Download - The Guerilla Guide to Youth Expeditions
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We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
- T.S. Eliot, The Dry Salvages
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.
First Things First
6 preface
7 motivation
10 the right attitude
Project Scope
11 a mindmap
13 project types
15 a continuum
17 service learning
21 duration of stay
23 when to go
25 itinerary
Host Partner
27 making contact
29 recce tips
31 child considerations
33 money issues35 other considerations
37 risk management
43
Content Page
Facilitation
88 the basics
Documentation &
Media
115 general
The Return
117 closing
118 rest & relaxation
119 giving back
Volunteer-sending
Organisations
121 thanks
Acknowledgments
123 thanks
Administration
39 official papers
41 communications
43 finance
Your Team
45 team size
47 team selection
49 team building
51 team bonding
53 coordination tips
55 language barriers
59 delegation
Transportation
61 budget airlines
62 travel agents
63 in-country
Accommodation
65 setting up camp
67 home stays
69 food
73 water
75 alcohol
76 smoking
77 sanitation
Logistics
79 the airport
81 other gear
Medical
83 general
85 first aid
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First Things First Preface
God grant me the serenity to accept the
things I cannot change, the courage to
change the things I can, and the wisdomto know the difference.
Choose a project. Choose your team. Choose a mode of
transportation. Choose what you should eat when youre there.
Choose to take a leap into the unknown.
There are about a thousand different decisions, big and small,
that await the potential expedition leader. Some are easy no-
brainers. Most will require some degree of agonising over. And
a few you will have no control over.
Which is where, hopefully, this guide comes in. The Guerilla
Guide to Youth Expeditions represents the collective knowledgeof some of those who have led or facilitated youth expeditions,
some successful and others less successful.
If youre looking for a document that will plan your entire trip for
you, this isnt it. But it can help you to make informed decisions
about the choices that await you. Well let you figure the rest
out. =)
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Lets get it out of the way why indeed are you doing an
expedition?
It might seem a simple enough question, but perhaps you
havent really put it down to paper. So go on, take a minute.
And be honest with yourself after all, no ones looking here.Check one of the boxes on the next page.
If you already know the reason in your heart, then good for
you. Understanding this will keep you focused along the way,
especially when things arent going as planned. Youre going
to need it.
The same goes for your participants as well. Some might give
you reasons like My friends are doing this, so I want to come
along. And Im free during my holidays, so I want to do
something useful. But their reasons at the start arent asimportant its how these reasons change in the course of
the expedition that counts.
Activity: discuss this with your teammates
First Things First Motivation I want to do an expedition because:
Im a teacher, and my principal told me to do
this.
Ive always wanted to travel to (insert name of
country)
My friends are doing this, so I thought it would
be a good idea if I joined in.
I have an entire holiday to spare, so I might as
well do something useful with it.
I want to make a difference in the lives of otherpeople.
Ive been reading about this issue, and I want to
do something about it.
This is my reason:
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First Things First The right attitude
Going overseas and sacrificing your time and energy to do
community work might seem like a wonderful idea to begin with.
Yet, the very idea of stepping into another culture and doing
some work which you believe is good for poor people can
prove counter-productive if not approached with the right attitude.
Its easy to be blind to our own ethnocentrism. Like it or not,
Singaporeans are commonly associated with certain values
efficiency for one, and integrity, for another. And to us, these
might seem like perfectly normal values to have. And they would
be if we were still in Singapore.
However, to people from another culture, these behaviours might
instead come across as impatience and inflexibility. The more
polite of your hosts will not share this with you, of course.
The truth is, if youre looking to work with impoverished peoples
or people from another culture, you dont have to look too far.
Singapore has plenty of lower income families, as well as migrant
worker communities. So why go overseas? What is it that people
in another country cant do for their countrymen that you can?
Activity: use this as a topic for facilitation among your
group.
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Go to the people, live among them. Learn
from them. Love them. Start with what they
know; build on what they have. But (for) the
best leaders, when their task is accomplished,
their work is done, the people will remark, "We
have done it ourselves." Ancient Chinese
philosopher Lao Shi
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11
12
Project Scope - a mindmap
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Project scoping can make or break the entire expedition. An ill-
conceived project could leave your team unable to do anything
without being handheld by your host, thus becoming an additional
burden on a NGOs already strained manpower.
One team in Vietnam learnt this the hard way their host partner
didnt think their youth could build a decent house. The team ended
up plucking weeds for 5 days, and eventually decided to change their
project scope to teaching English.
Fully-Specialised Projects
Project types like Marine Conservation and Documentation require a
team of members who are at least moderately competent. Capacity
Building projects require a small team of experts.
Semi-Specialised Projects
Infrastructure & Construction, Water & Sanitation and Arts-based
project types can still operate with a team of inexperienced
members, as long as the team leader/resource person is fully
competent, and is able to transfer these skills.
Generic Projects
IT Education, English and Maths, and Refurbishment of rooms
project types are more generic and can be carried out by first-time
groups. But doing it well still requires experience.
Project Scope Project types
There is work that is work and
there is play that is play; there is
play that is work and work that is
play. And only in one of these lies
happiness. Frank Gelett Burgess
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Project Scope a continuum
Hard vs. Soft Projects
If youth development is high on your agenda, infrastructure
projects are less preferable - teams tend to run into existential
dilemmas when they find out how much easier (and cheaper) it is
to contract some local workers to build anything.
Having a worn out team at the end of the day doesnt help
facilitation either. Building projects also usually sustain higher
levels of injuries. But of course, its the process that matters, and
what kind of learning points youre able to bring out of the
experience.
That said, some volunteers do need to see concrete results for
their work, as opposed to doing soft skills projects, like interacting
with school kids, which are largely intangible. So do consider
having an element of hard projects, such as refurbishment or
painting.
Issue-based
Consider doing projects that are based on a particular issue.Geography students, in particular, will appreciate this. So its not
just about building toilets because theyre needed but also
about understanding the state of sanitation in the host country,
understanding how sustainability can be achieved, and tying that
back to the situation in Singapore.
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One generation plants the
trees; another gets the
shade. Chinese proverb
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A service-learning framework adds immeasurably to the
experience that your team takes home at the end of the day.
Timothy Stanton said it best with his Principles of Reciprocity: I
serve you in order that I may learn from you. and You accept
my service in order that you may teach me.
Its about being able to see a situation from the perspective of
the community that you are serving, and even to question your
own fundamental beliefs.
Case study
A team did a theatre expedition, in collaboration with a local
partner, on the issue of early marriage. After 2 weeks of intense
discussion and workshops with youth from the host country,
some members of the group arrived at the conclusion that
given the circumstances, that early marriage was the best
possible option.
It wasnt that the group approved of early marriages in general,
nor was it something that they would have wished for
themselves, but when they put themselves in the shoes of their
host community, they were able to understand and empathise
how cultural and physical factors had come together to produce
a less than desirable option for the young women in that
particular community.
Project Scope service learning
Service, combined with learning
adds value to each and
transforms both. - Honnet and
Poulsen
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Big L
Small L
Big S Small S
Activity: where do you think your project stands in thisgraph of service (S) against learning (L)? Mark an x !Why is it so?
Resources
The National Youth Council produces a booklet called
Beginners Guide to Service Learning. You can also
visit the website http://www.nyc.gov.sg/sl/index.htm for
more.
The Raffles Centre for Experiential Learning also runs
YEP Leader Training Courses. You can find out more at
http://www.rcel.edu.sg/course_yep.htm
Three S-L elements you cant leave
home without:
1) A well-trained facilitator with a plan in mind
2) Journals people need time and space to
constantly reflect on their experience.
