Actus

The first group to start was in the north and together, after a few months of accompaniment by Actogether team, 4 NGOs working with teenagers, namely (Michel Legris Trust, Centre Frère René Guillemin (CFRG) and Association pour le Développement de Pamplemousses (ADP) and Jeunes Créatifs Paul et Virginie) launched the ambitious and challenging project, Jeunes 3R: Resilient, Resistant pour Rebondir” project in 2023.

The first step of the project consisted of having a focus group discussion gathering some 30-youth aged between 12 and 17 years old from each association around the theme Zeness Fer Tann to Lavwa.  The youth voiced out the challenges they were facing in their daily lives and from there, the team started working on details of the project.  Spread over 3 years, the objective of the project is to strengthen the resilience of these youth and equip them with lifelong values and tools to better cope with their lives, make right choices and thrive. 

This type of project was a first for these oganisations. Today, after 2 years of experience; the two first years have been completed successfully; they are strong enough to share their recipe for an efficient AcTing Together.

• Clearly defined vision, objectives, principles and values

Priscilla Legris and Eric Juliette leaders of Michel Legris Trust and Association pour le Développement de Pamplemousses respectively explain that “right from the start, we have been working on the values and principles that will guide our collaboration and set boundaries together, so everyone knows their limits.  Our values are respect and acceptance, and our guiding principle is nobody interferes in the internal functioning of the fellow associations.  We have also developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines roles and functions of each association onboard” 

• All on the table approach

An aspect of collaboration is having difficult conversations.  Kathy Tranquille of Jeunes Créatifs Paul et Virginie states that “ we have diverging opinions and viewpoints that we don’t always agree on and if we need 2 or 3 meetings to address one particular issue, we do it.  Feedback is given in a respectful manner, so that everyone can move ahead! 

• Support each other

As project managers, the association leaders highlight that it is important to support each other.  Karine Dorasamy of CFRG believes that the collaboration of the 4 NGOs “is still going strong because all involved are willing to learn.  There is no competition in collaboration.  We empower and support each other.  We are complementary.  We have learnt to use our human resources effectively, for example each one of us is better at something, therefore, we have divided the tasks in a way that everyone is contributing meaningfully to the programme. None withstanding the best practices learned, Collaboration has its share of challenges. 

The biggest challenge was to adapt and adjust to each other while delivering the programme and ensuring that the 15 animateurs were aligned with the leaders and the values of the collaboration.

Another significant challenge was about handling the youth in a consistent way when they were. Association leaders did not always agree on how the children were handled however, each one respected their peers and never interfered. 

Despite these, the 4 leaders are unanimous that working collaboratively is an enriching experience both personally and professionally.  Professionally, it helps to develop interpersonal communication and personally it helps cultivate patience and become somehow a better version of oneself.