BIG IDEA:
What is dependency syndrome? When we've been taught that we can't do something, and we start to believe it. The wild part? It's almost never true. In this episode we hear from our staff expert Sheree Reece, and three partners from different places who are working to help empower folks. Listen to episode 7 to find out how Josue Andre in Haiti, Funnie Nkhoma in Malawi, and Rev. Siphiwe Madi in South Africa are working toward unique sustainable community solutions.
MEET THE VOICES:
Funnie Nkhoma – Malawi – Vocational Program Coordinator
- Has a degree in Social Work from Catholic University, graduated in 2020.
- Began working for the Malawi United Methodist Church in Aug 2019
- When she was growing up, she wanted to be a mother as a full-time job – she thought you could get paid for it.
- She also faked sickness as a child, so she did not have to go to school simply because she heard the world was ending the next day due to an eclipse.
- Her goal is to have an excellent job that she enjoys doing, that she is happy in her life outside of her work and wants to make a positive impact in people’s lives.
- She wants to learn as much as she can until she can take on a leadership role.
- She would like to earn her PhD.
Rev Siphiwe Madi – South Africa – Pastor of West View Methodist Church
Siphiwe is an Ordained Minister in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa.
He has served Cross cultural congregations within the MCSA and is currently serving at West View Methodist Church in Centurion, a partner Church of the Church of the Resurrection.
Siphiwe is married to Lwethu and they are blessed with two children, Esihle and Okuhle.
Josue Andre – Haiti – Director of Grassroot Community Voices
Bio coming soon!
KEY TAKEAWAY:
Dependency vrs. Interdependency - The goal is to build a relationship. When we have relational capital we can have more open conversations about what works and what doesn't.
In the clip from Rev. Siphiwe he mentioned a time when he had to have a difficult conversation with us. He was referencing a time when we kept making suggestions, instead of asking questions. In order to have those hard conversations we had to have mutual trust within the relationship. To shake bad habits we have to have open communication and a healthy relationship.
As always thanks for listening!
Love, the podsquad