3) A project scope that allows for a good balance
between meeting the needs of the community as
well as those of your teams.
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Project Scope - duration of stay
In between
The length of a project can vary, from 5 days to 3 weeks. Whats
important is that you have enough breathing space to feel at home and
build solid friendships. Some organisations recommend a minimum of 21
days in order for change to be internalised in a persons character, and
to be ingrained as a habit.
The constraint is usually on those with work commitments, so do
exercise flexibility in accommodating them. Tip: consider asking them to
pay the full price, with the option of flying back earlier if necessary.
An alternative is to have 2 overlapping teams, so that the length of
engagement is longer, and halving the team size means that the local
infrastructure is not overburdened. The first team will also be able to give
the next team a head start by letting them know how to prepare better.
Departure
Although you may have an advance party, do try to have your entire
team depart the project at the same time, to avoid a sense of lingering
on (which may cause the project to lose momentum), and so thatfarewell sessions have more of an emotional closure.
Keep it in perspective
However long you choose to stay, keep in mind that even 1 month is
considered short-term by professional overseas volunteeringorganisations. For them, a good volunteering range is in the range of 6
months to 2 years.
Arrival (Day 0)
If you arrive on a weekend, your host partner/school may have
closed office for the day, leaving your team to wander around for
the first day. Of more concern is arriving late at night, which may
compromise your teams safety.
Also, a lot of participants expect to go to work straight away on Day
1. Help them to realise that they may need a couple of days to
prepare for the work and get used to the conditions.
Your host partner might even want to perform some ceremonies or
show you the local sights to make your team feel welcome, so do
factor that in.
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Project Scope when to go
Clashing projects
Understand the project cycles of your host partners. While they
may have regular projects which run on a maintenance basis
throughout the year, they may have planned certain high profile
events during the period of your expedition, which might leave
you high and dry, while their staff are running all over the city
trying to get things together.
Climate
Weather is a big factor, as it can cause lots of health problems.
Summer seasons can be hotter though less humid than
Singapores. And monsoons can be a great dampener on your
activities, even if youre building rainwater harvesting systems.
Typically, most expeditions are left to the end of the year to
coincide with the school holidays, which would be a good thing,
except that it clashes with the regular tourist season. That said,
having an expedition in the off-peak period isnt such a bad
idea after all, if you can find the volunteers.
Festive moods
National holidays can wreck your plans, so check with yourhosts if there are any special occasions during your project
period. Some cities like Kolkata close down for an entire week
during Durga Puja.
And some cities have regional holidays on top of national ones,
which your host partner may have omitted in your discussions.
So do plan contingencies into your schedule to give yourself
some flexibility.
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Tip: You can also choose to have a
large format schedule (see above)
pasted at a convenient location near
your work site, so that participants will
be able to easily to refer to any
changes in programming.
Project Scope - Itinerary Keep it to an outline
However well you may have planned your expedition, the reality is
that things will change on the ground, and youll have to manage
your teams expectations. So dont promise too much with a detailed
itinerary. Remember, youre not a tour guide, so keep it to an outline
for the next days programme, to keep them mentally prepared for
any changes. Oh, and do keep parents in the loop as well.
Plan BsAlways remember Murphys Law. Your best defence to anything that
happens is really to just adapt and compromise where necessary.
Your role as a leader is to make the best out of any given situation.
This sometimes means making decisions with less than adequate
time or information.
Whats important is that your teammates understand that you have
their best interests at heart, and are therefore willing to follow your
directions, even if the decision turns out to be incorrect later on.
Exercise your influence wisely.
Cultural immersion
Visiting local museums and places of interest such as the Killing
Fields in Phnom Penh can be a good way of helping your team to
understand a countrys past. This can be done on the weekends,
when the NGO staff arent working.
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Negotiate a river by following its
bends; enter a country by
following its customs.
Cambodian proverb
Host Partner- making contact Liaison person
A lot of projects go awry because of miscommunication with the host
partner. This is especially so for NGOs with several levels in their
hierarchy, or a central HQ which manages satellite projects. Your
contact person could have been chosen of his/her fluency in English,
but may not be involved in the frontline work, and therefore not in the
best position to evaluate the feasibility of your proposal.
So by all means talk to the decision makers, but when yourconversations with the field staff dont match, check back with the
coordinator. Where possible, have them agree to a written document,
so that expectations are clearly aligned. Its crucial to find a reliable
host partner, in whom you can trust your teams safety with.
Multiple stakeholders
Beware of having to cooperate with too many groups who have
different expectations of your work, especially if there are political
considerations. Multiple interests have a way of quickly strangling the
scope of your project youll need to prioritise who you listen to.
Resources
1) Expedition SG (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ExpeditionSG/)
2) The Choice Initiative (www.thechoiceinitiative.org/sending.htm)
3) Youth Expedition Project (http://www.yep.sg/)
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Host Partner - recce tips
1. Managing expectations
Beware of making promises prematurely especially monetary ones.
One group in Laos was threatened with guns during their recce trip
when they moved from one village to another, when the first village
were worried that the volunteers would not be helping them.
2. Dont get flashyOne corporate expedition on their Cambodian recce quickly became
known as 17 millionaires in the local newspapers. Needless to say,
they had to change countries. Oh, and avoid creating a wishlist
mentality in the minds of your hosts, artificially creating needs for the
sake of spending money. Take the time to get to know them.
3. Plan Bs
Its clich but oh so true. You never know when a Catch-22
situation is going to hit you, so do keep an eye out for other
projects with potential, and keep up some kind of friendly
communication, so that if you need to switch project sites, its
not so awkward.
4. Monitor the situation
Your recce doesnt end when you return to Singapore. Keep
yourself updated by reading online newspapers. You might not
be able to spot disasters before they happen, but if theres an
ongoing conflict, the newspapers will carry it.
5. Advance party
In addition to the feasibility trip, its a good idea to have a smalladvance party that arrives a few days before the main group
proper. This is to ensure that all arrangements are finalised,
and to allow you to personally supervise the buying of
materials. It also allows the advance party to prepare the main
expedition party back in Singapore.
6. Key processes
Theres a really good checklist for your key processes that you
can find on the YEP website, at
http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/starterkit.html
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Child protection policy
Some NGOs will have this in place, while others may not need it. In
either case, as the team leader, there are fundamental precautions
you should take in order to ensure the safety of the children you may
come into contact with as part of the project. These are as simple as
having all interactions take place in a public area (volunteers should
not take children to a private corner without staff supervision), or
depending on the profile of the child (ie. children of prostitutes), not
publishing their photo in any mass media.
Beggars
Disabled children pose a moral dilemma for many. While you might
soothe your conscience by giving a street urchin a few coins, you
might be doing more harm than good. Its likely that he/she is part of
a begging syndicate and the continuous source of income from
foreigners makes it hard for such children to move away from the
streets into rehabilitation programmes run by NGOs. Youre better off
buying some food for them to consume on the spot.
Saying goodbye
Some children, when they are aware of your impending departure,
might start crying, even as early as halfway through your expedition.
Its times like these that will make you question whether you should
have come at all, since they were so sad to see you go. But
remember that sadness will go away, but friendship will stay. Keep in
touch with them theyll treasure it.
Host Partner child considerations
If you think you are too small to
make a difference, youve
never been in bed with a
mosquito. - Bette Reese
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Host Partner money issuesBribes or Social Customs?
You may have experienced it before being requested to buy a
Johnnie Walker to appease the local town council, or to slip a customs
officer some dollar notes to get your computer out of the airport. Either
way, youre going to have to weigh the consequences (a run-in at the
police station or possibly more exorbitant costs later on) against what
you believe in. There are no easy solutions - but having your host
partner around to negotiate on your behalf certainly helps.
