NESFAS collaborates closely with indigenous communities, recognising them as knowledge holders and leaders for a sustainable future. Community representatives, known as Community Facilitators or CFs, are appointed from all NESFAS partner communities, and contribute local knowledge from the grassroots level. NESFAS works together with the CFs to revive, defend and promote Indigenous Food Systems.
In order to optimise their leadership skills, empower the communities, and their peers in the Agroecology Learning Circles (ALCs) contributing to our current project “Empowering Indigenous Communities through Agroecology Learning Circles (ALCs) for resilient, integrated and innovative natural resource management” supported by MBMA and funded by the World Bank, a series of Leadership Development Programmes a series of Leadership Development Programmes were facilitated by NESFAS for the CFs, organised by the State Institute of Rural Development, in Nongsder, Ri-Bhoi.
The Programme was divided into three clusters- one each for the Community Facilitators of Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo Hills, and each session lasting for three days, commencing from March 10 till April 8, 2022. The curriculum of the programme was designed to hone their leadership and communication skills. They were also trained in basic documentation and storytelling skills.
Day one started off with ice-breaking sessions- 100 participants introduced themselves, shared the meanings of their names, and also narrated stories such as one good incident that happened to them in the previous year, and thus, the participants were comfortable and ready for the training on the right note.
The communications session, led by the NESFAS Communications team, consisted of basic photography, content sharing techniques, digital media, documentation and storytelling. The participants were given the basic ingredients for effective communication using visual tools to enhance their presentation skills and up their role in their community as facilitators and grassroots storytellers. The session brought forward interesting stories from the ground which are often neglected by the mainstream media.
Bah Khraw Wahlang, Adviser for Innovation, Community Empowerment, M&E, NESFAS, undertook a session on the importance of the formation of ALCs coupled with the advantages it has on soil health and sustainability for the farmers at large in the long run.
Bah Baiar Kharbuli, guest faculty of SIRD, facilitated the second day, and reflected on various topics such as leadership qualities and ways to develop it, causes of leadership failures, managing people effectively, and differentiating between a boss and a leader. Through innovative means such as activities, exercises, and audio-visual media, Bah Kharbuli effectively sent the message home. It made the participants look back and ponder about themselves and their shortcomings. They also learned communication skills and how to effectively lead their communities with the power of words.
The final day of the session was taken by Kong Alma Dohling, Faculty Member at SIRD, who spoke on Conflict: Definition, Causes and Solutions. This helped the participants gain new insights and perspectives on the said topic. By the final day, they were well-acquainted with one another and had well-versed themselves on the importance of team-playing and cooperation for better leadership and communication.
On asking about her thoughts on the training programme, Mrs. Pemmodini M Sangma, CF of Mandalgre, East Garo Hills, said, “When my community selected me to work with NESFAS, I was very hesitant at first, thinking I will not be able to take up the responsibility. But after coming here and attending these sessions, I have learned about what it is to be a leader. I would like to thank the resource person, Bah Baiar for enlightening us, and I would also like to thank my community for believing in me and for choosing me.”
Bah Kharbuli shared, “I have conducted many programmes as such, in schools, colleges, and other institutes, but I have never seen a group so diverse as this.” He also wished and motivated the participants with kind words and expressed, “I speak this from my heart. I see something different in all of you. Go back home and lead your communities. Thank you for showing enthusiasm and paying attention.”
The programme came to a fruitful end, with the community facilitators expressing their utmost satisfaction on their new-found wisdom and learning, each promising to go back and lead their respective communities in marching towards a sustainable future full of prosperity. Through this we hope that the participants will be better leaders and the indigenous communities will grow. Through their hard work and dedication, their indigenous knowledge will spread to the rest of the world.
