Ready? Set. Facilitate!

Although we required caffeine, we were an eager bunch of PCVs.

Sound familiar?

We rolled up to In Movement with our Brood chocolate croissants, French press, and Starbuck’s VIA packets ready for a 6-day Art of Facilitation workshop put on by PYE: Partners for Youth Empowerment.

Some of us knew each other well while others simply only had met during an alcohol presentation at Pre-Service Training.  Well, by the end of the training we had laughed together, brainstormed together, and even shed some tears.

PYE is an international non-profit organization that partners with youth serving organizations, such as In Movement, and schools around the world to activate the creative potential of young people. 

And let me tell ya… Our active young minds were inspired and transformed.

Nadia and Sola, our facilitators, were filled with knowledge and wisdom beyond words.  They demonstrated an ideal co-facilitator relationship, even though this was their first time together.  Their active and conscious listening actually made you feel like your voice was being heard.  Their ability to provide feedback brought things to the surface that helped us shift from a teacher to a facilitator.

Best Facilitators

And yes.  There is a difference.

Let me try to paint a picture.  Imagine two mountains with a deep, lush valley in-between.  The sun is shining but it is the soft sunshine, not like the kind where you step outside to find yourself soaked in your own sweat. 

You got it?

Well days 1 and 2, we were at the top of one mountain making our way down to explore the valley.  It was simple.  We talked about the goals and agreements, sang, danced, and learned rhythms that brought together the group of thirty.  We expanded our knowledge by practicing new concepts like giving and receiving feedback, roles of the facilitator, and working on our vision statement and personal story. 

Then we hit the valley on day 3 and boy was it a dark, dense place.  We talked about the perception of our self in a group.  How do I want to come across in a group and how do I think groups see me?  One on one, we quickly met with our the participants where they could essentially tell us one thing they like about us (a connect) and one thing they didn’t (a disconnect). 

Say what?!

It was an enlightening experience though.  To hear these things in a safe environment where you could quickly take the feedback to help adjust your role as both a facilitator and a participant.

We topped of that day by looking and recreating at our little hater. 

You know. 

The voice in our head that often takes over our emotions and sense of self.

Day 4 some of us saw the end of the valley but many of us were still having the clear the path for a way forward.  We engaged in new facilitation methods including facilitating with questions, tracking the group’s process to step up or step down your activities, intentional and transformative moments, and active listening.

Then on day 5 we saw the light that brought us to the base of the second mountain. 

It was time to climb. 

It was time to put into action the new skills we had gained.

It was time to think of strengths… Our strengths, strengths of people who we may get frustrated with, strengths of the taxi conductors who yell muzungu at us while we walk down Kampala-Jinja Road.

It was time to see how we can incorporate the arc of transformation and the creative community model into our world.

It was time to debrief our experiences in an effective way.

It was time to be a life coach and look for the gratitude and celebrations in others to allow them to pave their own way forward.

We were out of breath at times… The mountain was steep but slowly by slowly we kept pushing our way forward.

Day 6 and we could see the mountain plateauing.  Participants got to go through the cycle, from facilitating and debriefing to receiving feedback.  We bridged the gap between translation, facilitation, and interpretation.  We learned how to frame statements to give participants their own opportunity to come to a realization.   

Before the true celebration begun with songs, dances, snaps, and certificates, we shared something we wanted to leave behind something and something we wanted to take away.  Our vulnerability was visible to all as we tossed a rock in a basin of water and picked up a story that we all had a part in writing.

As much as the workshop allowed for personal reflection in regard to our role as a facilitator, we gained immeasurable skills that we will share with you.

In the meantime, put yourself out there. 

We dare you to step to the edge.