Seeds Training has strengthened Amphaiy's confidence and facilitation skills, equipping her to better support communities in identifying solutions to their own challenges. She is committed to applying these skills in her daily work to help create more inclusive, resilient, and community-led development outcomes.
For Amphaiy, a 50-year-old officer from the Agriculture and Environment Office in Viengkham District, Luang Prabang Province, the Seeds Training provided valuable skills that have strengthened her ability to work with communities.
During the week-long training, Amphaiy learned practical techniques in community engagement, including deep listening, empathy, respectful communication, and asking open-ended questions. She discovered that building trust begins with truly listening to community members and understanding their needs and concerns.
One of the highlights for Amphaiy was learning alongside participants from diverse sectors, including the Lao Women’s Union, district authorities, agriculture offices, and youth representatives. Through group discussions, role-playing, and interactive activities, participants shared experiences and learned from one another.
The training also provided an opportunity to apply these skills during field visits to targeted villages. There, Amphaiy practiced engaging directly with community members and gained a deeper understanding of how communication can encourage participation and inclusion.
A lesson that particularly resonated with her was the importance of using language that everyone can understand.
“Using simple and understandable language helps community members participate more confidently in discussions and decision-making,” said Amphaiy.
By simplifying technical concepts and communicating more clearly, she found that community members were more comfortable sharing their ideas and contributing to discussions.
Seeds Training is part of the Building Climate-Adaptive Livelihoods and Resilience for Vulnerable Children, Families, and Communities project, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
"What impressed me most was the active participation of everyone in the training. Learning from people with different backgrounds broadened my perspective and enriched my experience."Amphaiy expressed.
