TRAINING CONTINUES

With four out of the five days this week declared holidays, only Wednesday is a work day, it's a testimony of the desire of many in this country to learn that our training and lectures continue each day.

Dr. Jordan Greenbaum lectured yesterday for the staff at Crosslinks and today she is lecturing in the morning at the Humanitarian University and this afternoon consulting and sharing with a group of doctors and nurses at the children's hospital in Bishkek. Later in the day she and Peggy will be travelling to an orphanage that cares for disabled children. The director has requested Dr. Jordan come and share with her staff.

After ten days of working with the staff at the Humanitarian University, Chris Tappen left to return to the States. Chris has been and continues to work with the staff on the implementation of a Child Welfare specialization into the five year Social Work program.

Ruby's training schedule this week includes four full days with the staff at SOS in Bishkek plus a staff training day at Dayspring.

Although the days are long and tiring, starting shortly after 6am and ending around 7 pm, the impact of "Training as a catalyst for change" cannot be underestimated. As participants experience competency based training, the word spreads and the requests for additional training increases dramatically. As one participant shared with me: "We have never seen or experienced such training, please, please, teach us more".

As the time for this trip starts to wind down, we realize the urgency of establishing national trainers - those who can continue the training in our absence. We have identified a group of about 24 potential trainers and have completed a three day TOT, Training of Trainers, with them. What remains for them is the training of content. That will require an additional 16 days of training before they can start their involvement in the newly established training system.

We are very excited as we consider the long term implications for children and families in this country. As we have said before, we have a vision of Kyrgyzstan Without Orphans. Every child deserves a loving. caring, nurturing family.

Thank you for your support. Training is not inexpensive in terms of travel, materials, translation and implementation. When you consider the steps outlined in "When Helping Hurts" - the steps of Relief, Restoration and Development, it is the Development piece that will bring permanent change.