Meetings - Linking to Learn

April 28-30, 2011: integral health work

“The Linking-to-Learn meeting (April 28-30) of the Uttarakhand Cluster was an excellent time of networking and sharing ideas. 75 people attended the Uttarakhand Cluster integral health meeting and we developed ideas around the Cluster tobacco control program and the disability program. The teaching sessions were undertaken by CB Samuel, a leading Indian theologian, social activist and Cluster Honorary advisor. He challenged each program to keep their faith at the centre of what they do and who they are. He was passionate and threw out the challenge in no uncertain terms which moved all 70 people attending. One program decided to bring all their staff on the second day to hear the challenge. His challenge can be perhaps best be summarised, by CB’s question: “would you employ Jesus if he applied to your NGO?”. If not then what do we need to change? Jesus, as a project officer, would challenge unjust structures, require compassionate care, disapprove of any compromising on ethics, push everyone to work for the heart and not the money....and bound to get you offside with the authorities of the day! The Uttarakhand Cluster wishes to thank Rev CB Samuel for his valuable input and challenge to us all.

Disability DVD launch and Cluster meeting

Meeting Report

Sixty participants from over thirty programs of the Uttarakhand Cluster came together for the three day Uttarakhand Cluster linking2learn meeting It was a time of realising our power in unity as we discussed a number of programs and opportunities that the cluster has presented. These include barefoot solar, Tobacco control and disability programs.

We celebrated the success of registering the Uttarakhand Cluster as a society. This was a time of celebration. Thanks must go to the board and the coordinator (Surender).

Link to DVD

Opportunities

Other ideas and programs that were developed at the meeting included:

• Training a Cluster Disability Liaison Officer/RAD tool:  On the back of the DVD launch a number of other discussions were had around the cluster’s future involvement in disability.  Prior to the launch Cluster members had been asked for expressions of interest in nominating for the ALA program in Australia.  Three members programs nominated the following staff members Robert Kumar, Jubin Varghese and Pratima.  If successful these three people will go to Australia to develop policies, trainings and modules in disability so as to help cluster members.  On their return they will teach the 34 cluster members.  If successful the cluster will explore sending one person from each program for training in how to implement a Rapid Assessment in Disability tool (an action research approach developed internationally).

• Free wheelchair mission:  the potential to access free quality wheelchairs was presented.  Such wheelchair distribution should contribute to  awareness raising strategy and not be simply wheelchair provision.  Programs not present are asked to inform us how many wheelchairs you might need (The only cost will be transport from Mumbai).

• CMC Community Lay Leaders Training Program: this new one year distance education course (for 10+2 education level) matches the cluster objectives for low cost contextually appropriate health training.  The Uttarakhand Cluster is exploring becoming the local node for Uttarakhand and seeks expressions of interest for the position of  “master trainer”.  The master trainer will be sent to CMC Vellore for six months training and then be responsible locally, with a team of two others, for delivering the course locally.  The cluster hopes to fund this position, at least part time.

• Barefoot solar:  Lawrence Singh demonstrated these cheap and reliable solar panels that are being made available at wholesale prices from a philanthropist.  The idea is that cluster NGOs (or their CHVs, SHGs etc) then on-sell them.  It is a social enterprise: it is both providing a social good and helping strengthen cluster programs.   There was interest from programs and the cluster decided to appoint a lead NGO and called for nominations by Friday 10th.  The lead NGO will open a bank account, receive orders for further lights and coordinate shipments.  Cluster NGOs should let the lead NGO know if they want a demonstration solar panel for market research.

• Cluster tobacco control initiative:  this joint tobacco initiative continues to take shape.  At the meeting we determined, for each NGO present:
• How many Tobacco Control Agents (such as CHWs, Volunteers etc) each cluster NGO wants to train.  
• How many villages and schools in which to undertake the program

This will be used to decide on the allocation of funds.  This CTCI project is still not funded but there are a number of promising leads.

• The People’s University- an opportunity to undertake, by correspondence, a Public Health Certificate course (with possible upgrade to MPH) has been made available to the cluster.  It requires eight modules at $50 each over two years.  The cluster agreed to sponsor one candidate through their first year of studies.

• Flood relief: on behalf of some generous friends of the cluster flood relief was made available to the cluster and each program which applied was given financial support (SASA, FOG and Mission of Peacemaking).

• Diarrhoea update:  Dr Kaaren Mathias gave us an update on management.  One important message was that Zinc supplements for two weeks after an acute episode of diarrhoea decrease morbidity and mortality by up to 42%.  That is, you could prevent one out of every two deaths from this huge killer!

