The leadership training began with a question “what is your dream?”

The participants of the training consisted of key farmers and health volunteers whom we want to become the leaders to disseminate the activities of our project in the region. These participants pondered the question with a little bewilderment --- they said: “It was something I haven't thought of because I'm too busy to earn a living day after day.” They also had discussion and presentation about “the meaning to have a dream,” “the idealized vision of my own,” and “value of life.”

The participants passionately talked and shared openly about their dreams with others. “My dream is to buy a cultivator to plow the large paddy,” “build a big chicken coop,” “none of my family gets sick and all live happily,” and “both our village and I get prosperous.”

The next question was “what can you do to achieve your dream?” Positive answers were raised such as “I can't do it by myself but surely possible if others offer help” and “we can do it by working together.” Those opinions unanimously admitted the significance to promote empathy among people around them to realize their dreams.

A leader is a person who, with his/her own dream and vision for the future, willingly takes action to motivate others. When a number of people become such leaders, more changes will be produced in the village. FIDR has been conducting trainings five times per year in order to bring up people to cause changes in the villages.

“I have found that I can have a dream not only while I'm asleep but also when I'm awake,” said some participant after the training. Seeing their happy faces, we renewed our determination to help them realize their dreams.