Ethekwini Municipality Diversity Training Project 2004/2005overview

Ethekwini Municipality
Diversity Training Project 2004/2005
Consultant's Close-out Report

Ethekwini Municipality Diversity Training Tender

Contract Award

The Ethewkini Municipality Diversity Tender was awarded to Mthimkulu Training cc, T/A Mthimkhulu International Corporate Consultants.

The contract was signed on 28/5/2004.

Overview of Tender Requirements

Improve delegates' understanding of relevant diversity and equity related issues.

The Consultant responded by - Enhancing the Specialist Diversity programme with the relevant issues and facilitate through exhilarating learning and transformational teambuilding processes.

Improve and enhance relationships between members of a team/ group by developing delegates' skills for effective communication.

The Consultant responded by - facilitating diverse team exercises, developing intra-personal liife skills and intern-personal communication skills.

Build on positive diversity enhancing practices which contribute to interpersonal co-operation and supportive working relationships.

The Consultant responded by -

(1) developing inter-personal, intrapersonal communication skills and helping delegates to strongly develop experience and understanding of the value of diverse teams.

(2) Putting in place, with the facilitator group, a peer-selected and managed values-based code of conduct with clearing, commitment and regular meetings to guide interpersonal relationships. The Leader group were twice not available in sufficient numbers and these sessions were cancelled.

Identify organisationally entrenched practices that might be perceived to support negative practice and behaviours.

The Consultant responded by - facilitating leaders group serveys and submitting that information to the Deputy Head of Skills Development, for assessment and the Diversity Specialist - Jeff Thomas of Asizwane for inclusion in his dedicated programme.

Explore the process of change and development in individuals and its effect on relationships.

The Consultant responded by:-

(1) Involving the delegates in the process of change through the participative methodologies and allowing them to experience the benefits of working togther in diverse teams.

(2) Delegates experienced actual change through the process of the programme and external change issues.

(3) Story telling and intelectual input was shared through feedback sessions - oral and written.

Train the trainer programme -

The Consultant responded by assessing 86 of +- 106 potential facilitators.

Through a process of training, trial and testing, and further assessment - 16 potential facilitators have been accepted at 1 of 2 levels as facilitators of the Celebrating Humanity programme.

Trials have been run with new delegates and the delegate feedback has been excellent.

Project Graphic

Photographs

Management Training Sessions

Train the Trainer Sessions

Councillor Training Sessions

Facilitators as Trainers Sessions

A Transformation Letter
(Published with permission of Nevin Royath )

I have known Nevin Royath for several years.

My association with Nevin was more as a work colleague. We never worked together.

We normally met when Nevin experienced problems with his computer. At the time, Nevin was working for our Finance Department.

I had always known Nevin to be a “cocky” person who felt he knew it all. He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder.

He felt that he knew more than anyone else and never gave another person a chance to share their views.

All the same, I never let it bother me as my association with Nevin was minimal.

I was recently tasked with Training Ellipse and was teamed with Nevin Royath.

I became very defensive towards my Manager and advised him that I would not be happy working with Nevin.

Apparently, over the years Nevin had soured many relationships in our IT department, as such, he was not a popular person amongst my work colleagues.

After persuasion from my Manager, I found myself working at the Training Centre alongside Nevin Royath.

My initial meeting with Nevin was different.

The Nevin that I remembered was no more. He had become more accommodating and helpful.

I had never trained computers in my life. I was the one always fixing them. He at once made me comfortable and put my mind at ease and gave me lots of courage to become a good trainer.

I sat in on many of his classes and thoroughly enjoyed myself. He was always bragging about how he had attended a diversity course that changed his entire life.

He would generally drift away from the topic of Ellipse and talk about stuff like whether we would like to learn how we learn and about our personality types.

I noticed that he got the learners involved in the exercises. He made it very fun and was always in a jolly mood. He never got upset when learners were battling with a certain aspect of the training.

The Nevin to whom I now grew accustomed too was a far cry from the Nevin I met in Finance many years ago.

Nevin had approached me a few weeks ago and requested I write something about him and if I had noticed any change in his behavior.

I did not understand this strange request but nonetheless decided to honour his request as he had helped me greatly during my learning period.

It was only later that I found out that he was involved in Diversity Training and needed my report as part of his assessment.

The Nevin that I know now is a kind and gentle person. He is always willing to lend a helping hand to his peers and myself.

There is not a day that went by when he had refused me a simple request.

I am glad that I did not refuse the offer to train alongside Nevin.

I learned many valuable life lessons from him. I unfortunately will be jetting off to Australia in a few months time.

I would have liked to have learnt more from Nevin.

All the best to you my friend. I hope all your dreams and wishes come true.

I also wish you all the best on your Diversity training programme.

With kind regards

Karen Narain
Database Administrator
Ethekwini Electricity
IT Department.

Email: brian@africa-dreams.com
Telephone: +27 31 2053668
Mobil: +27 82 552 3352

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