• The PMs 15 Point plan for minorities:  Sisters Madhu and Rajkumari shared how Rev Satish John offered to help cluster programs to avail themselves of the benefits associated with registering schools, projects and other activities as “Minority status”.  As a member of the committee he is able to advise and write referral letters. 

AGM
The final day was spent completing the AGM and finalising some operational guidelines.    Torch Bearers served us lovingly and allowed the program to go off without a hitch

Thanks must go to each of the programs who make up the cluster and make this a tremendous success!  The opportunities and the success is only a result of the corporate capacity of linking to together.

DVD Launch

Click here to preview the DVD snippets

This DVD, produced collaboratively by program members, was launched on the middle day of the meeting. The Nossal Institute of Global Health (University of Melbourne) and CBM Australia helped supported the collaborative activity and Dr Nathan Grills of the Nossal Institute provided technical assistance. Many of the cluster programs were involved in preparing the DVD and organising the launch. The DVD is an excellent resource tool for the cluster programs and is complete with a purpose written song, Bollywood dancing, stories and teaching. A number of Uttarakhand Cluster programs have already used the DVD in the villages to promote awareness and mainstreaming of disability.

Over 120 people attended the launch and it was a privilege to have a number of people with disability involved in the program. We learnt much from each other. Each of the programs was presented with DVDs as was the national library for visually handicapped and other special guests. The idea of being ‘differently abled’ was reinforced by all speakers (a term used frequently as an alternative definition for disability). Our chief guest, Rev Dr George Kurvella, gave a powerful message on disability and challenged all people, including people of faith and faith communities, to look at how to welcome those with different abilities and gifts into their communities. We must thank the team who used their gifts and spent significant time in presenting preparing the program and serve the other cluster members (Hira Lal, Sister Madhu, Robert, Rajesh, Joseph and Surender who spent much time preparing this event). We also must thank Evy and Bhagat for directing the DVD and each of the cluster member programs who contributed to the production of this excellent resource. 

Feb 15-20, 2010

Meeting Report

The cluster linking to learn program (L2L) was very encouraging with some real interest to use our corporate capacity and visibility to develop programs and even work strategically alongside government programs.

Cluster Tobacco Control Initiative (CTCI)

The cluster agreed to move forwards on tobacco control and apply for funding for all cluster members to develop tobacco control activities. This is the leading cause of death of India and the government of Uttarakhand is keen to develop more programs. The cluster has so far produced a DVD, written a paper, and selected tobacco control fellows for training.

To capitalise on this it was decided the cluster would develop a joint funding proposal:

a) Appoint a lead NGO to develop and submit the proposal on behalf of the Cluster. One nomination was received: Christian Hospital Chamba

b) Appoint a subcommittee of the cluster to guide the process and develop the objectives

c) Utilise the Tobacco Control Fellows going to Australia to develop the proposal and programs to be included in the proposal

Cluster Disability Resource

The cluster decided to use our combined skills and resources to commission another public health resource similar to the anti-tobacco DVD. This will be launched at a public launch on world disability day (Dec 3). This will increase our visibility as well as making a culturally appropriate resource to use in our programs. Each member program agreed to donate Rs. 1000-2000 depending in their capacity and size- this will be collected at a later date.

Cluster disability Training

Responding to disability is a theological and developmental imperative....and expedient. India has signed the UN convention of the rights of people with disability and is now obliged under international law to increase its services and programs in disability.

a. We all have vulnerabilities- pain syndromes, weaknesses, emotional hurt and problems, visual disturbances, headaches, phobias, fears, anxieties

b. We are all ‘created in God’s image’ and inherently valuable whatever our differing ability

c. ‘His power is made perfect in our vulnerabilities’. It is in our weaknesses that we are made dependent and aware of God and His sufficiency

d. The body of Christ is made complete when we are ‘serving one another in love’ to allow each of us to cope

Cluster Bible teaching and prayer

Rev Dr Mathew Ebenezer blessed us with some encouraging words about healing. We were deeply challenged to go beyond improving the health of the mind and body to focusing on the soul. We spent time in prayer for each other over the course of the cluster meeting also.

SEPT 18-19 2009: Resource Workshop

Cluster Meeting

Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ The Cluster resource workshop was a peer to peer education adult learning exercise. Each member spoke about one resource they had found helpful. They provided a handout on this resource and detailed where to find it/purchase it and when and where to use it. The members presented different ideas, shared resources, helped each other develop trainings and explored novel approaches to Community Health.

