PSHF

The PSHF's First Field Workers' Workshop was held in our Cauayan office last May 6 and 7, 2010. Our field workers Lester Joy Orot, Warlita Pabela, Jeremy Gasapo, (Negros Occidental), Phady Aniasco (Bohol), and Leklek Balbon (Negros Oriental) were all present. Hazel Moreño and Lodelyn Chua, proposal writers for Negros Occidental, were also in the workshop to participate. Glitter Moreño, our Negros Occidental co-ordinator, facilitated the event.

The main objectives of the workshop were 1) to provide a basic understanding of Community Development 2) to consolidate and compare experiences and challenges in field work management in all offices; and 3) to generate and consolidate ideas on how to solve common problems and improve as field workers.

For the duration of the workshop the group was divided into two, Group A and Group B. Phady, Hazel and Leklek comprised Group A, whereas Lester, Warlita, Jeremy and Lodelyn were members of Group B.

Day 1

The workshop started with a crash course on Community Development with specific emphasis on 'self-reliance development'. Glitter asked the participants to give key words or phrases based on their understanding of the discipline and then link this with the mission and unique approach of the PSHF.

The PSHF aims to empower people towards self-reliance by providing micro-assistance. The PHSF is the medium by which particular services towards self-reliance are channeled through, and the PSHF staff, including the field workers, deliver these services to the people and make sure that self-reliance is promoted.

With this definition in mind, the participants proceeded to identify the challenges that confront the PSHF. The most common was the problem of repayment overdues. To understand this phenomenon better, the Problem Wheel was used. Through this tool, the contributing factors in a) PSHF management b) client's attitudes and circumstances and 3) natural phenomena or things beyond the PSHF's and clients' control, were determined.

The next activity was field reporting by office. There was a long and open discussion afterward on personal experiences and challenges each field worker faced in the field.

Day 2

The second day started with a phone call to Genevive Torbiso and Apple Jane Jekin, field workers of Cebu. They gave a brief report of the field performance there. They were also able to answer questions raised by the participants.

After the Cebu report we did the Problem-Solution Matrix. Using the identified problems the day before, each group was tasked to provide solutions in every level of the wheel.

After this, a lecture on the "PSHF: a Legitimate Medium of Change" and "Clients' Responsibility and Accountability from Perceiving the PSHF as a Legitimate Medium of Change", followed. We suggested that a very big factor in the overdue problem of the PSHF lay in how the people perceived the organization. It posited that the correct perception of the people towards the PSHF teaches them to become responsible and accountable, and this leads to the realisation of mutual goals. This was best presented through the PSHF Perception Diagram where each group showed how the PSHF was actually perceived at the moment and how we should ideally be perceived.

The third activity of the day was about the "Do's and Dont's of a PSHF Field Worker." Participants gave suggestions to make up the Top 10 rules for a PSHF field worker when they were in the field. This dealt with people skills, personal attributes, and proper conduct. This was followed by a comic simulation activity where each group took turns to act as field workers dealing with delinquent clients.

The workshop was concluded with a field visit to two coastal areas in Cauayan.

Please click here to view the photos.