Interweave March 14, 2016

We finally started teaching Interweave. They are still in the process of getting the participant manuals in Tagalog though. Since the centers don't meet weekly they decided to have us teach the group leaders once a week and then when the center meets monthly the center chief and the group leaders will teach the unit. The first principle has like 7 principles so we taught the first two this week. It is kind of an introductory chapter. It talks about the three circles of success. The participants are going to make a plan for each circle or category thought the program. They are business, home, and community. In the middle of the Venn Diagram is self reliance. We discussed how they all affect each other and how they help you become self reliant. Usually the mentor has to translate some. That part is kind of hard. It would be so much easier if I spoke Tagalog. We went with Connie two times and by the Thursday had the lesson down. We visited really good centers. Her center on Thursday is awesome. It is huge. The chairman doesn't really need a loan but she an amazing center chief. She is going to get an individual loan too so she can do both. It is cool because all of Connies centers are good. I think some of it has to do with being a woman and being able to connect and become friends with them easier. What we teach the grameen clients is different than what we teach the individual clients. I learned today that it is really hard to try and teach your grameen woman about separating personal and business expenses. All the interns have different opinions and what to teach and who they think has potential. I think we need to teach the basics. Even just having them describe and truly understand what they are selling and why. Some argue though that no matter how hard we try you can't teach someone passion or drive, for the successful ones that should just come natural. I disagree to a certain extent. I think many more than we think can be successful they just need a little help to see themselves as more than just poor. They don't have a vision because no one in their lives has ever had one either. Teaching is more difficult than I thought but so fun! I am sad I only get to teach one actual unit of interweave!