Deaf Development Program Staff Workshop

14 December 2001

The staff of the Deaf Development Program, which is under the supervision of the Cambodian Disabled People's Organization, came together under the direction of Colin Allen and Liza Clews, two consultants from Australian, for a one-day workshop and staff training. This was the first time such an opportunity was offered to the whole staff together, and it was quite a successful day. In the morning the staff learned how to make procedural rules together and to reflect on their past history, and in the afternoon, the group started to develop a vision for the future and to set priorities.

Group discussion at staff workshop Charlie in a small group discussion about the "why" of the Deaf Development Program of CDPO. Why was it initially started and what has it done up till now?

Playing a name recognition game Here the workshop participants play a name recognition and repetition game in which players are eliminated when they make a mistake. This game and the whole process of the workshop were significant because for the first time the deaf and hearing members of the staff had to relate as equals, everyone using sign language, waiting for the other person to finish speaking, etc. All the staff learned a lot about the way meetings should be run and people should interact.

Colin Allen Colin Allen led the staff workshop which was held at the World Vision building in Phnom Penh. Colin is deaf himself and is an expert on the structure of organizations. This workshop was focusing on the hearing and deaf staff as part of the structure of the Deaf Development Program of CDPO.

Lunch time at the workshop Ordinarily Khmer people take two or two-and-a-half hours for lunch, but in order to work more efficiently, we held the workshop at the World Vision building where we were able to arrange for a very nice lunch to be served.

Group photo at the workshop At the end of the workshop we took a group photo. Five of the staff of the Deaf Development Program are deaf and the rest are hearing. The workshop should help them work together better in the future.

	Charlie in a small group discussion about the "why" of the Deaf Development Program of CDPO. Why was it initially started and what has it done up till now?
	Here the workshop participants play a name recognition and repetition game in which players are eliminated when they make a mistake. This game and the whole process of the workshop were significant because for the first time the deaf and hearing members of the staff had to relate as equals, everyone using sign language, waiting for the other person to finish speaking, etc. All the staff learned a lot about the way meetings should be run and people should interact.
	Colin Allen led the staff workshop which was held at the World Vision building in Phnom Penh. Colin is deaf himself and is an expert on the structure of organizations. This workshop was focusing on the hearing and deaf staff as part of the structure of the Deaf Development Program of CDPO.
	Ordinarily Khmer people take two or two-and-a-half hours for lunch, but in order to work more efficiently, we held the workshop at the World Vision building where we were able to arrange for a very nice lunch to be served.
	At the end of the workshop we took a group photo. Five of the staff of the Deaf Development Program are deaf and the rest are hearing. The workshop should help them work together better in the future.