Commission
Some locals assigned to you may make extra cash for themselves by
going grocery shopping and getting commission from certain
shopkeepers. You can try sidestep such tactics by saying that wed
like to try doing things by ourselves, it would be fun learning how to.
Gifts
When giving gifts of any size, think twice about the implications. While
it might seem like an act of goodwill, repercussions can often extend
beyond our knowledge. For example, a simple gift from a volunteer
might be interpreted as a sign of liking and cause jealousy among the
girls in a shelter home, or might cause rifts between staff who sense
unequal treatment.
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The love of money is
the root of all evil.
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Host Partner other considerations Singaporean time vs. Rubber time
Singaporeans are used to working at a breakneck pace, as
well as arriving punctually. But take this as a situation in
which both sides can learn how there are different ways of
doing things.
Conflict of interest guan xi
In some situation, having the right connections may mean
the difference between a successful project and having itcanned at the last moment by some strange twist of
bureaucratic logic. The web of relations is often too
complicated and invisible for an expedition team to unravel
during their time there, which means that youll have to rely
heavily on your hosts to help guide you through the murky
waters.
Task vs. People Orientation
You might find that the villagers become more interested in
interacting with your team than in your contribution to the
construction work, surprising you with ad-hoc invitations or
wayang ceremonies that eat into your work schedule. But
side trips might also turn out to be valuable learning
experiences. Decide on the kind of balance you need
between being hospitable and getting the job done.
Commitment of host partners
The level of commitment from your host partner is important
at the very least, at least 1 staff should be assigned as your
point of contact. The provision of resources such as
facilitation of transport or food is also a good indication.
Beware of partners who have to simultaneously host different
expedition teams.
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4 ways to deal with risks
Host Partner risk management Political risks
Election period violence and negative sentiment against Singapore
can threaten to derail the project. Parents will pull their children out,
and you may be torn between postponing the trip, else going in with
a half-strength team. What you need to ascertain for yourself is
whether the risk is a localised or national one. Political risks usually
have their epicentre in a countrys capital, which may cast the entire
country in a cloak of doubt. But people in the outskirts may not be
affected at all.
Cultural risks
This can range everything from the wandering village drunk to the
headman who decides that your group is the cause of their recent
stroke of bad luck. There might be cultural norms that are specific to
that district, which your Lonely Planet wont tell you about. The best
way to figure out what these are is really to spend time in your
chosen location, so that you can understand the daily rhythms of the
society in which your team is going to insert itself.
Physical risksBird flu, a recent spate of earthquakes, and attacks by insurgents
seeking independence are all very tangible dangers which you can
deal with (see box on left).
ResourcesSign up for a course at http://www.yep.sg/toolbox/training.html
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Treat
Transfer
Terminate
Tolerate
stop theproject & re-evaluate
allow another party like
your host partner to takethe lead
manage the riskby alteringconditions
carry on withthe project
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Nobodys last words on the death
bed were ever I wished I hadspent more time in theoffice.Mark Twain
Administration - Official PapersLetters of Support
Get signed letters of support from your host NGO, sending
organisation and Singapore embassy, especially if youre bringing
over brand-new electronic equipment. Also, do try to make contact
with local/provincial government, to make sure youre not stepping on
their turf. And have photocopies of your passports, just in case.
Registration
Remember to e-register all your participants with MFA
(www.mfa.gov.sg) before leaving, as well as Mindef, for your male
participants. Also, contact the Singapore embassy in your host
country upon arrival they can get you out of a tight spot in
emergencies, especially those which are politically related.
InsuranceGenerally speaking, if price is a factor then NTUC Income is a good
choice. However, AIG Travel Assist is more suited to the expedition
format (http://www.aig.com.sg/personal/personal_aigassist.html), as
it provides International SOS coverage as well. Bear in mind that you
should have handy their emergency hotline numbers, in case of
evacuation.
Also, if your plane or luggage is rerouted or delayed, remember to
get a letter from the airport, to make it easier to assess your claim. In
some cases, you might even get the cost of your flight back! Lastly,
take note that waiver of liability or indemnity clauses cannot exclude
liability for death or injury if caused by negligence or wilful means,
under the Unfair Contract Terms Act.39 40
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Nature gave us one tongue and two
ears so we could hear twice as
much as we speak. Epictectus
Greek Stoic Philosopher
Administration - Communications SIM Cards
Buy local top-up SIM cards where possible handphone bills upwards
of $1000 are not unheard of, especially with hour-long conversations
with loved ones back home. Ask your host partner to apply for a line on
your behalf if necessary. A much easier alternative is to use local call
booths, and which will usually cost much less than a handphone call
back home.
Satellite phones
Though necessary in mountainous regions, satellite phones dont
always get good reception, especially if an area isnt well covered by
satellites.
Mini Contact lists
This should contain the current roaming and new local numbers of
teammates, the host partner, as well as embassy and hospital.
Call waiting
While we take e-mails for granted as the fastest form of
communication, overseas NGO staff may be out-stationed for
extended periods, and dial-up modems might crawl along at a snails
pace. Your host partner might only have access at the cybercaf and
not the office. One expedition leader in particular was known to have
waited 2 months for a reply to an e-mail! So never hesitate to simply
pick up the phone.
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Grants & subsidies
The best source of expedition funding remains the Youth Expedition
Project grant, currently administered by the National Youth Council.
Visit their website at www.yep.sg for more. Some schools will also
subsidise their students, as part of their youth development budget.FundraisingIts easier to raise money from friends and family for project cost items,
rather than for participant cost. Instead of asking for cash, try asking
them to match the monetary equivalent of specific items, such as a
computer, giving reasons for this need (take note on your recce).
And declare your accounts and how the money was spent post-
expedition to all your donors, thanking them for their contribution.
Donors who made it all possible are sometimes forgotten in the post-
expedition euphoria. This can be done with a simple card, perhaps
written by one of your beneficiaries, or a photo of the refurbished room.
Remittance policies
It might be easy to wire money to your host partner, so that they can
finish the foundation for a house by the time you arrive, but this is
unadvisable unless you trust their integrity. The short story is to be
there when they spend it.
Changing money
Good places to change your money include Peoples Park Complex
and Mustafas Foreign Exchange, especially when you need large
sums for your project. However, in recent times, rates at other major
moneychangers have become more competitive, so do compare for
yourself.
Whichever vendor you choose, do remember to get a certain portion of
your notes in smaller denominations very helpful when you need to
tip people at the airport, and so forth. And watch out for Cambodian
Riels theyre the same colour as US Dollars.
Carry money
When bringing large sums of cash through customs, its advisable to
divide them into separate envelopes between a few people, as somecountries have limits on how much currency can be brought in.
Travellers cheques are another option, useful in Laos where there are
no ATMS (trust us).
Accounting
Appoint a treasurer within the team, preferably someone with previous
experience with money. Physically separate money meant for project
cost and general living expenses. Also, do have a float account, for
unexpected emergencies. Keep a running ledger of all expenses, and
make sure receipts are asked for, and translated where possible. And
watch out for thermal paper, which fades after a month. Photostat!43 44
Administration -finance
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Your team - Team size
Lets go big!
There are 2 schools of thought on this: some believe in bigger
teams, which enable you to carry out projects with a more
ambitious scope (such as infrastructure projects), and which
give greater diversity in terms of what can be contributed.
However, sending teams of anything bigger than 10 may mean
a strain on the resources of your host, and that extra work will
have to be done in order to accommodate you. This can range
from building new toilets to hiring cooks to prepare your meals,
so do understand how your presence affects them.
A more pressing issue is inter-personal communication. Bigger groups
tend to experience more conflict between members, especially when
cliques are formed or some members are perceived to be slacking off.
