"Field notes": Health care worker training

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of joining about 70 Togolese volunteers in an international organization’s annual regional training.  The volunteers are healthcare representatives in their communities and the training was an opportunity for me to practice my French, local language, network, and begin to build relationships with potential work partners.  Also, the training provided me with some valuable insight into what a professional training session can look like here in Togo. 

The training is scheduled to start at 8:00am, most of us are in attendance by 8:30am and we begin by 9:00am at the latest.  As we ease into our structured training, both in the morning and in the afternoon, the program begins with someone telling a story – which is not at all necessarily related to health work – this gives someone other than the instructor the floor, and assembles everyone’s listening ears.  If it is the beginning of the day, after the story we establish group norms and designate the chief of the group and six group leaders for the day.  If it is the afternoon, the group chief recounts our morning lesson.  About 30 minutes later, the topic of our segment begins.  The instructor discusses, writes the key points on the blackboard, and the students dutifully take notes in their notebooks with two different colored writing utensils.  When making straight lines – such as underlining a word – students use one utensil as a ruler.  The instructor involves students by recalling their background knowledge, asking about local beliefs, inquiring “vrai, or faux?”, and encouraging questions throughout the lesson.  At the conclusion of each segment, there is a designated time for questions.  Students answer one another’s questions and the instructor reinforces correct answers, allows peers to correct inaccuracies, and jumps in when truth needs to be solidified.

We are in a classroom – a concrete room.  Two sides of the room allow sunlight and air through as these walls look to be made of cinderblocks, without cement between the holes.  Each set of desks is composed of two bench-like structures, the chair shorter than, and behind, the desk.  We fit two students comfortably to each set.  Of the 35 students in class, there are about five mothers.  The babies’ coos are a constant background noise and neighbors contribute to each infant’s entertainment, sometimes lending an orange, a water bottle, or another potential amusement.  We are all adults – ages about 24-50 – so we leave and attend to other business at our own freewill.  We support particularly insightful responses and with a clap routine.  If the class has lost attention, the group chief initiates a call and response of the international organization.  He calls, we respond, we are all focused again.  At the end of the day, we sing. 

We break in the morning around 10:00am, share sodas and a local snack for 30 minutes.  We break again 12:00pm-2:30pm for lunch.  Although everyone has a mobile phone, I notice only one other wristwatch in the room.  I suppress my urgency when I am about to rush back after lunch – being only 5 minutes early, rather than the professional 15, is not reason to fret – in fact, I make a quick pause for a treat.  After class starts around 3:00pm, we share refreshments around 4:00pm.  Training is over by 5:30pm at the latest.  The day has cooled; it is time to go home.  I enjoy this pace of life.  I feel healthier, calmer, refreshed, balanced.