Training Reports

Photos from this training:

• Buying Supplies for De’Ang Village Training
• Dinner Planning Session for De’Ang Village Training
• De’Ang Village Training Slideshow

Videos from this training:

• Buying Fruits for De’Ang Village Training
• De’Ang Music and Dancing in the Dark
• HIV/AIDS Training by a Single Lightbulb

As usual, our training staff bought our goods (mosquito coils, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, fruit and some candies) for the training in Mangshi city and then drove to the village area as a group, stopping for dinner to plan the night’s activities at a roadside local restaurant with great food. When we finished dinner, we got back in the trucks and tackled the grueling mountain road that leads to the De’ang village (not so nice!).

We arrived and began unpacking and preparing for the night’s events. The village was obviously very poor. Usually there is a cement square and some buildings or some space for us to do our training in. In this village there was just a dirt square, with one light bulb dangling on a wire to provide the meeting area with light.

When the villagers arrived around 9 pm we introduced our group, and gave an introduction of the nights activities. Then we divided them in groups (men, women, and children respectively) and started. First we ask some questions about the village, then introduce basic HIV prevention information and continue with more advanced information depending on the level of the group. We finish with a sort of competition where the various groups can showcase what they have learnt and they receive prizes for participation, and answering correctly.

The level of understanding in the village of HIV prevention and related health and social awareness was particularly high, especially among the youth. There were a few incorrect answers coming from the older men but not too many, and everyone laughed and instructed those with incorrect answers before we even got a chance to.

The turnout and participation was very rich, and their spirit very warm–one of the most well-attended sessions we have ever had. Perhaps it had been a long time since an outside group had come in to visit the village, or maybe it was just their style of hospitality, but young and old came out and played music and danced, many wearing their traditional clothing and best outfits. They seemed truly interested and participated well, and were sad to have us leave when we did (near midnight!); we could have stayed and danced with them till much later if it were up to them.