Run-up to Rio: impressions from the peer facilitator training, day 3

Every morning I am woken up by a whistle being blown from outside the hotel and a bunch of guys screaming instructions at each other. Football! They start practising at 2 am! Infact, they never leave that football pitch! Oh yes, this is Brazil!

Day 2 of the second ever peer facilitation programme has seen us do a variety of interactive training sessions especially voice coaching which undoubtedly is one of the most important tools in the communication method for the magic to happen effectively. Yes, you guessed it – a football has been involved several times! How is our little secret! This is Brazil! You could say that we are now getting down and dirty in the nitty gritty of the training with lead facilitator extraordinaire John Martin having to massage a few shoulders and necks to get those voices well projected!

The programme and content are all set for the very soon kick off day of the summit and we have had an introductory brainstorm about what will be happening thorough out the days and especially the how to part in channelling our energies towards a well handled summit. We are in agreement that the peer facilitation programme is there so as to keep the participants well connected with each other regardless of their backgrounds in motivating partnerships amongst them. The peers will also serve to keep the wider Global Changemakers sphere up to speed as to how all participants will be engaging each other in the creation of projects and activism that will lift their profiles and portfolios to another level.

From a roller coaster of energisers to team building exercises, we are all getting into grips with the whole idea of facilitating an event that will have 60 people into one room for an intense 7 day learning and sharing amongst the best youth of the Latin America, Caribbean and a portion from the rest of the world. We have indeed been flexing almost every muscle to ensure that we are able to deliver a programme that will be just and even more inspiring and welcoming to the new Changemakers.

Cheers from Brazil wink
Jermain Ndhlovu, Global Changemaker Zimbabwe