VSO volunteer Katherine Allen has just returned from Sri Lanka, where she spent a year providing management support to colleagues at The Nivahana Society of Kandy, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness of and improving services for the mentally ill. Here Katherine describes her relationship with her work counterpart Kalani and how she has developed her colleagues’ skills in project management. We get Kalani’s side of the story too…
Describe a typical day at work in Sri Lanka.
No two days are the same - things can be unpredictable because we don’t plan ahead in quite the same way as I might do in the UK, so you never know what the day might bring. Recently we’ve been working on the development of three project proposals. One is for a continuing care centre for people with mental health problems; another is for an income generation project for people with mental health problems. The third proposal is for a mental health awareness-raising project in schools. So my Sri Lankan counterpart Kalani and I have spent time conducting needs assessments and project planning with the key people involved.
Can you tell me more about your relationship with Kalani?
Kalani is my friend as well as my work counterpart, and I have learnt a huge amount from her. She has been my guide along the sometimes unsure path of trying to work effectively in another culture, by being very honest about which of my ideas and behaviours will work in Sri Lanka, and which won’t. In return, I hope I’ve have increased her confidence in her own skills and abilities. She hasn’t had to ‘learn’ anything from me as such: it has been more a case of consolidating and developing what she is already capable of. We have a great laugh together, and always share a good gossip over our rice and curry lunch every day. She has been hugely significant in ensuring that my time in Sri Lanka has been such an enriching experience. I have been so lucky to have her as my counterpart and friend: every VSO volunteer needs a Kalani in their life!
What kind of challenges do you face?
Getting to sleep! Several times during the night I get woken up by my neighbours’ guard dogs barking and howling. To think I was once a dog lover! There have also been times when I’ve not been able to understand some cultural aspects and have felt as if I won’t ever be able to facilitate any positive change here at all. At these times I draw on all my resources and determination to find a solution – I remember that I have not come here to be a hero, but to support local people to find a solution that works for them.
What has been your greatest achievement?
The local people I’ve worked with have developed a greater understanding of good project design. For example, they’re now identifying goals and objectives, outputs and activities, and thinking about monitoring and evaluation. People are more focussed now on what they want to achieve overall and then deciding the best way of achieving it. This was really brought home to me today during the workshop Kalani and I conducted. I asked people in groups to present how they would ask for a donation for anything of their choosing. One group did a brilliant poster showing what happens to someone with mental health problems when they do receive community care, and what happens when they don’t, highlighting the need for community care and asking for a donation of a vehicle to deliver it. I really felt elated by this – they had clearly grasped something useful that they’ll be able to use in the future. But I don’t really consider it as my achievement alone. Absolutely everything that has been achieved during my placement has been a team effort.
And here’s what Kalani had to say about working with Katherine.
I worked with Katherine for a year and her support is unforgettable. She personally taught me proposal writing and fund raising. Also she helped me to have more confidence to do lots of things officially as well as personally. She also helped me to improve my English knowledge by doing corrections of my writing and speaking, and gave me lots of interesting magazines to read. I also could learn from her about the time management and planning and much more. She was also very helpful to me and she always behind me when I am blue. She always tried to involve me with her work, and that’s why I have more confidence. I really enjoyed working with her and I am really lucky to have such a great friend. I hope I have such great colleagues and friends in my future.
