MM BEC Learning Network tackles MSC Stories

Mensen met een Missie (MM) IPDI partners, together with IPDI (and MM in spirit), met successfully last Sept 11-15, 2011 to discuss its two-year plan as well as learn the methodology of “Most Significant Change” or MSC. Hosted by one of the MM partners, CAJDEN, Exposure was done in their beneficiary communities which then became the subject or content of the approach. Learning for this particular gathering focused on Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) organizing and lay empowerment of partners, aside from the lessons offered by the exposure, the MM partners came equipped with lessons borne from their past project experiences on the topics agreed on.

The learning network, as was relatively new (evolving from the MM and IPDI sponsored MM BEC partners consultation), initially clarified its identity on the first day, as well as leveled –off in terms of understanding and defining lay empowerment and church work, including lessons and learnings derived from experiences along this line of work in the succeeding days.

Formats as how to best communicate and understand the lessons and learnings throughout the network was also discussed and eventually incorporated in the two-year plan.

A significant part of the gathering was likewise the network discussion-study of the MSC. Spearheaded by an input made by IPDI project officer Mark Foronda, (using a reference material introduced and recommended by the MDF trainers), the group discussed, decided to adopt and proceeded to learn by way of experience (Kolb’s learning methodology which was discussed in the previous gathering) the MSC methodology by engaging the CAJDEN communities.

Learnings and lessons were then processed on different levels, namely: (1)personal reflections based on the exposure, (2) learning and lessons to improve in using MSC methodology and (3) the results of the exposure (9 expanded out lines and 4 stories of change – of the lives of families, community organizations and the parish).

After a solidarity night, where a theater group of young Negreneses portrayed the life and plight of the sugar workers and Fr. Jofran of Dibicadi danced and became the toast of the event, the group then proceeded to finalize its two-year plan (or at least for the remaining 1 ½ year,). Main outputs were agreed on, as well as roles and functions of the MM partners, IPDI and MM. Among the major outputs would be a collection of stories of change and a collation of learnings and lessons on the various topics of interests agreed on in the previous and this gathering– e.g.HR and advocacy, sustainable agriculture and rural development.

The next gathering is to be held in Boac (March 2012) , followed by Gumaca (2nd semester, 2012). MM Partners who attended the event were representatives from SAC Diocese of BOAC, SAC of Gumaca, Vicariate DIBICADI of the prelature of Infanta, Sub-vicariate group of the Diocese of San Carlos and Cajden belonging to the Diocese of Bacolod and IPDI.