the guerilla guide to youth expeditions

8/14/2019 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

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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.

49 50

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.

55 56

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

59 60

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.

63 64

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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Vegetarian food


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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.

71 72

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.

73 74

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.

79 80

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.

81 82

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.

87 88

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

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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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