Gatherings
Amar Timalsina, Global Network Coordinator, IDEA, moderating a Gathering.
The role of the moderator rotates among participants for each Gathering.
The role of the moderator rotates among participants for each Gathering.
IDEA’s Gatherings, held via Zoom on alternate Fridays, began March 2020, for persons who have experienced Hansen’s disease, to share how they, their families and communities were doing during the challenging times of COVID-19.
Originally beginning with a group of about 15 individuals, today Gatherings are attended by approximately 35 individuals representing up to 29 countries and 31 organizations of persons with personal experience. Simultaneous interpretation is available for French, Portuguese, Spanish, Bengali, Burmese, Hindi, Indonesian, Arabic, and Nepali speakers.
As COVID-19 began to subside, IDEA established the Knowledge Sharing series in June 2021 to build capacity and foster empowerment. Peer-to-peer learning takes place, as people who have experienced Hansen’s disease who are the experts present on their area of expertise. In addition to Knowledge Sharing, experts from relevant fields present on other areas of interest identified by participants.
Capacity building occurs in different ways. One is in the knowledge itself that is shared; participants learn about various topics and gain information on how to address both personal and organizational issues they may face. Presenters, many of whom have had limited opportunities to present in their own communities and/or have never presented internationally, build their capacity as they showcase their expertise. This also empowers other participants to give presentations.
A breadth of topics have been presented including psycho-social aspects; medical issues such as wound care and reactions; leadership; advocacy; discriminatory legislation; family members’ experience; disability movement; and grant writing.
Originally beginning with a group of about 15 individuals, today Gatherings are attended by approximately 35 individuals representing up to 29 countries and 31 organizations of persons with personal experience. Simultaneous interpretation is available for French, Portuguese, Spanish, Bengali, Burmese, Hindi, Indonesian, Arabic, and Nepali speakers.
As COVID-19 began to subside, IDEA established the Knowledge Sharing series in June 2021 to build capacity and foster empowerment. Peer-to-peer learning takes place, as people who have experienced Hansen’s disease who are the experts present on their area of expertise. In addition to Knowledge Sharing, experts from relevant fields present on other areas of interest identified by participants.
Capacity building occurs in different ways. One is in the knowledge itself that is shared; participants learn about various topics and gain information on how to address both personal and organizational issues they may face. Presenters, many of whom have had limited opportunities to present in their own communities and/or have never presented internationally, build their capacity as they showcase their expertise. This also empowers other participants to give presentations.
A breadth of topics have been presented including psycho-social aspects; medical issues such as wound care and reactions; leadership; advocacy; discriminatory legislation; family members’ experience; disability movement; and grant writing.