Training Support Division Emily Spry International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations

session objectives to have fun and leave feeling energised to recognise sources of power that I have to understand what empowerment is to understand why it is important for change to have some ideas about how to empower people

You live in the village of Toot, where you were born. There are about 100 people in Toot. Families live together, in small huts. Work: The women and children grow crops and most of the men look after the goats, which they can sometimes sell. There is a school where children go up to 10 years old. Women cannot read or do simple sums, although some men can. Power: There is a Chief in the village. When you have an important decision to make, like marriage or buying or selling property, you ask the village chief what to do. In families, the men decide what everyone else does. Problems: Every year, there is a dry season when there is little water and little food. When there is no food and water, the men go away to find work in the town.

Health and disease: Everyone believes that diseases happen when the gods are angry. Children often die when they are young and many women die in childbirth A man who has many children is admired, so women have many children When people get sick they can’t work. There is a clinic in the next village where people can buy medicines People usually go to the traditional healer (“witch doctor”) in the village, when they are sick.

What gives us power?

COMPREHENSIVE RURAL HEALTH PROJECT

Number 1: the great art of asking questions… Number 2: the great art of keeping quiet (even when you know the answer) Number 3: the great art of seeing the future in someone’s eyes….

Openly discuss your role with the group What are their concerns? In 30 years time, what will you want a song about the village to say? What can you contribute towards this? What would you like to do first? how can I help you?

session objectives to have fun and leave feeling energised to recognise sources of power that I have to understand what empowerment is to understand why it is important for change to have some ideas about how to empower people

Go to the people live with them learn from them love them Start with what they know Build with what they have But of the best leaders When the job is done The task accomplished The all people will say We have done it ourselves. - Lao Isu, China 700 B. C. Go to the people…