Behaviour can get juvenile without an experienced facilitator to keep
everyone in line.
Small is beautiful
Others believe that sending small, regular teams of 4-8 people is more
sustainable and effective, since they can integrate better into the dailylives of the locals. Workload is also maximised, since everyone will
have to pull their own weight in a small group. And conflict among
team members is easier to resolve. Skills training can also be
customised.
Another plus point is travel. 8 people can fit nicely into 1 dinner table, 2
taxis or 4 hotel rooms. After all, have you tried flagging down 4 taxis at
the same time?
Sub-groups
A good compromise between large and small teams is simply to breakup a big group into sub-groups, giving them independence to run on
their own during the day (each with its own co-leader) and reuniting at
night. Such an approach has some impact on team unity and identity,
but may also present opportunities to look at an issue from a different
perspective.
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Your team - Team selectionCast your net wide
Do as much pre-trip publicity as you can in order to get critical
mass for your screening/interview stage, otherwise youll fall into
the trap of having to make up numbers and compromising on the
quality of the team. However, selecting only the most experienced
should not be your sole criteria look out for those who may need
the opportunity more.Dropping a team memberYou should have no qualms dropping a participant pre-trip if you
strongly feel that their inclusion would be detrimental to the morale
of the entire team. Its a difficult decision to make, but sometimes
you have to put your foot down. Red flag such participants early
on: if the person is a hassle to attend to pre-trip, be prepared to
expect a lot more during the trip. Counsel them if necessary, and
see if things improve. Be firm yet diplomatic.
Diversity rocks
School groups with same-age youth tend to be homogenous. But
having a heterogeneous group means that people bring different
perspectives and life experiences to the mix. Having a gender-
balanced group allows you to look after both boys and girls among
your beneficiaries. And a racial balance allows you to showcase
the multi-racial aspect of Singapore in cultural performances.
It takes a great deal of courage to
stand up to your enemies, but a
great deal more to stand up to our
friends. Professor Dumbledore to
Harry Potter
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When spider webs unite,
they can tie up a lion.
an African proverb
Time frame
A proper expedition takes about 6 months to prepare. But
in reality, the typical expedition team has about 3 months
to get everything together. But it is possible - if you work
as a team.
Ice-breaking
Identity Switch and the Blanket Game are all great for
breaking the ice and learning new names. 2 Truths & 1
Lie is useful for both people who dont know each other,
as well as for people who know each other very well.
Managing expectations
Get these out in the open at the first meeting. Ask the team to set
their own ground rules, personal and group objectives. Then
along the way, remind them of it. It helps to have a rough idea of
whats going to happen, but its better to help them to understand
that change is the only constant. Always hope for the best and
prepare for the worst!
Romantic relationshipsBudding relationships (even cross-country ones) do occur. If
youre a teacher leading a school team, your options are quite
limited. But for open groups where the participants are more
mature, you may choose to exercise a light touch, as long as it
doesnt affect team morale or the project objectives.
Of equal concern is the image you might be projecting of
Singaporeans in general - some rural communities do not look
kindly even on seeing men and women chatting at night, let alone
a romantic attraction. Tread wisely.
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Your team - Team building
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Your team Team bonding
51 52
There are about a hundred different ways to conduct team
bonding sessions. They can be conducted as part of official team
meetings, just before a heavy logistics discussion. Or they can be
organised for their own sake. We suggest just 6 ways here.
However you choose to do it, one thing remains in common do
it before you leave. Participants have to be comfortable
interacting and working with each other, so that theyll hit the
ground running where you get there, allowing you to focus on the
project at hand.
#1. Overnight camps
Organising it may turn out to be like another expedition,
but the rewards are immense.
#2. Games like Human Knots
Remember, the objective is not about undoing the knot.
But rather, this is an excellent opportunity to observe how
the team behaves under pressure. Facilitation is key here.
#3. Hike to Bukit Timah
Easy and quick to implement. Again, its not about
reaching the top, but how you get there as a group.
#4. Fundraising flea market
Good excuse for everyone to stay in one place and get to
know each other. And of course, raise funds!
#5. Food!
What better way to get used to the cuisine of the countryyoure going to, then to sample it together in Singapore?
#6. Pre-trip community service project
An excellent opportunity to focus the teams energies.
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Those who fail to
plan, plan to fail.
Anonumous
Your team - Coordination tips Regular scheduled programming
Schedule your meetings for an entire month in advance, say
every Tuesday, so that people will keep that day just for theproject. Knowing in advance when youre going to meet would
also circumvent distractions like project deadlines and tests by
giving people enough time to prepare.
Soft and hard tactics
Use a tried-and-tested combination of 1) cajoling, 2) persuasion
and finally 3) coercion to gather your team for meetings and
activities. Combine business-like team meetings with a movie
afterwards, so that the team can get to know each other on a
personal basis as well.
Plan, plan, plan
Have a time table planned out so that you can see which are the
critical tasks that need to be take care of each month, and in the
different phases of pre-expedition, expedition phase and post-
expedition. Simple to do, but itll save you countless headachesdown the line.
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Your team - Language barriers This is the difference maker in expeditions. You may have thebest plans laid out, but if your team is not willing to pick up the
local language and stubbornly sticks to using English, then youre
just tourists looking for a different holiday.
Knowing even a few words of the local language will immediately
open doors of understanding into the lives of your beneficiaries,
and is the strongest signifier of your sincere interest in their lives
and culture.
Do make it a point to know at least 20 words and phrases of the
local language before you leave and dont wait till you get there
to start learning. Find someone in Singapore who will teach you.
And if you dont manage to get any practise in by the time you
leave, an airplane packed with locals is a great place to bring
them up to speed. Give them an assignment to learn 20 words by
the time they touchdown!
But if youre really sincere about wanting to be able to
understand the complexities of the country that youre going to,
the best way is still to do a language course. NUS Extension
(http://www.nus.edu.sg/nex/list_lllan.htm) has a great range of
classes for Southeast Asian languages available. Tutors there
have at least a relevant Masters degree, and will give you a
strong foundation over 8-10 weeks.
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Language is the blood of the
soul into which thoughts run
and out of which they grow. -
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
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Greetings
It seems common sense enough, but simple courtesies such
as greeting people in the local way are appreciated. Do note
the variations involved for example, Thais have 5 slightly
different ways of greeting, depending on whether its a god,
elder, peer or child.
Translators
Central to inter-cultural communication is the need to
precisely comprehend nuances in language. You might end
up with someone who summarises a 5-minute conversation
with just one sentence, or run into a couple of university
students who want the opportunity to practise their English.
But in any case, dont forget to take care of them they can
become your best friends.
Variations
Also do take note of the differences between national
languages and regional dialects, city vs. village variants. For
example, people in northernmost Thailand dont speak Thai
at all. In any case, stick to what your host community uses, or
get a phrase book. And as a last resort, be creative and use
sign language and drawings to get your message across.
And bring calculators if youre bargaining at the markets!
Your team - Language barriers
Body language
Your copy of Lonely Planet will probably do a better job of
explaining this, but do be aware the language isnt just conveyed
by what you speak. For example, in Thailand, pointing with your
feet when you sit down and patting a person on the head are
rude, as is pointing at something with your index finger in some
Muslim cultures. And crossing your arms is almost universally a
sign of defensiveness or just being cold.
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Your team - DelegationShould I delegate?
You should always avoid carrying the weight of the world on your
shoulders. Its heavy. Even if youre a school teacher whos been
assigned specifically to do this task, it doesnt mean that yourstudents can sit back and watch you organise everything. In a
service-learning framework, the delegation of duties among the
team members provides an excellent opportunity to challenge
themselves.
