Bar Outreach

During our trip we had the opportunity to participate in what is called a bar outreach. Teams go out to the bars and try to engage the women in conversation and befriend them. This is actually a pretty powerful and effective way to build relationships. The teams head out early before the bars are full of customers so the women have time to talk.

All over the open outside bar areas next to the beach, the women pull out their mirrors and start putting on their make up to get ready for the night. I think this is actually a marketing scheme. The team I was with has been returning to this city for years, and they have made it a custom to collect gifts for the women all year and then they hand out the bag of goodies. Great ice breakers! The women absolutely love it. They opened their small gift bag which included lip stick, nail polish, hair clips, candy etc. The women we were with put on EVERYTHING in their bag. They were really very sweet about it.

They love to talk about their families. Many of them have several children and elderly parents they are providing for back in their home villages, far from the city they are now living in. If the conversation is flowing we tell them about career and training opportunities and arrange future meetings. The women we were with were very receptive, but we did not see them again. The teams that remain will continue to visit the ladies. There are so many bars and so many ladies to reach.

Here is a picture of the women with their gift bag. They loved getting their picture taken!