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Baidarie Sialkot

Social MobilizationTraining Session

On11 July 2009

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Social Mobilization- DefinitionSocial connotates society

Mobilization means movement – action for change

Change requires Passion / feelings Words

Activities

Social Mobilization means physical, social, intellectual, emotional movement towards an end.

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Social Mobilization• The whole mobilization hinges on

one single person – the influential Volunteer – he is the Opinion Maker; Never go to the community directly – invest in the Influential Volunteer, the opinion maker; the social capital.

• Volunteerism spirit is there in every person with varying degrees; this we need to believe; without this belief nothing goes forward; Volunteerism is humanity!

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Social Mobilization

Influential Volunteer-Characteristics

• Not selfish• Commands respect in the community;

people seek his advice; gather on his cal• Good communicator• Has been instrumental in community

work

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Social Mobilization

Self Help; Community participation; Volunteerism

• Community participation-Tools:

• Community Organizations – participatory versus representative approach

• Decision making rests with the Broad Based Community

• BBCM is the forum for planning, implementation, monitoring, and reviewing

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Social MobilizationImportance

Ownership – sustainability (meetings) Tapping collective wisdom

Tools:

a. Effective Communication

b. Asking Questions instead of lecturing, or advising It is very sensitive tool: needs to be handled with extreme care. Some ask to impress with their knowledge; some ask

to obtain knowledge; some ask question to undermine!

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Social Mobilization

Learn to LISTEN:

• LISTEN to learn; • LISTEN to Know; • LISTEN to understand;• LISTEN to communicate; • LISTEN to solicit knowledge; • LISTEN to build consensus on issues;• LISTEN to resolve conflict;• LISTEN to succeed

To Listen you ask questions

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Broad Based Community Meeting

• ALL decision making is the responsibility of the BBCM, in which the entire community is invited to attend. It is the general assembly at the village level.

• If selected few are invited to take a decision, it is not BBCM; it is not Community Meeting.

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Broad Based Community Meeting

The BBCM - a forum for:

• Consensus decision making,

• tapping into collective wisdom,

• sustainability in terms of capacity building of the community, and

• providing an opportunity to the younger generation to learn about community problems, how to frame issues, how to generate discussion, how to discuss options for solution, how to resolve conflict, how to make decisions, how to get it implemented, how to review, how to refine decisions! It is democracy at the baseline . – forum for education, where culture is transferred to the next generation.

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How to ensure presence of maximum participation in the BBCM.

Ask participants as to how many participants will constitute a

BBCM? 70%, 80% 50%?

• the agenda for the BBCM, and• ensuring that the Date, Venue , and Time is conveyed to all the

households,

are the two main activities to be undertaken in the village. Then leave it up to the target group to turn up for the meeting. Number of participants is immaterial!

Broad Based Community Meeting

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•Who arranges the BBCM;

It is the responsibility of the Influential Volunteer to arrange for the BBCM.

•Who conducts the BBCM

Broad Based Community Meeting

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Traits of Influential Volunteer

The traits which are appreciable and can be developed / enhanced through training / providing guidance and opportunity to exercise

• Frame issues• Generate focused debate / discussion• Resolve conflict• Collate information• Evaluates information

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Traits of Influential Volunteer • Deducts results

• Plans – allocates responsibilities

• Monitors

• Reviews

• Decides on future course of action

DO NOT: Never miss out any influential; even if it is only a courtesy call – Meet every Influential

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The process:

• Meeting with the IV• Preparing of the Influential Volunteer to call

the BBCM,• helping him to determine the agenda for the

BBCM, • preparing the message to be given,• how to frame issues,• how to generate discussion,

All of it is the responsibility of the Field Staff!

Broad Based Community Meeting

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The process:

• Once the IV is prepared and the FS is satisfied that the IV can initiate BBCM, the main work of the FS has been done!

• Now what remains is to sit in the BBCM, and guide the IV to focus on decisions, and issues through questions.

• During the discussion with the IV, he may call other volunteers to help in decision making.

Broad Based Community Meeting

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Main considerations for the BBCM:

• Be punctual if the time of Community meetings is decided.

• Prefer the IV to talk in the community and not the Field STAFF.

• Interfere only if the meeting is not being focused, through questions

• Keep observing the mood of the meeting, the unsaid words, the body languages, the sound of silence

Broad Based Community Meeting

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DONTS:

• DON’T sit on the center table / stage

• DON’T eat anything from the community

Broad Based Community Meeting

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Outcome of the BBCM:

• Decision resulting into an activity;• Self allocation of responsibilities - on a voluntary

basis

• Time of start of activity,• last date of finishing of the activity,• date of mid term review of the decisions,• date of reporting

Broad Based Community Meeting

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Thank you very much