How do I delegate?
Ideally, everyone volunteers themselves to fill up the various
roles. But as is often the case, youll have to delegate. Its good
for each team member to have at 1 pre-expedition and 1
expedition role to play. Do create sub-committees that each
person can sign up for.
Job descriptions
Facilitator just as important as the leader
Assistant leader to look after the team in your absence
Programmes responsible for a specific component, say readingLogistics making sure everything makes its way there
Fundraising bringing in the project cost
Finance looking after the purse strings
Documentation doing photography and videography
Language the experts who can do some translation
Medical provide first aid, but lets hope you never use them
Teamwork is no
accident. It is the by-
product of good
leadership. John Adair
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Transportation - budget airlines Transportation - travel agents
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Transportation budget airlines
Expedition teams need a block booking, so do get on the
mailing lists of budget airlines like Jetstar Asia and Tiger
Airways to hear about the latest offers. Get participants to pay
upfront for their air tickets, as a confirmation of their interest in
the project. Its also less sticky if someone has to pull out at the
eleventh hour the responsibility of getting a refund (if at all)lies with them. Watch your luggage limit too.
Oh, and do carbon offset your flights if possible.
http://www.climatecare.org/
Transportation travel agents
If youre not going for a budget destination, its important to
have a good travel agent. It might seem more convenient to
go for the big guns like Chan Brothers, but mega travel
agents are usually more interested in selling travel packages
then worrying about every single part of your itinerary.
And when it comes to making last-minute changes to your
flight ticket, group discounts, and making open jaw bookings,
small agencies are much more accommodating. Here are
some travel agents who have treated us well. Do compare
them with other travel agents for the best deals.
Misa Travel
Blk 531A Upper Cross Street, #03-106. E-mail Ida at
[email protected], or call 6538 0318.
Choice Travels & Tours
The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street, #03-46. Ask for Jina Joseph
at [email protected], or call 67206878.
Palm Travel
15 Queens Street, #04-03, Tan Chong Tower. Contact
Georgin Loo at [email protected], or 63349233.
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Transportation in-countryTrains
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Transportation in country
Is the vehicle youre planning to travel in safe? Its a
commonly asked question, but one which you might have
no answers to. Here are some precautions you can take to
lower your risk profile.
Planes
Some domestic carriers may come across as cheap, but
check that against their reputation and propensity for
delayed flights. Also, some airport conveyor belts have a
funny habit of spitting out your bags with the flimsy lock you
used wrenched open this can be avoided by simply using
a much more intimidating lock.
If youre taking an overnight sleeper train, invest in a padlock and
chain, to ensure that your whole backpack doesnt go missing the
next morning. Keep your valuables close to you.
Buses
Avoid the rush hour/last buses as far as possible. If its not
possible, look out for gender segregated seats some countries
have female-only seats in buses, for instance. And make sure
that your female participants dont commute alone such
confined spaces may invite opportunistic sexual harassment.
Jeeps
If youre going to be traversing the mountain side, find a jeep and
driver you can trust. Car pooling for jeeps is quite common. Oh,
and keep your limbs within the vehicle.
Tuk tuks / autos / songthaews
Likely to do detours and take you on the scenic route in Bangkok,
or be unlicensed and run into police trouble in Laos in addition
to introducing you to the best of street level pollution. Make sureyou at bargain hard before you start, if theres no meter.
Vehicle capacity
Understand first that there is no such thing. But here are some
numbers that have been eye-witnessed: family of 5 for a bike, 6
for a tuk-tuk (one on each side of the driver), 14 for a jeep. So far.
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A d ti S tti Clean up
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Accommodation - Setting up camp Clean up
Once they reach base, the tendency for most teams is to simply
unpack all they have and start setting up their own little villages. Stop.
Instead, mobilise the team, while the sleeping area is still unused, todo a thorough clean up of your living quarters. Decide where your wet
clothes are going to hang, and whose feet are going to be in whose
face at night. Youll thank yourselves when hygiene standards start
dropping.
Theft
Your host partner might be clean as a whistle, but theres no guarantee
that his neighbours will behave likewise. Padlock all bags when leaving
the room (especially if its an open concept hostel). Its not just about
protecting yourself its also about protecting your hosts from
suspicion.
Blackouts/brownouts
Can be quite common in the rural areas in developing countries, and
might happen at a fixed hour every day, which may affect your
schedule. Check in advance with your hosts. As an alternative, hookup a couple of car batteries they can last 2 weeks!
Maps
Have maps back to your base camp from the nearest landmark,
annotated with the address in the local language. At if youre putting up
at a hotel for the night, remember to get their name cards.
6665
When one door of happiness
closes, another opens; but
often we look so long at the
closed door that we do not
see the one which has been
opened for us. Helen Keller
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Accommodation food Marketing
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Accommodation - food Marketing
As an outsider with little concept of how much goods actually cost
at the wet market, youre liable to get hoodwinked if you go
bargaining on your own. Where convenient, entrust your money toone of your host partners, or even tag along to see how the
haggling is done and then do it yourself!
Singapore food
Bring ingredients from Singapore, not just because you miss
home-cooked food, but also because its a great opportunity to
share your local cuisine with your hosts. Easy-to-prepare comfort
foods are useful for when someone is down with stomach flu.
Halal food
Some countries have this in short order (Laos comes to mind), so
do check with your team members on where their tolerance level
is. Remember, no pork no lard is not the same as halal, and some
Muslim restaurants may not even have the halal certificate. An
alternative would be to stock up in the city Bangkoks 7-11 stores
stock halal food, for example.
Disparity
One group in Indonesia encountered a situation where all the
children on the host side ate Indo Mee everyday, whereas the
Singapore team got meat to eat, as part of the hosts hospitality.
No easy answers here.
Dietary requirements
You will have team members with dietary restrictions.
Some may be Jews who take only kosher food, or lacto-
vegetarians (ie. not even eggs and milk), others may
simply be petulant and eat only white rice for 15 straightdays (true story here). Whatever the case, ask in advance
what their situation is.
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Accommodation - foodVegetarian food
If youre going to India, vegetarian food can be found in every
other restaurant. And remember, just because its vegetarian
food, it doesnt mean that its halal too.
Fruits
As a rule of thumb, if theyve been left lying in the open, forget
it. Especially if its cut watermelon, which has a tendency to
absorb bacteria. So eat only those which have been washedbefore hand and freshly cut (or peeled by your hand), and even
then in small amounts. Supplement with multivitamins.
Kitchen help
Helping out in the kitchen might not be on your list of your
teams things to accomplish, but its a great way to integrate
yourself into the daily living of your hosts, by understanding first
hand how much trouble it takes to cook the extra side dishes
for your teams lunch.
Cultural acclimatisation
No roadside food, however tempting it looks, unless you
actually see the entire process of cooking in front of you. And
eat where the locals eat thats usually a safe bet. And
accepting food from friendly villagers? Now, thats another story
altogether.
Case StudyA team to Kolkata happened to have a chef on their
team who wanted to cook spaghetti for the girls in a
shelter home. The home superintendent said that the
girls wouldnt like it, but the team was persistent. The
spaghetti turned out great (or so we thought), but the
girls politely took a bite and then declined to finish it. It
was a lesson in trusting your host, especially when it
comes to matters of food.
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Accommodation -Water #2 Purifying Tablets
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You can also dissolve those purifying tablets each time you drink,
but take note Puritabs needs a minimum amount of water, and
at least an hour to dissolve. But even with the best of all
precautions, you can still fall ill due to travellers diarrhoea
when you start drinking water which though clean, has a different
composition.
