Monday 3rd May 2021

I was asked to conduct a workshop with the topic \’Communication skills and soft skills for better care\’ for all nursing staff (200 of them) and student nurses (69 of them in all 3 years) in one of the private maternity hospitals in Colombo. 

I started on Monday 3rd May and have been doing 3 workshops a week, so 6 in total so far. Each time I have 10-15 participants for a 3.5 hours lecture with 30mins comfort break (sickly-sweet tea with full fat milk or very milky coffee). 

I give all I have, my energy, my passion, my knowledge and my experience of the Sri Lankan private health system, but as feedback I get a silent stare, which is disheartening.  Steve tells me that this is culturally normal though and that real interaction is quite rare.  It is a completely different experience for me compared to teaching in the UK where participants are lively, talking and thinking, exploring their ideas expressing themselves freely, and feedback is instant – good or bad.

I will keep going as long as I can. I am expected to conduct  about 20 workshops over the next months, so wish me good luck. 

I think I am making a difference.  Even if only one person changes their behavior and attitude towards their patients, I have been successful.

Please, wish me luck. 

Rennie