Examples of resource shared include books, training guides, PowerPoint presentation, training method, government program links, approaches to HIV, TB DOTS program etc.

Also at the CHGN-UKC resource workshop, the most important resource, the Bible, was expounded by an experienced Australian Bible teacher: Rev John Sugars. Philippians was the passage for study.

Cluster coordinator appointed


The success of the “Clustering” model had attracted international attention, funding and educational opportunities. The cluster decided to appoint a cluster coordinator to represent the Cluster. There were some excellent applications, but in the end the Cluster honrary advisors appointed Mr Surender Kumar. Welcome to Surender! We pray God will use him for His purposes.

The cluster also decided on 3 nominees to send to Australia for Tobacco Control training under the Australian Leadership Awards.

House meeting


The cluster held a house meeting. It was decided to register the cluster as a society with the Government of Uttarakhand. The following people were appointed to the interim Governing body:

1. President – Mr. Robert Kumar
2. Vice President – Mrs. Madhu Singh
3. Secretary – Mr. J.M. Singh
4. Treasurer – Dr. Hiralal.
5. Mr. Satendra Singh (Member)
6. Mrs. Rajkumari Singh (Member)
7. Mr. David Abraham (Member)

MARCH 15-18 2009

Meeting report

Report on the cluster Workshop (March 15-18)

From March 15-18 representatives from 24 community health programs met together for a time of fellowship, training, and to launch an antismoking DVD: the result of their first collaborative activity.

Spread over 4 days it was on the whole inspiring and exciting. The whole event has been thoroughly bathed in prayer from faithful people from Australia, India, UK and beyond. This prayer was needed too!

Above all there was an ongoing sense of unity and sharing: “I wasn’t going to come, but I am so glad I did. I have swapped ideas with my Christian brothers and they are going to teach me about improving our slum work...I can’t believe we didn’t do this years ago”.

Prayer focussed cluster: Raju appointed prayer coordinator

A focus on prayer is a spiritual tool that must employed as glue in this network . We are not just another network coming together for self advancement. A prayer coordinator, Raju Lingual, was appointed to bath the cluster in prayer. Raju Lingual will contact each program by PHONE (as per address list) and ask for at least one prayer point. This is to be done every 6 months- in between cluster meetings (Ie the first will be in July 09). Then he will compile this into an email and send to: chgn-ukc-cluster@googlegroups.com. Also email these prayer points to the Newsletter editor: Mr Pradeep Singh (shums777@gmail.com) (Pradeep has agreed to be newsletter editor instead of the prayer coordinator). The prayer coordinator will also receive email prayer points and distribute these to chgn-ukc-cluster@googlegroups.com as appropriate. Finally the prayer coordinator will receive prayer requests via the website and decide whether to forwards them or pray for them yourself.

Cluster newsletter

Cluster Newsletter launched

A new biannual newsletter was launched called “linking to learn”. The first edition was distributed at the March cluster meeting. Some feedback included:
“This is a very useful document”
“It looks really good...very professional”
Pradeep Singh has agreed to be the Cluster newsletter editor.

DVD launch

Summary for website [PDF 2.69MB]

DivDx - Anti-Tobacco Performance [anti-tobacco_performance.avi]

DivDx - Address by Cluster Doctor [cluster_doctor.avi]

DivDx - Address by Health Minister [health_minister.avi]

DivDx - DVD Credits [dvd_credits.avi]


SALT training [PDF 787KB]

OCTOBER 16-18 2008

The Community Health Global Network Cluster – Uttarakhand was at the Rajpur Christian retreat Centre. The cluster workshop called “Linking2Learn” saw 56 people attending from over 17 community health programs in Uttarakhand State

Objectives:

The Objectives of the Workshop were to:

• Improve linkages between Community health programs, and between community health program leadership and non Community health orientated health leadership.


• Enjoy a time of fellowship amongst like-minded staff of programs around a common vision and a common desire to serve God and our rural communities.


• Discuss and explore different and novel ways to use our corporate resources and expertise in Community health to train CHWs and trainers of CHWs


• Determine the future vision and objectives for this cluster group so that we can determine how best to utilise this significant resource to best serve the people in our programmes and beyond and to serve God.


• Undertake some basic training on health issues relevant to CH programs
  

Draft Outcomes:

• A shared vision is generated- and personal visions are developed - in the context of partnership and cooperation


• A L2L declaration of intent or resolution is produced and signe.d


• An action plan is produced to work towards the next follow-up workshop to be held in February or March.


• A small "secretariat" of perhaps 2 or 3 people is appointed to take this process forwards.