#3 Adapt
Drinking less than clean water is unavoidable, and if you want to
avoid it at all costs, it's possible (though troublesome), but in the
long run, it pays to build up your resistance to such germs. A
practical recommendation is simply to adapt. Start off with regular
mineral water. Then go for restaurant-served water. Try taking
small sips to see if your stomach likes it. If it doesn't agree, cut it
out altogether. Otherwise, take increasingly larger amounts of
water until comfortable.
Sharing water
Oh, and if youre sharing water, dont touch your lips to the mouth
of the bottle its a quick way for germs to transmit between
people. A group in Bangalore once contracted stomach flu in this
way.
Yes, there are urban legends such as the team which sent a
few cartons of mineral water by Fed Ex. Or the girl who fainted
from dehydration because the toilet was too far away and so
she didnt drink water so that she wouldnt need to go. So pay
attention.
#1 Mineral Water
You can be extra fastidious about it buying only bottled water
that comes in a carton and not singly packed in order to avoid
repackaged water, double boiling your water, and even
brushing your teeth with this water instead of the tap. But youll
also waste a tremendous amount of plastic in the process.
However, in Cambodia and Laos you have the option of getting
20 gallon containers which are reusable.
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Accommodation Alcohol Accommodation Smoking
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Accommodation Alcohol
Leaders may be asked to drink alcohol as part of hospitality.
Do balance the risk of offending your host against the
possible negative impression of Singaporeans that may
result. In some village communities, alcohol has destroyed
entire families, and so if you reveal that youre a drinker
(however casual or social), you may be viewed with suspicion
in the eyes of villagers. Avoid drinking in front of children.
Stay sober on the plane, so that youll look fresh for the
customs officials. Oh, and there are some legitimate reasons
to reject a drink: 1) Im under-aged, 2) Im allergic, 3) Its
against my religion
Accommodation Smoking
75 76
The issue of girls smoking is a tricky one. While commonly
accepted in Singapore, in some rural communities, this can beinterpreted as a certain sort of looseness, and at the very
least invites some unkind comments.
The safer route then is for all smokers, guys and girls, to simply
practice smoking tactically. This may involve traveling a bit off-
site in order to indulge in a puff, or designating a smokers
room.
And at all times, smokers should be mindful of the health of
non-smokers in the group, who do suffer due to second-hand
smoke.
What is true success in life?
It means winning in your
battle with yourself.
Daisaku Ikeda
A d ti S it ti
Toilet paper
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Accommodation -Sanitation
Out of sight, out of mind. This is the typical Singaporean
attitude towards our faeces, which is fine when you have a
state-of-the-art waste treatment system. But in a rural
environment, it can end up polluting the surrounding
groundwater (and wells) or open water systems such as
rivers.
In some cases, waste disposal and sewage systems may
not be in place (such as in Sabah), and your team may be
required to construct them from scratch. As much as is
possible, do try to adapt to local systems. In any case, do
be sensitive to situations where the size of the team
impacts on the local infrastructure.
p p
Be scrupulous with the amount you use, and avoid plush 3-
ply varieties. Youre very likely to choke sewage systems
which have been working well for years, and cause the septictank to overflow. Nasty business, that. One way to avoid this
is to have a waste paper basket just next to the bowl, which
you can tie up and dispose of separately.
Ecological sanitation
Fortunately, there is a solution. Together, faeces and urine
mixed can be a lethal combination, full of bacteria-carrying
pathogens. But separate them from the start, and not only do
you eliminate the odours, but after a while, you also end up
with 2 different sets of fertilisers! The process is a little more
complicated than this space allows, so read more at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_sanitation
Food waste disposal
Separating your biodegradable rubbish from the rest is a
good solution. As is separating your wet waste (ie. leftovers)from your dry waste. Even better if you know how to do
composting!
Sanitary pads
Some cultures have strict guidelines on how these should be
disposed (such as burning it instead of binning it), so do
check beforehand.77 78
Logistics the airport Count Your Bags
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Youre just emerged from a cramped plane after 4 hours,
looking forward to seeing your host partner, and eager to getout of the airport as fast as possible. But then you get stuck
at customs. The airport is the first major hurdle that the team
crosses together. And doing it well means that youre starting
off on the right foot. So here are some tips to help you get
through it.
Singapore flag
Having this stitched on your shoulder makes things a little
more proper, but make sure you comply with regulations.
(http://www.sg/explore/symbols_flag_guideline.htm)
It seems simple enough. But overlooking it could mean disaster. To
make it even easier, tag your bags with a brightly coloured ribbons,
so that you can spot them from a mile away on the baggage
carousel.
Survival Luggage
Go through customs hoping for the best, but also fully expecting that
your backpack may go missing. Make sure that youll be able to
survive for a day with whats in your carry-on.
Carry the right bag
Cardboard boxes set off alarm bells in the minds of customs officials
looking to charge taxes, and usually get inspected. To get your box
of teddy bears or exercise books across, use those semi-circulartravel bags given out for package tours. And spread out your
donations between different bags.
Let the guys
Yes, this is an age of gender equality, but when you step into a
patriarchal society, it helps to have your tallest (and friendliest) guy
participant to do the negotiations, regardless of whether the
expedition leader is female.
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TechnologyP l id l b hi d
Logistics Other Gear
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Security
o Money belt never let your passport out of your sight, or at
least, away from your body. If your chosen hostel doesnt
provide a safe, or if your work site is too unsafe, consider
leaving them with your local embassy.
o ATM card as long as it has the Cirrus or Plus logo on the
back, you can draw money from most overseas ATMs. Do
note however, that there is a small service charge.
o Small travelling locks to secure belongings in your
lodging, especially if youre staying in a dorm with other
travellers. Number locks do not work well, and small locks
can be pried open. So do invest in a solid lock. For overnight
train travel, an additional chain is necessary to prevent
people from whisking the entire bag away.
Blend in
o Local ethnic clothes not just for your multi-racial Rasa
Sayang dances, wearing appropriate attire ensures that you
dont attract the wrong sort of attention.
o Female clothing girls should pay special care to the local
customs, which may frown upon the baring of knees or
shoulders. And dont forget high-waisted pants, to avoid
inadvertent exposure when you bend down to do work.
o Polaroid camera so you can leave behind some
memories for your host!
o Universal electrical plug adaptor & multiplugs look for
these at your local hardware store or at Mustafas. Take
note of voltage conversion if necessary.
o Laptop only if youre a diehard flashpacker, or need to
edit movies on the go. One per team is more than enough.
o Flashlight with batteries rechargeable is good. Tea light
candles are also useful in blackouts.
Creature comforts
o Sleeping bag examine closely all mattresses that you
sleep on they may be infested with bedbugs. A sleeping
bag is a good backup wherever you go.
o Family photos because people love asking about where
you come from. Bring pictures of Singapore!
o Journals it helps to be able to constantly reflect on your
experience.
o Lip gloss dont be macho about it. Cracked lips hurt.
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g
Medical - general Immunisation
T i l i j ti t t th f t h id h l H A d
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Check up
Dont rely solely on the doctors who sign the declaration form to
prove that your participant is fit for the expedition. One doctor in
particular refused to prescribe a girl an inhaler, seeing that her
childhood asthma had long passed. Because of the chilly
weather during her expedition, she relapsed and nearly lost her
life, if not for the intervention of her teammates. So do find outabout your teams medical history - there might be information
that they didnt think important enough to declare.
Health records
On your team contact list, do list in addition each members
blood type, allergies and past medical conditions. The
usefulness of such information cannot be underestimated.
Typical injections to get are those for typhoid, cholera, Hep A and
tetanus, but do check with the Travellers Clinic at Tan Tock Seng
Hospital. Campus clinics and polyclinics are also good options.
