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Peer coaching session in Bangladesh

Four YEPpers in Dhaka, Bangladesh, hosted a peer coaching session in early March to learn how to deal with difficult situations at work and share support. Lotte Roosendaal, Urban Food System Governance advisor at the Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation of Wageningen University and Research and participant of YEP’s batch 24 facilitated the session.

The peer coaching session started with a little get-to-know each other and an open discussion about some of the work-related issues experience by the YEPpers. A number of questions were about how to deal with stress at work and optimise performance when colleagues have different ways of operating and communicating. The session comprised six rounds through which the group identified concrete means to manage their challenges and feel more energised at work.

According to Lotte, “peer coaching is a very useful format to learn and develop as a group. Through a series of rounds you get the wisdom and the experience of the group on a particular issue to the surface, reflect on it, and turn it into very concrete actions."

“The session was really helpful for me as I became the case owner and the team members helped to come up with solutions to my problems altogether. Not only it was fun, but also it was a great learning for me. I look forward to more peer coaching sessions and also hope to introduce this technique to my fellow colleagues at work too!" adds Nabila Khan, Programme Officer at The Hunger Project and participant of batch 24.

Not everything was a serious talk though. There was also time for a break to charge batteries with Dutch pancakes for a snack!

Upcoming activities in Bangladesh

The group also brainstormed some YEP-Bangladesh activities for the coming months. ”We plan to host monthly peer-to-peer coaching sessions. Next time, we want to discuss our outcomes with senior experts working in the water and food sectors, including YEP alumni in Dhaka, to learn from other Bangla-Dutch perspectives and expand our professional network,” says Wolfgang Duifhuizen, Junior Technical Project Manager at Larive International and participant of batch 25.

“Also, we aim to arrange visits to each other’s workplaces, which include: The Hunger Project, Food and Agricultural Organization of the Unite Nations (FAO), Light Castle and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka,” adds Roos Middelkoop, Policy Officer at the Dutch Embassy and participant of YEP’s batch 23.

YEP Asia peer coaching weekend

The group was very enthusiastic about the idea of a YEP Asia peer coaching weekend and would like to connect with other YEPpers in Asia to take this forward. Roos and Rennie Roos, who is a young expert from batch 22 located in Indonesia, are looking into the organisation of a session in the second quarter of 2022 and they welcome ideas for a compelling programme. You can send your input by email.

Peer coaching session opportunity

This type of session can also be held in other locations. If you would like to organise such a fun and productive meet-up with fellow YEPpers, please do so! You can contact Lonneke van Klei, Project Officer at YEP Programmes, at [email protected] for questions regarding possibilities and guidance.

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