Running head: TRAINING OF TRAINERS SESSION 1

Training of Trainers Session: Pathfinder ADRA Honor

Cecilia Luck

Southern Adventist University

TOT SESSION 2

Introduction

The Training of Trainers sessions were completed in compliance with the Nile Union

Academy Pathfinder ADRA honor, which needed to be fulfilled. The content of the ADRA

honor/ToT training was focused on the following aspects: community development, community

assessment, community service, and hunger relief.

The training was divided into two sessions: December 13, 2014 and January 17, 2015.

For the first session, participants included 10 students in the Pathfinder program who chose to be

a part of the ADRA honor. There were 9 males and 1 female. The focus points of session number

one included community development and community assessment. For session two, there were 8

males and 1 female. The focus points of session number two included community service and

hunger relief.

Summary and Reflection

During the first ToT session, which occurred on December 13, 2014, the student

pathfinders engaged in a discussion, while completing an ADRA honor worksheet, first about

community development. We went over a biblical reading about the concept surrounding

community development and as a group discussed the story. I shared with them what

development is, what ADRA stands for (Adventist Development Relief Agency), the different

factors that are between developing versus developed countries, what the difference is between

development and relief. We reflected on a short passage from the modern adaptation of The

Desire of Ages. Students were divided into three groups and given a section in which to discuss

and respond. At the end of this part of the session, we discussed a possible plan to implement the

following semester. It focused on the issue of trash collection and possible recycle option for

TOT SESSION 3

gaining income. The second part of the session focused on community assessment. We defined it

by using a code. I displayed the famous picture of the starving girl with the vulture in the

background. I had the students tell me what they saw, what they observe, what they thought it

meant, and what they thought could be done to change what looked wrong. We then went out on

a local (Gabel Asfar) community assessment. We divided into two groups and went to observe. I

had them take note of what they observed and then share with the group after we returned.

During the second ToT session, which occurred on January 17, 2015, the student

pathfinders, minus one from the previous session, went outside the campus walls to complete the

second portion of the assigned ADRA honor. This session’s focus was on community service

TOT SESSION 4

and hunger relief. We mostly accomplished this by engaging with the staff from the Egyptian

Food Bank. That day there was a Koushari Festival held downtown Cairo, creating the biggest

plate of koushari for the Guinness Book of World Records. Afterwards, the remainder of the

koushari was to be distributed to the hungry in certain sections of Cairo. The students and I went

to join them in the distribution. On the way to the site, we reviewed some aspects from last

session and read three Bible texts that talk about our attitude towards the less fortunate. The

students answered the question of what they think how God wants us to interact with those in

need.

Once getting to the site, however, the actual festival event started later than usual, the

students had to be back to the campus at a certain time, and so we weren’t able to actually

distribute. The positive aspect was that we made a great connection with the staff and looking

forward to future partnering service opportunities.

TOT SESSION 5

Overall, I think that the student pathfinders have gained enough basic knowledge

about the world of development, to be able to inform others, and in practice, to be able to engage

with volunteer opportunities in the future, most definitely in leadership roles. Though all didn’t

go according to plan, I believe God used these two sessions to increase their knowledge and

desire to serve others.