August 2011 marked a new page in the Nicaragua Teach for Health project. Up until then, workshops for both new and continuing health promoters had been held in San Ramon, requiring all participants to travel to a central location and where worked with promoters from other communities. While the interaction between promoters from different locations has been very positive, Teach for Health also wanted to facilitate smaller, regional workshops in which neighboring health promoters could strengthen their working relationships and talk about community problems more relevant to their specific communities. Out of this desire, an intensive series of four regional workshops spanning over two weeks was planned.
Week one brought Teach for Health volunteers to the communities of El Naranjo. Early morning, day one, volunteers brought Teach for Health materials and food to feed a small army of promoters up the hill from San Ramon. The workshop was held in an unused classroom in El Naranjo, home of a (nonpoisonous) snake that hung out in the rafters.
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La escuela in El Naranjo, site of the first regional workshop.
Health promoters in La Corona modeling the voting process.
During the three days, promoters practiced one form of community diagnosis, leading a mock community meeting focused on identifying “los problemas más sentidos” in the community. Participants then discussed which of the top problems would be most feasible to address and analyzed root causes and possible solutions. In addition to introducing the problem identification and analysis process, the workshop provided close coaching of promoters by program assistants and TFH volunteers, enhancing their presentation and meeting facilitation skills.
After El Naranjo, Teach for Health facilitators conducted the same workshop in three other communities: La Corona, El Plomo and Monte Grande. During our visits, we were excited to learn that many of the participants had already scheduled community meetings to introduce themselves as health promoters to their communities. Many promoters felt that the workshop material could fit well into subsequent community meetings. After each of the three days, promoters received certificates of completion and community first aid kits.
Health promoters in the Monte Grande regional workshop.
Workshop facilitators were excited to witness the collaboration between new and veteran promoters. As we move into fall of 2011, we look forward to supporting all health promoters as they engage their communities to bring about meaningful change.
Written by Anita Roberts, RN
Masters Student, Advanced Public Health Nursing
UCSF School of Nursing
