All in all the first of the three E-Mapping workshops went well, though both Mike and I did find the talking, standing and non-stop questions pretty tiring. The week and training all began in Kitwe, the second largest of the mining towns in the Copperbelt and certainly not an attractive one as a huge slag heap of coal greets visitors as you enter the town. What was the training all about? So we had brought together the HIV and AIDS coordinators at the district and provincial levels from three provinces – the Copperbelt, Luapula and North Western – so that they could learn how to use our all singing, all dancing E-Mapping tool (www.zambianacmisonline.org). In simple language, the tool is a way of monitoring and coordinating HIV and AIDS organisations in Zambia.
Mike and I chopped and changed, dovetailed, swapped roles, answered questions, got the participants to test and try and learn, all with the aim that after the two days they would be able to go back to their districts and provinces and start using and sharing the tool with their HIV and AIDS organisations and stakeholders. For a first attempt the training was pleasing and the feedback was positive; they were almost relieved that something like this tool had come along to help them in their work. Crucially, the new Director General for the National AIDS Council (NAC) was able to open the workshop and stay for the first session, which allowed the participants just enough time to share some of their grievances and what should be done to improve their jobs. Then, like a circus, we packed everything up and moved on to the next training venue. Well we tried to but first there was a four hour delay before we could go anywhere as our NAC vehicle refused to move.
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