Malaria
You have to start taking malaria pills 2 weeks in advance and
continue for 1 week after your expedition. Theyre not foolproof
either, so do use your sprays and mosquito nets as well.
First aid training
There are several service providers in Singapore, including the
Red Cross and St Johns, but one of the better ones has been
Emergencies First Aid & Rescue. Not only are the courses lively,
but theyre also facilitated by a former paramedic.
Emergency Evacuation Plan
You should have your evacuation procedure planned out. There
are 2 parts to this: a route from your worksite to the nearest
hospital, plus a flowchart which details how information and actionwill occur in the event of an emergency, along with important
numbers such as ISOS, MFA, your host partner and contacts in
Singapore. The condition of some rural hospitals can be atrocious.
You may save time getting to them, but you may not save lives.
Stick with ISOS-approved hospitals, and remember that for rural
locations you need latitude-longitude coordinates, as well as
information about airstrip or helicopter landing sites.83 84
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Facilitation the basicsWh i F ili i ?
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Facilitation the basics
Facilitation is much too broad a topic to cover in this guide.
In fact, its well deserving of a book of its own. And purists
will argue that facilitation isnt something that can be
captured and penned down its more like a life skill that
has to be practised over and over again. Which is not to
say that it cant be learnt it can. Just not in one week.
So where does one practise facilitation, since opportunities
have to be manufactured in the field? Why, in your
everyday situations, for a start. It is a life skill, after all.
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What is Facilitation?
Its a simple enough question, but this is something that you
can make an exercise out of, with some good old Socraticreasoning:
So. What do you guys think facilitation is about?
(for our purposes, lets just pluck a definition from
dictionary.com) Well, it refers to the act of assisting or
making easier the progress or improvement of something.
Ok, thats something to start with. How about in the
expedition context? What is it that we are trying to make
easier or improve?
Well, I suppose were trying to improve the learning journey
of our fellow participants.The learning journey. And how does facilitation improve
that process?
We help the participants reflect on their experiences.
And on it goes. This is an exercise with many possible
variations (you dont have to stick to the above questions),
and no clearcut answers to refer to.
But by the end of the process, you should be able to arrive at
a satisfactory answer for just what facilitation is, and also get
in a bit of practise in facilitation itself.
Facilitation vs. Training Distinction between Trainers andF ilit t
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Training involves moving from the known to the known. It is
focused by a set of specific outcomes or objectivesestablished prior to the training. When designing and
delivering training, a trainer determines clear outcomes and
establishes a plan of action to introduce those outcomes with
learners.
Facilitation involves moving from the known to the unknown.
A facilitator begins with information regarding the situation or
the problem and the participants; however, the outcome or
resolution is not set when the facilitator begins. The design
and plan of action as well as the outcome emerge as the
group works on the situation or problem.
While learning may be a by-product of facilitation, it is not the
primary goal. Facilitators choose from among various
strategies and tools as the interaction evolves.
The facilitator creates a nurturing environment for individuals
to achieve whatever they are comfortable working on in an
undefined timeframe.
Facilitators
Trainers Facilitators
1. Give information and
skill
1. Provide nurturance
2. Direct learning 2. Guide interaction
3. Operate from specified
outcomes
3. Operate from and
overarching goal and a
vision of possibilities
4. Have an established
timeframe
4. Have an undetermined
timeframe
5. Plan the sequence to
achieve the pre-
determined plan
5. Have a repertoire to draw
from but no outcomes
6. Are cognitive 6. Are intuitive
7. Use a priori design 7. Use an in media res
design
8. Move from known to
known
8. Move from unknown to
known
Source: The Zen of Facilitation, by Joellen P. Killion and
Lynn A. Simmons
89 90
Facilitation Basic
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ac tat o as c
If you read this guide and forget everything (or if youre in the
middle of a facilitation session and are feeling panicky), you
should at least try to recall this acronymn: ACTS. These are
the basic actions of a facilitator, as adapted from the EXSEL
Training Guide as provided by Singapore International
Foundation (circa 2003).Acknowledge every one who speaks during a discussion.
Even if several people speak at once, make sure to
acknowledge each one. Also, respond to laughter or a groan
or a deep sigh remember, 90% of communication is
nonverbal.
Clarify what is being said and felt. Say, Let me see if I
understand what you are saying.
Take it to the group as a means of generating discussion.
Dont be the answer person. Ask, What do the others thinkabout what was just said?
Summarisewhat has been said. Offer statements like, So
far it seems like we have been saying
And once you learn these basic steps, then youll be better
able to improvise and try variations.
Facilitation as Conversation
Facilitation at its heart, if you really think about it, is not that
artificial a process. To some extent, we do it everyday in our
lives through conversations, work/study situations.
The difference is that with facilitation, that you become very
conscious of the process, you become involved with how the
conversation is progressing.
You are also concerned that the conversation is a productive
one, that it helps people to get somewhere, even though you
may not know where that somewhere is at the start.
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3 useful attitudes Attitude 3: A sense of community creates a forum for
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Attitude 1: Facilitators trust the groups ability to find its
own direction and resolutionA facilitator believes that the group establishes its own purpose
and is capable of achieving its own outcome. The facilitator
assumes the groups perspective rather than maintaining
his/her own. By listening to the groups discussion and
particularly to the language used, the facilitator discovers both
the surface and underlying issues in the group.
Attitude 2: The facilitator has no preconceived notions
Facilitators believe that groups will generate their own best
solutions. Facilitators give up the need to be right and to heal,
convert, solve, or fix the group. Facilitators take a backseat tothe process and allow the group to drive itself.
a) Go slowly to go fast. In any situation, it is necessary to go
slowly to build relationships, a common knowledge base,
awareness of other viewpoints, and an understanding of one
another before any tasks can be accomplished.
b) Whenever the facilitator is unsure about what to do, he or
she should choose to do nothing. By not intervening, the group
is provided with an opportunity to determine its own next step.
group work.
a) Model attitudes and behavior. Group members attitudes andbehaviours are strongly influenced by the facilitators attitudes
and behaviors.
b) Reveal their thinking. Facilitators further the development of
a community by revealing their observations about behaviours
within the group.
c) Foster independence. Providing opportunities for all group
members to be leaders, thus equalising their sense of power.
d) Stay in the here and now. The facilitator needs to stay in thepresent in order to focus clearly on what is occurring in the
group.
e) Trust their intuition. Facilitators operate not so much from
knowledge of how to but more from gut feelings. Facilitators
develop a seat-of-the-pants feel for what is happening and
what needs to happen next.
Source: The Zen of Facilitation, by Joellen P. Killion and Lynn
A. Simmons
95 96
I prefaced the bluntness of such a question by first relating
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Thought on a first session
To me, the first session is very important in helping to gauge a
groups sentiments about an expedition, and more importantly,
to figure out whether they are in it for the right reasons.
In lieu of actual interviews, which B did over the phone, I had
just a simple question for them to sound out their expectations:
What do you hope to get out of this trip?
how I myself started on a YEP trip to Cambodia for the wrong
reasons. I also explained that it doesnt matter what your
intentions are at the start, its how the process changes youthats more relevant.
One of the participants was honest enough to state that she
was initially in it for the shopping, but after hearing Ss
account of how the boy had to hide under the bed while his
prostitute mother worked, had a change of heart.
Another, who was new to volunteering, felt that she was a
spoiled brat, and was too materialistic. Perhaps the
expedition would change that.
Of course, these were comments were not indicative of the
entire group, who had more predictable goals in mind:
broadening their horizons, seeing more of India culture and
food, an interest in working with the kids, adventure, and
going out of their comfort zone. There were also more
modest aims, such as just wanting to see the differences, or
to be a friend.