• Strategic key focus areas are identified where there are people who are unserved or underserved).


• Different ideas for future workshops are brain stormed.


• A joint l2l cluster venture is commissioned.


• L2L participants leave encouraged by the time of fellowship and sharing.

Outcomes:

The outcomes were achieved by the end of the workshop. Additionally to the planned outcomes, another major outcome was the appointment of 17 cluster consultants. Each program indentified a specialist area in which they had special skills and they identified a program consultant to represent them in this area (see below). Each of these consultants, on behalf of their program, signed a “Cluster declaration of intent” to inaugurate the CHGN-UKC cluster and plan the way forwards. A draft action plan was also developed.

Additionally, a secretariat was appointed to take the cluster forward. Robert Kumar (Coordinator), Arul Paul, Rajkumari Singh, Satendra and Nathan Grills were appointed as Cluster secretaries. Please provide any feedback or comments to a secretary.

Rapporter Summary :

Summary Overview – Day One - 16 October

A time of ‘Kairos’: The background to the cluster and the opportunity it represents was discussed:

Background

This meeting is being held at a very significant time for community health – not just for India but also all over the world. It comes 30 years after the World Health Organization (WHO) ‘Alma Ata’ Declaration of 1978, which set out the only way to impact and improve the health of the global community for the present and future was through giving primacy to Primary Health Care, supported by appropriate levels of Secondary and Tertiary Care.

Now in 2008 WHO has made a revitalized restatement of the need for the global community to focus on Primary Health Care, with appropriate support of other healthcare delivery systems. In this new statement WHO has recognised that faith-based organizations are both significant and effective to deliver wholistic care and bring about lasting transformation in the lives of communities.

Summary Overview – Day Two - 17 October

It is extremely difficult to review, in a short space, the immense amount of ground covered in day two. However, the following are some observations that try to encapsulate those things of significance that we discovered and agreed together.

1. Can the cluster, raise the priority of dealing with a public health problem like tobacco abuse? No groups, as yet, have a specific strategy or programme element for this – however many integrate anti-smoking teaching in their programmes. Can the cluster work together to make this number one killer a high priority? The cluster committed itself, including the provision of finance, to support the creation of a new tool using a culturally appropriate, and sensitive DVD. ‘Tree of Life’ team gave us a stimulus to make better use of media, music and the other performing arts.


2. All were encouraged by the readiness and openness of the participants to share their weaknesses. This was in fact one of our real strengths of the Cluster!


3. Threats – these are real – there was no real surprises or new challenges. There is a growing sense that we can cope with and overcome the threats, as a cluster, far better than in our individual programmes.


4. Community Health Worker training and a ‘Jamkhed of the Hills’ was discussed. The concept was welcomed and all agreed on the need – the ‘What’. It was concluded, however, that much work is needed between us on the ‘How’ to relate to and draw on the strength of India’s ‘ASHA’ programme.


5. It was affirmed that there is lots of unity in the cluster. The participants thought through the strengths and opportunities, in general terms. These need to be made specifics, if the ‘cluster’ is to bring added value to our work.

Summary Overview – Day Two - 17 October

• The day started as the previous two did with a devotion and worship session.


• Cluster consultants (see below): It was clear that all wanted the ‘cluster’ to happen and believed in it’s value! Each group represented, identified its ‘experts’. The experts, or consultants, were identified by the programs themselves, and their skills and experience were listed. These consultants will be available to take the cluster forwards and to help with the needs of others in the cluster.


• Action Plan (see below): The enthusiasm of the ‘cluster’ was very real – ideas abounded for where it should go. A resource centre, research, a newsletter, advocacy, disaster readiness and response and much more. An action plan which incorporated the previous 2 days of discussions was presented. The cluster agreed to work towards these.


• Facilitators and the secretariat: A small group of facilitators were nominated to move us forward to the next ‘cluster’ gathering take ownership of activities in the interim. There were no objections or alternative offered.
  
  
  • Coordinator: Robert Kumar
  • Joint Secretaries: Rajkumari Singh; Arul Paul; Satender
  • Senior Advisors: Madhu Singh; Joseph Singh
  • The secretariat decided to add Nathan Grills as an additional secretary or facilitator.
• The final session consisted of each program signing a “Cluster declaration of intent” to inaugurate the CHGN-UKC cluster and plan the way forwards (see below). After each signatory signed they said a prayer for the cluster. Finally, as one body, all the participants stood around the declaration, and prayed for the future of the cluster.


• We finished the meeting with some more music worship and then we all had a time of fellowship over a meal.