AFS Egypt’s 5th National Volunteers Training - December 2010
Two hundred dedicated volunteers, AFS Egypt staff members as well as members of the board met for three days in Wadi El Natroon for the AFS Egypt's 5th National Volunteer Training 2010, or as we call it here in Egypt, 'The Moltaqa'.
We were honored to be joined by our guests from South Africa, Kenya and Ghana who participated with the volunteers for a full day. Our guests were in Cairo for their first Africa Regional meeting.
The motto of this year’s Moltaqa was: My Country deserves my voluteering.
The National training presents the pinnacle of volunteer trainings each year, providing the time and space for volunteers to get to know each other, network as well as get new energy and motivation for their volunteer work with AFS Egypt. Besides these goals, this year’s Moltaqa had two additional objectives: teambulding and improvement of volunteers’ skills. The program was therefore divided between workshops focusing on introducing and / or enhacing the skills our volunteers need to run the AFS programs and teambuilding activities that aimed at using the diverse backgrounds of our volunteers to enrich the AFS Egypt team. Special attention was also given to chapter activities.
In order to respect and make full use of the diverse backgrounds of AFS Egypt volunteers - who came from all 15 AFS Egypt chapters, were of different ages, professional backgrounds, and volunteer experience - the participants were divided into three tracks,each track having their own workshops. The first track was dedicated to new volunteers and the workshops were tailored for their need to get a proper introduction to AFS Egypt, its mission and activities. The second track for advanced volunteers was divided into a sending and hosting part and aimed at improving volunteers’ skills and provide them with a deeper understanding of the AFS programs. The third track targeted returneers and focused on the necessity of their transition from returnees (who had successfully underwent the re-entry) into AFS volunteers. In the spirit of the national training, majority of these workshops were given by trainers who are AFS Egypt’s own volunteers.
The three days were packed with workshops, teambuildig activities, chapter sessions and very little free time, as is usually the case. They also presented a time well spent in sharing information, experience, lot of smiles and good memories. On the third day, the participants left tired yet highly energized and motivated to continue to spread the mission of the AFS community.
We are proud to call the Moltaqa 2010 a great success and, just like our volunteers, we are looking forward to next year’s edition.
Check out Moltaka Pics:
