting a Syrian family

JORDAN: Emergency Services team

talking4 to Syrian families in the community

5 International Schools Services

Howard Dalziel INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS COORDINATOR

Haiti … a brighter future

s you drive along the roads suddenly you realise you are driving up a of education. This is the only school within in the southern coastal boulder-strewn riverbed. a three-hour walking radius, and the areas of Haiti there is a In so many ways the drive is incredibly children have dreams and aspirations to be verdant tropical feel as the beautiful with the sparkling aquamarine nurses, doctors, or teachers and to grow up humidity and heat hit you of the Caribbean Sea visible from the high in a country that offers stability and where Aand vegetation abounds. There are river points, but there is also a pervasive sense the only dream is not for a plane ticket to crossings where people are waist-deep in that Haiti has suffered centuries of natural another ‘better’ land. water and you wait to see if it goes higher and man-made disasters. The hillside is This is the case in many of the 48 schools so you can judge where to cross. There tropical, but there are also large swathes that The Salvation Army has on this island, are mangos, bananas and avocados in of barren land, where trees have been cut with the majority being the only school abundance. Children walk up the roads, down for charcoal or firewood. Earthquake- available in rural, isolated, marginalised some running after the vehicle and hopping damaged buildings are apparent, and there communities. Twenty-five of these are into the back of the truck. is a quietness in the countryside that belies being rebuilt following the 2010 earthquake We then drive for three hours up windy the tropical vegetation. and are part of a programme of improving mountain roads without seeing another As we reach our destination we see the quality of teaching and learning, as well vehicle; the only transportation was the glimpses of a brighter future. A refurbished as infrastructure. Considering the adversity tiny donkeys – almost Shetland in variety school, rebuilt following the earthquake, faced by so many who struggle daily in both – weighed down with firewood, charcoal or is having a sign painted on its roof. The rural and urban settings, this is an exciting bananas. Although the south of the island is bright colours are fresh and optimistic. The prospect and I pray that these schools will geographically small, the isolation of these staff talk proudly of their exam results, the provide a brighter future for children, their hillside communities is stark. The roads dedication of the students, and their efforts families and the wider community in the become increasingly chalky and rocky as to persuade the parents of the importance coming years.

The recently published International Schools Strategy can be downloaded at www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/schools

‘The children have dreams and aspirations ...’

Pupils at Bethel Primary School, Fond-des-Nègres, Haiti

6 International Emergency Services

Major Ray Brown International Emergency Services Coordinator

The million dollar question

t was a proud moment for Major other stakeholders’, as these are issues Comfort Adepoju of the Nigeria widely promoted in the international Territory. Snatching a rare moment of humanitarian field. A special guest for the relaxation during her busy life, Major course was Major Gillian Brown, Director Comfort, Territorial Emergency of World Mission, Canada and Bermuda IServices Coordinator, Divisional Director Territory, who was able to provide a helpful of Women’s Ministries and mother of five donor office perspective on emergency and children, was in her home watching the disaster response. syndicated TV programme Who Wants to Evaluation forms from delegates be a Millionaire? indicated a high degree of satisfaction with For those who have not seen this the course material, but more importantly popular TV show, Who Wants to be the participants all confirmed their belief a Millionaire? requires competitors to that The Salvation Army should retain the answer increasingly difficult multi-choice desire to have ‘heart to God and hand to questions. Mood music and clever use of man’, and each pledged to share what had ‘heartbeat’ percussion instrumentation been learned as widely as possible. serve to create an air of tension as competitors are financially rewarded for correct answers, but are instantly tempted ‘The territory has consistently by the question master to gamble all their responded to the needs of the interim gains in an attempt to land the ultimate ‘million’ prize. Nigerian population in times Engrossed in the programme, Major of disaster and emergency’ The recently published International Comfort was surprised, delighted and Schools Strategy can be downloaded at proud when she heard the crucial www.salvationarmy.org/ihq/schools millionaire question being posed – From top: delegates playing a ‘Which of these four organisations is a ball game to facilitate discussion on ‘coordination in emergency humanitarian organisation in Nigeria?’ response’; ice breaker session; And the ten million naira answer was ‘The Major Comfort Adepoju and Major Ray Brown facilitating a session Salvation Army’! on human rights in emergency Major Comfort relayed this story situations; Major Comfort Adepoju leading a session on Sphere to me as an illustration of the growing Minimum Standards recognition by Nigerians of the impact that The Salvation Army has made in the city of Lagos and beyond, as the territory has consistently responded to the needs of the Nigerian population in times of disaster and emergency. Previously a member of a year-long IHQ internship programme on the subject of emergency and disaster response, Major Comfort was assisting Damaris Frick (Field Operations Officer) and myself to facilitate a PREPARE training workshop in Lagos. Twenty officer delegates, drawn from Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone participated in the four-day course that culminated in a case-study presentation. Course modules included ‘The Humanitarian Charter’, ‘The Sphere Project’ and ‘Coordination with

