Leadership and Project Management

PC Panama has a unique program that is spreading through the rest of the countries. Every volunteer has the chance to bring a counterpart to a Project Management and Leadership seminar. During this 4 day seminar, we covered topics such as:

objectives, values, strategies on the level of individuals, groups, communities, and institutions

Budgeting

How to form or re-form groups

How to organize meetings

The difference between problems and conflicts

How to resolve conflicts

How to write letters of presentation and solicitation

How to present to agencies and public speaking

 

 

We were split into colors. Every group had to present a flag that represented their vakues

 

 

 

Go team green!

 

Depending on who you choose from your community, this seminar can be a hit or miss. If you bring someone who already has leadership experience, the participant may not get much out of the seminar. PC recommends bringing someone who has the capacity of being a great leader but may just need a little encouragement.  I wanted to bring a woman because women – especially in the Comarca- do not leave the house often and will never have an opportunity like this. There is an abundant amount of male leaders in my community, almost to the amount that nothing gets done because there are too many cooks in the kitchen. There are woman who have showed leadership qualities but less so than men. I brought one of my best friends-Ermalinda. Ermalinda does not always participate in community gatherings due to large amounts of gossip that goes on, but we have talked about some great ideas that could help out the community-she is just afraid to speak out during meetings. During this seminar, she started off quiet and intimidated (and I can understand since she was surrounded by white people and latinos) but by the end of the seminar she could not shut up! She participated and made plenty of friends. We are planning on repeating some of the sessions in my site because I feel like there are leaders who could really benefit from the tips.

My favorite part of the seminar was the Cultural Night. This night consisted of song, dance, artisan, and clothing from all parts of Panama. Ermlinda brought chocolate and towels that she crotches. Her and I wore the traditional nagua dress and danced the Gwara with a few other members at the seminar.

Ermalinda and I rockin the naguas