Training for Transformation, called TFT for short, is for people interested in working cooperatively to get things done. It draws on resources developed by experts in adult education, personal development, business management, community development, philosophy, and work for justice. What they all have in common is a belief in the dignity and capacity of each person. This ethic of respect points to cooperation as a more effective and sustainable way of achieving change than domination. None of us is as smart as all of us.
The programme can be divided into three parts:
1. Inter-personal and Group Skills
2. The work of Paulo Freire
3. Our own mind sets
1. Inter-personal and Group Skills
The first explores a set of inter-personal and group skills that may be of use to you within your own family, among your friends, in your community or workplace, and in any wider-society involvements you may have. These include skills of :
a. Hospitality – welcoming people, putting them at ease, listening to them
b. Facilitation - getting the task of the group done while maintaining the spirit of the group.
c. Conflict management – this is a normal and inevitable feature in any group of people. The focus here is on how to manage conflict as effectively as possible, both where there is a culture of respect in play and where there isn’t.
d. Planning and reviewing - simple, practical approaches to strategic and operational planning and review that follows the principle – nothing about us without us!
2. The work of Paulo Freire
The second part of the programme explores the work of Paulo Freire as a practical example of applying the above belief and skills in the work of community development. The core of his approach is creating a listening environment out of which people identify their own issues for action and are supported to plan and act.
3. Our own mind sets
The third part of TFT explores our own mind sets regarding how we see society and what inspires us to work for change. This explores structures at national and global level, both social and psychological, that trap whole communities in disadvantage. It also explores a diversity in what drives people who are interested in a better world – poverty, environment, gender, sexual orientation, faith and so on. It argues for an equality of esteem among all this diversity.
Taking part in a TFT programme is meant to be active rather than passive. We all have experience. We all have insight. The programme tries to draw these out and the inputs are meant to connect with them. So, there will be plenty of opportunity for discussion and sharing. TFT has always been delivered in person, but during Covid it had to be done through zoom. We are continuing with zoom this year as a means of including people who would not be able to travel for in-person gatherings.
A Zoom moderator will manage the nine two-hour sessions to facilitate maximum participation, including screen-sharing and breakout rooms. Notes will be provided after each session and a fresh zoom invite sent each week.
Testimonials
"I found the Training for Transformation course faciliated by Martin Kennedy 2021-2022 the most helpful and insightful training I have ever done in the area of working with people. What i have learnt and never forget is 'No one of us is as smart as all of us'; 'There is no hierarchy of wisdom - everyone has wisdom'; 'Nothing about me without me'; and 'Dignity is core to this approach in Community Development'. The whole program is full of riches but the delivery of this was thanks to Martin's total commitment to TFT and his skill at faciliating /imparting the training. Another important ingredient was Imelda's wise move to create a 'class' with particapnts from west and east."
Mary Malone, LSA
"I took a big interest in the area of 'Who am I?'. It made me question what I want in this life. It's a Journey. I ask myself are there messages in my life that I can take from this, good and bad experiences. I think things happen for a reason; you come out of difficult situations better and a stronger person. it's about acceptance, forgiving of onself and taking ownership of it. It's a learning process. All we want as human beings is to be respected, valued and loved - we can only change ourselves, not other people. I have learned so much and am continuing to do so by being on this course. I am chaging on the inside and outside and hopefully am becoming a better human being, with an open heart, with observation and with the ability to trust my intuition and go with it, while also relating to other people's feelings and where they are at." Mary McHugh.
"I attended the 2021/2022 TFT class. The 12 module course made me aware of new areas of knowledge and skills that i had previously not considered. From my perspective, Martin's style of teaching and facilitating matched perfectly with the needs of myself and the other particIpants, with a heavy emphasis on using the skills for community - based projects it matched well with my aims and objectives, (The skills can apply to anywhere there is a meeting or project be it in a voluntary, corportae, or other capacity) . Often community projects lack structure and TFT under the gudiance of Martin's taechings provided the framework for shortening the inital idea to final plan being executed, What I particulary liked about the online training was the strategies or techniques that can be applied when a meeting is not going to plan and how to solve it. Some topics discussed during the course included: Johari window, four figure quadrant for managing conflict, assertivenss training, Banta model, Managaing change and operational planning. I would highly recommend anybody considering doing the TFT course, to sign up and take part. It will be valuable and pay dividends in your future meetings and community based projects"
Noel Ryan
2022 Course
Our next course will begin in the coming weeks, with two information evenings being held on 1st September. You are welcome to join either of these information evenings.
Information Evening One: 7:30pm, 1st September
This information evening has now taken place.
Information Evening Two: 7:30pm, 15th September
You can join this online information evening by clicking on this link at 7:30pm on 15th September. For your information, the Meeting ID is 894 9451 1095 and the Passcode is 041350.
Further details to follow but in the meantime, please contact us via the form opposite.
Week 1: 22/09/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 2: 29/09/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 3: 06/10/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 4: 13/10/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 5: 20/10/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 6: 27/10/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 7: 03/11/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 8: 10/11/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Week 9: 17/11/22, 7:30pm - 9:30pm
We host workshops imparting the basic skills of dressmaking and making soft home furnishings. More details to follow on our next course date.
Join us as we gather with members of the community to build confidence in healthy and home cooking.
Our next Healthy and Home Cooking course will begin on Monday, 7th February and will run on each Monday for three weeks from 7-9pm at the Westside Youth Centre at Corrach Bui, Rahoon.
If you would like to join our Healthy and Home Cooking course, please contact Imelda at 086 6098887
We all desire to live happy fulfilling lives, to enjoy harmonious relationships with others and have an indwelling desire for a personal relationship with our Creator.
Starting on 16th February, join Anne Harrington and Imelda O'Sullivan as they facilitate 4 presentations on the subject of relationships.
Our parenting courses are based on the most common experiences parents bring to therapy and on many years of psychotherapy work with children. Our courses also bring together key elements of research, understanding and best practice from the areas of Developmental Psychology, Neuroscience, Parenting Practice and Education. The take-up, attendance and engagement in the classes have been excellent. More details to follow on our next course date.
Our parenting courses are based on the most common experiences parents bring to therapy and on many years of psychotherapy work with children. Our courses also bring together key elements of research, understanding and best practice from the areas of Developmental Psychology, Neuroscience, Parenting Practice and Education. The take-up, attendance and engagement in the classes have been excellent. More details to follow on our next course date.
