Learning Circles Speed Storm Recovery

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Before the storm hit, Sonamoni and her husband, Philip, lived in a small, thatched house constructed of straw and clay. As newlyweds, they worked hard to improve their lives in Jogonathpur village in northeast Bangladesh. Philip labored in neighboring fields and volunteered as a teacher in a preprimary school. Sonamoni cared for her home while tending their pig and a few ducks and chickens.

When the SIL development team started a learning circle with Mahle-speaking facilitators, Philip began attending as well. The group of men used community development booklets from the series called Yes, We Can!

But in June 2012, a severe thunderstorm swept through the Mahle community. It damaged houses, uprooted trees, and destroyed crops. Strong winds tore the thatched roof off Philip and Sonamoni’s home. They took refuge in the road, but the heavy rain destroyed everything in their house and killed their livestock. Many people lost their homes and suffered injuries. Even clean water and food were scarce.

The local government and an aid organization stepped in to provide rice and basic building materials in the immediate aftermath. But recovery would take years. As the community struggled to rebuild their lives, the men still made time to attend the learning circle. The storm had brought devastating changes to the community, but the learning circle discussions had been working a different sort of transformation. Every home had a special pot used for making rice wine. Before the storm hit, some of the men, including Philip, had given up drinking alcohol. They wanted to save money and plant vegetable gardens. As the men made decisions, they were learning to value women and encourage them to rear livestock and poultry.

When the course finished the following year, Philip encouraged Sonamoni to join the newly formed women’s learning circle. She quickly started applying what the group discussed at each meeting.

 “As I didn’t have much money,” Sonamoni said, “I bought six ducklings for 260 taka (just over three dollars), and six months later I sold them for 1,300 taka (over 16 dollars). Then I bought six more ducklings for 200 taka. Suddenly, our pig attacked the ducklings, and I lost three of them. I was very sad at the time, but I didn’t give up hope. My husband encouraged me to start again.”

She bought 16 duck eggs, incubated them and hatched eight ducklings. “I took more care to protect them from danger,” she said. “After some time, they laid eggs, and I sold these at the market for a profit. Later I checked my savings and saw a big amount that we had set aside. Then my husband and I made plans. We repaired our house and built a kitchen.” She smiled again and said, “That’s not all! We are rearing goats and pigs. In the future we will build a toilet and do other necessary things.”

When diseases affected her poultry, Sonamoni had the resources to save her flock. The learning circle had just met to discuss a chapter on poultry disease and prevention. “Salomy, a woman trained in poultry vaccination, helped me buy the right medicine and give the vaccines. Our volunteer who leads the learning circle also helped me. So, I am very grateful to them.”

Now, just two years after the devastating storm, Sonamoni’s courtyard in a Jogonathpur village looks like a community development model. In one corner of the yard, goats and pigs munch on leafy branches. In another, chickens and ducklings scratch in the dirt for seeds. Near the neatly plastered house the couple has dug a tube well that ensures clean water.

Sonamoni and her husband are one example of how learning circles enable people to identify resources and opportunities in every situation. As one learning circle member said, “SIL doesn’t give money to the community, but it helps them find a way to long-term development.” Learning circles facilitate confidence and creative problem-solving to help people in all walks of life begin to believe yes, we can!