Saturday, September 21, 2019

What is an "Operator Conference"



Already had the question - "Steve - you/re going where for a conference....".

Living waters for the World (LWW) has a scripted model for it's volunteers to follow - come to LWW for training and relationship building joining a larger family with the passions to serve other through helping those needing access to treated water - get it.

From training, volunteers (now the "teachers") head off to a country to train a group ("Operator") in health & hygiene education, management of their new water treatment system and oversee see the Operator install the water treatment system itself.

The above is the short version.......much much much more - all good stuff!

Country - which country?  Years ago LWW made the strategic decision to form "Networks" (networks are a country or sub-region of a country) to help LWW focus better on where LWW could bring additional value to LWW volunteers and Operators.  Things like local language translation of documentation, resources (peers, supplies, parts, etc.) nearby, volunteers being able to share experiences and insights and LWW being able to focus its spend to support large groups of installations.

One of the value adds that LWW developed is the - Operator Conference.  The conference brings local Operator personnel (admin, health & hygiene educators and system operators) together to share, learn, update, etc. from primarily one another.  Remember (from previous blogs) the volunteers from the US that went to the country to install a water treatment system years ago - are complete with their "onsite" commitment with a specific Operator after about 3-4 years.  The relationship remains intact for many years in many cases, but the physical travel, visits, etc. are complete.

So the network conference by LWW in a specific country becomes a great tool for in-country LWW relationship building, sharing of best practices, platform for LWW to communicate new thoughts and ideas, and so on.

Chalmers and I are headed to Ghana for the Ghana Network Operator Conference.  Our Ghanaian partner, The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), has been instrumental in planning and logistics for the conference.  We are hoping for representation from all Operators.  This is the first Operator Conference in Ghana since 2012.

In conjunction with Rev Daniel Kofi Asante, Director of Development and Social Services for the PCG, we have what we think is a great syllabus for the conference.  A lot of the conference will be attendees working with one another around topics set up by subject by a Ghanaian subject matter facilitator.  Then the smaller groups will provide read outs of their thoughts and experiences back to the larger group.

Chalmers and I will participate with some of the smaller groups and we have 1 or 2 things on the syllabus, but in large the conference will be lead by our Ghanaian friends.  In fact, I think Chalmers and I will experience that ole proverb that the teacher has now become the student.

Anyway, our journey toward Ghana begins tomorrow.  Today we are going to finish getting organized and tonight gather with some 60,000 friends and Tusk V in a wild hog themed party in the Boston Mountains!





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