Don't drop the ball.
Stay after it. Keep going.
Don't stop now.
These are not just motivating phrases but the bread and butter of development work. The tedious zigzag pattern from A to B wears out even the most hopeful Pollyanna. Truly, the time and effort of long-term planning for short-term goals, translation, and interpretation of results wears on me like a 3rd-generation hand-me-down. Nonetheless, the garment that l would like to wear as well as my predecessors does not always stand up to the test of time in that way.
Sometimes we have to remove the sleeves from a dress shirt, cut out the neck of a t-shirt, or tie-dye our undies for a new purpose. This fall, AHMEN's Rio de Agua Viva team began to repurpose its former community empowerment program for the modern era. We are determined to give everything we can out of this life and God's purpose for us. When our former community development coordinator reached out to us this summer to mend our socks, if you will, the decision was made not only to re-start our sustainability seminars, but to ensure former graduates were front and center.
Instead of relying simply on a single top-down approach, we set out to rely on the former community agents who stayed in touch, continued replicating their training, and vowed not to be overlooked.
During the September reanimation meeting, The participants were highly participative and commented about the training subject, specifically those related to women’s rights and entrepreneurism.
All of them were convinced of the value of the training program to improve their quality life and contribution to holistic community development. They are ready to restart as soon as possible and expressed a dire need for methods to meet local economic need through socio-emotional learning.
As we rise from the ashes of the past like the phoenix, I want to remind you that you once prayed for the success of our program. You once donated. You once held a fundraiser, and you once joined the Rio team to teach your sisters and brothers in Honduras. I ask you now to find that spark again and rejoin our efforts. Alone we may make remarkable progress, but together, we are the difference!
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