Letsie can be reached on Twitter via [ @PulengL ]
1) What is the most effective daily habit you possess?
Planning my day, in terms of activities, meetings and documents I have to do, plan for and develop. I am highly dependent on my Google calendar.
2) How long have you been an SBCC practitioner?
I have been working on SBCC since August 2000, making that 16 years.
3) In what area of SBCC do you specialize?
I work across all SBCC areas though heavily focus on HIV, Gender and Women’s Rights materials development and developing capacities of fellow practitioners and colleagues.
4) What do you see as upcoming trends in your area of specialization?
The use of social media is an upcoming trend which we all have to adapt to and constantly design and develop appropriate mechanisms and messages to respond to the fast-paced social media networks as they are indeed a great opportunity for SBCC.
5) Is this where you thought you would end up?
Not necessarily, as I have not yet even ended but still on a journey to further develop my skills and competencies as I strive to be one of the best SBCC, Human Rights and Gender practitioners within the health and development sphere.
6) What would you consider as the top 3 skills in your area of expertise?
- Effective communication
- Listening skills
- People / interpersonal skills
7) What do you wish you knew at our stage? (IE: entry-level SBCC practitioners)
I wish I knew that that SBCC is so vast and comprehensive, yet there are still people who undermine its value and worth until things have gone horribly wrong. I should’ve been aware that when someone claims they are doing SBCC, I should take that statement ‘with a pinch of salt’ because as SBCC practitioners, we could have been more active and rigorous in developing the capacities of others and ensuring that we legitimise and even legislate (where needed) the importance of abiding by the SBCC principles. I am of this opinion as I believe that the damage that has been caused by false and misleading messages and communication products, especially in HIV and AIDS, Gender and Human Rights in Africa would have been avoided if we strengthened the ways of working, oversight and implementation mechanisms and platforms as early as possible.
8) If you could do it all over again, what would you do differently?
What I have alluded to in #7 - institutionalise SBCC and ensure that all partners and stakeholders are capacitated and held accountable for the effective delivery of SBCC and related programmes and initiatives.
9) What are you trying to accomplish this quarter?
I am trying to expand my knowledge base through publishing some of my work on Gender, Culture and Sexuality Education – as I finalise my PhD articles on these issues.
10) What should keep us up at night?
Ensuring that people get the right information, contextually relevant, gender responsive and culturally sensitive, which will make a difference in changing people’s lives. SBCC should not be a ‘by the way’ initiative but should be mainstreamed in all programme areas, as we have learnt of the serious repercussions and failures of great programmes which have failed due to lack of SBCC.
11) What are your biggest failures?
Not making time to write – I love writing and I feel I have abandoned my passion. Sometimes I feel I should have gone directly into Communication for Development and not the general Development and Public Health work that I am doing.
12) What has been your most rewarding experience?
Managing a community capacity enhancement (CCE) programme for rural communities in Lesotho, which yielded great and life-changing results for women, men, youth and children within those communities in just 6 months. This was complimented by my receipt of the UNDP HIV Network Award, which I received from UNDP headquarters representing the Africa region. This was most rewarding for me as it was due to my communication and engagement on global, regional and national issues on HIV and AIDS and Development. Finally, most recently, my active participation and leadership is supporting my country to integrate Gender and Human Rights issues in the resource mobilisation efforts including the Global Fund have given me a sense of achievement and patriotism.
13) Are there any associations, societies or organizations that you have taken up professional membership with? (If yes, please name them.)
No
14) What is the best advice you can give, to help us plan a career in SBCC?
Continuously develop and fine-tune your communication skills; be eager to read, engage and write as those will enhance one’s SBCC skills. Be open-minded but grounded and focused.
15) Can you recommend a "must-read" book that will help us broaden our skills as working professionals or inspire us to reach our highest potential?
From The Bedroom to the Boardroom: How Women can be Powerful & Win Big – Anywhere! By Princess Tsakani Nkambule
16) Which other SBCC practitioner would you recommend that we should connect with on this blog?
Ms. Limpho Mokhochane – an avid and inspirational SBCC practitioner based in Maseru Lesotho.
17) If you were in our shoes (entry-level professionals), what one question would you ask the next SBCC practitioner who is interviewed on this blog?
What has been the most challenging scenario or point in your career life, especially regarding SBCC?
18) What do you like most about our blog?
It is an learning platform where we learn from each other. It is also an opportunity for some of us in the field to reflect on past and current experiences and explore how we can continue to improve our skills and competencies in SBCC.
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