7 w

Communications Section

Major John P. Murray Communications and Reflections Literary Secretary on Zimbabwe

Major John P. Murray reports on a recent visit to Howard Hospital

eflection is an important part of My Salvation Army uniform is like a The Headman is the community elder. learning. As I write, I am sitting beacon as I walk through the grocery store He oversees 17 other headmen in the area at a desk in my room overlooking in where several staff greet me and provides leadership to a population Ra garden plot containing various by rank and share their story about The of about 7,000. He is thoughtful and vegetables which are growing well in the Salvation Army. Similarly the craftspeople reflective as he listens and takes his time rich, red soil, tended by hand. However, at the local market plying their wares answering our questions. Clearly, he is to truly appreciate this experience – the are eager to chat and learn about where accustomed to holding court as he asks people, the culture and ministry of The I am from and what has brought me to questions and answers ours for more than Salvation Army Howard Hospital – I need Zimbabwe, and the local farmers at the an hour, all the while providing opinion time to reflect on everything that I have market a few kilometres from Howard on various community happenings. observed. It is humbling. Hospital are quick to chat and share a The Headman is also a member of The This is my first trip to Africa, a hearty laugh as they pack our vegetables. Salvation Army Nyachuru Citadel, where continent rich in diversity, history, music Upon arriving at Howard Hospital I he has served as corps sergeant-major for and politics, and I am instantly amazed ask to visit the Headman of the Chiweshe 40 years. He is wise and discerning, and as by the warmth of the people and their community. We bump along the red-clay our time together concludes I ask if I can willingness to engage in conversation. road in one of the hospital ambulances, share in prayer and he is quick to accept People everywhere take time to speak kicking up dust as we go and we soon my invitation. The meeting was important with me. arrive at his home. The Headman is eager from a cultural perspective and it was a to greet our small contingent and he privilege to share in conversation with this ‘It was a privilege to invites us into his yard to sit down. village elder. Over the next few days my colleagues share in conversation and I are going to meet with staff and with this village elder’ patients, government officials and other non-governmental organisations and partners in an effort to understand the importance of Howard Hospital to the local community. It is evident from my meeting with the Headman that Howard Hospital is a valued and much appreciated mission hospital in the community and he is grateful to The Salvation Army for its leadership. Africa with its people and culture is special. Life in rural Zimbabwe appears simple yet complicated and, upon reflection, I am reminded of John Rutter’s wonderful arrangement of Pierpoint’s words, ‘For the beauty of the earth’. That is what Zimbabwe is for me; a place of extraordinary beauty and simplicity intertwined by tradition and culture, which makes it a most interesting place for this first-time African visitor.

Left: Village Headman Thomas Moudyiwat; inset: Arrival at Howard Hospital, Zimbabwe

EditorS Major Dean Pallant and Emily Pilborough Progress is available electronically and printed for those design and Artwork Berni Georges who do not have easy access to the Internet. To subscribe to an PROGRAMME RESOURCES The Salvation Army International Headquarters electronic copy, please email: [email protected] 101 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EH, United Kingdom or for a paper copy please write to Programme Resources at the Tel: [44] (0)20 7332 0101; email [email protected] address on the left. Founder THE GENERAL André Cox Published by THE General of The Salvation Army © The General of The Salvation Army 2013