The power of change Plan Sudan promotes community volunteers to change lives of women and children
The talent of individual volunteers who can use their skills to empower others is often rare. For 34 year old Intissar Elobeid - a dynamic young woman who lives in Kassala State, volunteering is all about making a difference to the people who need a helping hand.
Intissar has dedicated much of her spare time over the past 10 years, supporting Plan Sudan programs in Elgineed community – River Atbara Program Unit. She is committed, intelligent and always available to support and engage all members of her community, no matter their age.
“The best thing about being volunteers is promoting change and becoming part of it. When we first started, all the women in my community didn’t know how to read and write, they were unaware of the issues that affect their lives. But now through the Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques (REFLECT) program supported by Plan Sudan, more than 200 Women in Elgineed community know how to read and write. We have made the change possible through REFLECT,” says Intissar. She is a facilitator for one of the REFLECT circles.
Women hand made products
REFLECT is an innovative approach to adult learning and social change promoted by Plan in Sudan. The programme empowers groups of learners to develop their own learning materials and activities (e.g. drama, story-telling and songs) which reflect their socioeconomic and political circumstances. As such, the development of literacy and other related skills is closely linked to people’s everyday life
As an active member of the community development committee, Intissar not only works with other community volunteers but also visits families and REFLECT groups supported by Plan Sudan’s child centred community development programme. For her, the REFLECT program implemented by Plan Sudan is a perfect match for the women in her community.
“The program helped create social links for the families. Women have become more of producers than consumers, as they are more proactive and innovative. They produce furniture and decoration items using locally available materials and sell them to villages and neighboring communities” said Intissar.
Intissar has dedicated much of her spare time over the past 10 years, supporting Plan Sudan programs in Elgineed community – River Atbara Program Unit. She is committed, intelligent and always available to support and engage all members of her community, no matter their age.
“The best thing about being volunteers is promoting change and becoming part of it. When we first started, all the women in my community didn’t know how to read and write, they were unaware of the issues that affect their lives. But now through the Regenerated Freirean Literacy through Empowering Community Techniques (REFLECT) program supported by Plan Sudan, more than 200 Women in Elgineed community know how to read and write. We have made the change possible through REFLECT,” says Intissar. She is a facilitator for one of the REFLECT circles.
Women hand made products
REFLECT is an innovative approach to adult learning and social change promoted by Plan in Sudan. The programme empowers groups of learners to develop their own learning materials and activities (e.g. drama, story-telling and songs) which reflect their socioeconomic and political circumstances. As such, the development of literacy and other related skills is closely linked to people’s everyday life
As an active member of the community development committee, Intissar not only works with other community volunteers but also visits families and REFLECT groups supported by Plan Sudan’s child centred community development programme. For her, the REFLECT program implemented by Plan Sudan is a perfect match for the women in her community.
“The program helped create social links for the families. Women have become more of producers than consumers, as they are more proactive and innovative. They produce furniture and decoration items using locally available materials and sell them to villages and neighboring communities” said Intissar.
According to Intissar, the program has helped to improve families’ income and living conditions. “Women are now able to pay their children school fees and give financial contributions towards the implementation of some community development projects in the area,” she says.
Plan Sudan has inspired and supported hundreds of such community volunteers in Sudan to play an active role in bringing positive changes in their own lives as well as in the lives of the other community members. So far Plan has supported 3,298 highly motivated community volunteers to take leadership role in their own communities to bring long lasting changes in the lives of the community members particularly women and children across Sudan.
Plan Sudan has inspired and supported hundreds of such community volunteers in Sudan to play an active role in bringing positive changes in their own lives as well as in the lives of the other community members. So far Plan has supported 3,298 highly motivated community volunteers to take leadership role in their own communities to bring long lasting changes in the lives of the community members particularly women and children across Sudan.
By Plan Sudan, 14/07/2013
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