I closed the session of sharing by just holding them to the
goals they had set out for themselves, and affirming that at
least they knew what they were going there for.
Facilitation Human Tangle
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Facilitation Human Tangle
How:All the participants stand in a tight circle facing each
other, then reach their right hand over to the opposite side of
the circle and grasp another hand. Then you do the same withthe left hand, making sure that you dont get the hand of the
same person. Then they try to undo the human knot, without
letting go of any hands!
Points of note:if the group is composed of boys and girls,
even if they know each other, take caution as there is close
proximity and stepping under and over people. Skirts are an
issue. The easy solution would be to simply create 2 circles.
Variation:if the group is made of people who have done this
before, or if the knot has few people, make it more challengingby simply asking them to close their eyes.
Questions to ask in facilitation:
If each one of you was a problem in this issue we are facing,
what would you be?
How can we get all the different actors in this situation to co-
operate?
Was there a leader among you who emerged and directed the
efforts?
Who would this be in real life?
Who was the outsider here - was he/she passively watching, or
actively involved in untying the knot?
Does such a person have the best perspective on the situation?
Complications:there are occasions where the knot cannot be
untied, no matter how the participants twist and turn. This is a
Gordian knot, symbolising issues in life that cannot be solved.
99 100
I related this feature of the game to the British colonialists, who
with good intentions came to an India besieged with an array of
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Case Study Human Tangle
That night, I decided to play Human Tangle, in an effort to bring the
larger Indian society into the picture, confined as we were to this
microcosm of this shelter home. It was curious, the way it turned
out.
At first, M didnt want to play and sat it out, but eventually she
joined in, and tried to help the situation from outside. The
interesting thing was that half the group expressed later that they
didnt really need her help; perhaps at the start when the problem
was really complicated, but as it went along, the knots simplified,
and her role became redundant.
g g y
problems, but were forced to leave when the locals saw that
they could handle the problems on their own. Ms character
could have also represented the UN or even groups like us,
and so I facilitated on the question of whether us coming here
was a good or bad thing.
I also used to game to get the group thinking about the various
problems that India faces, asking them to imagine if each ofthem in the knot were a problem, to say that what that problem
was.
Another interesting feature was the 2 breakaway groups of 4
persons each, who somehow managed to disentangle
themselves from the main group. In Js case, he accidentally
unlinked his hands at the start, but joined them back later, but
the loop had been created. And even though the 2 groups may
have at the beginning wanted to be part of the group,
consensus between themselves allowed them to break away.
Naturally, the question of breakaway groups led to the issue of
Pakistan and Bangladesh, and it gave them new insight into
how such a fracture could have occurred.
102101
For example, the roots are the infrastructure or economic
aspects of a society, while the trunk is the meso-structure or
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Facilitation Social Tree
This activity will help participants to appreciate the differences
in socio-cultural-political structures of the host country and
Singapore. Youll need flip chart paper and coloured markers
for this.
Begin by having the group name the main parts of a tree, ie.
roots, trunk, branches, leaves and fruits. Explain that each part
represents a system in the country they are in.
p y,
political aspects, and the leaves are the superstructure or
ideological aspects of a society.
In essence, the tree acts as a metaphor for a country - they can
elaborate on this in their drawing of a tree. Do birds nest in this
tree? Is it infested with bugs? How does it cross pollinate?
Some groups will take it a step further and use a different type
of tree, such as a coconut tree, mangrove tree, banyan tree, or
even a cactus, reflecting the cultural diversity of the locations
they are in.
And so, do encourage your participants not to draw a typical
tree as they learnt in kindergarten, but to draw a tree as it reallyis. The possibilities really are endless here, as long as they can
explain it.
103 104
Safety precautions:Each person in the circle must adopt the
correct stance which is to have both feet grounded one in
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Facilitation Glass Bottle
This is essentially a trust game. A small group forms a tight
circle around one of their members, who will have his/her eyes
closed and arms crossed over their shoulders/by their side.
This person then imagines that he/she is a glass bottle, with
feet together and knees arent locked or bent, just loose. They
can then fall in any direction they wish.
People in the circle then have to buffer the persons fall by
using both hands to bolster the shoulders, then slowly push
them back to their original position, so that they can fall in
another direction. For total strangers, this might require a circleof 6-8 people in order for the person in the middle to feel
confident.
correct stance, which is to have both feet grounded, one in
front of the other, and both arms stretched forward with palms
open. Only when the circle says Ready and the person in themiddle responds with Ready, does the game begin.
As an additional precaution, there can be 1 facilitator per group,
who walks around the circle or behind the weaker members, as
a second layer of protection.
Facilitation:After playing this game for a while, the person in
the middle might find the motion of being rocked back and forth
enjoyable. But theres always the chance that someone might
be let go because of complacency.
The physical hurt might not be significant, but the real damage
is to the relationship. The person in the middle might find that
he/she is no longer able to trust those around him/her, and lose
confidence altogether. How do you build back such a trust that
has been damaged?
106105
This is often the case - when a group of people have to live
with each other 24/7 for a few weeks, they will naturally get to
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Facilitation Life Journey
Life Journey is a great opportunity to develop group trust, as
well as to give individuals some insight on where their lives
have taken them.
Youll need large pieces of mahjong paper, lots of markers
and reflective music. Choose an area conducive for this
activity, such as a rooftop.
Begin the activity by sharing a personal story of your own,
and share with them how you have found Life Journeys or
expeditions beneficial.
y y g
know a lot about each other - and even some things that their
friends back in Singapore might not!
Life Journeys can be drawn in several ways - some people
use a linear approach, while others use a mindmap or even
radial structures. It may be filled with words, or just a few
basic symbols, which the person elaborates upon. It may
touch on major turning points in a persons life, or the people
they have met.
Recognise that each presentation is unique and reflective of
that individual. It is important that the person sharing should
not be interrupted until he/she has finished sharing.
And dont force people to share - if they feel uncomfortable
sharing, give them the option of sharing at another session
instead. Giving the person time and space is crucial - when
they do share, it may help you to see them in a different light.
107 108
But the way in which she did it was quite unsettling, since she
would ask a particular person out of the blue to share about a
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Case Study The 2ndfacilitator
Because she saw that I was being deliberately laissez-faire in
my facilitation approach, she somehow became overzealous
about her involvement in the various programmes.
Her unplanned and awkward forays into ongoing lessons
often upset the programme ICs, and often sidetracked
lessons that were already doing quite well.
At one point, she even decided to take over the facilitator role
during a facilitation session. Ordinarily, I would not have
minded, since I believe strongly in initiative and
empowerment.
would ask a particular person out of the blue to share about a
particular experience they had during the day. This was forced
self-disclosure, and could make a person clam up later on.
Although L and I both admired her initiative and drive, we were
both in a quandary about exactly how we should address it,
since confronting her about it might drive her in the opposite
direction. There was a lot of useful energy; it was just a matter
of channelling it.
My solution was to drop her a note. Our group had a message
board, where group members could address each other notes.
I left one unsigned that said, A strength, when overused, can
become a weakness.
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I did it not so much to actually get them to speak up, but more
t k th i b t h th
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Case Study Work distribution
Work load distribution became an issue today, especially since
it seemed that some people people were slacking off in the
rooms while others were busy teaching.
And so during the sharing session, I tried to provoke the group
today by asking people whove been complaining about othersto speak out. (This is the part where we hear crickets.)
so to make the group conscious about whom among them
has been pulling their weight. And hopefully, prod them into
action.
In closing, I try to heal the wound I opened by suggesting that
this could all be just a perception on the part of some people,
and that just because someone was out of sight, didnt mean
that they werent involved in another task.
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Documentation & Media Phot