Achievements
1. Translation and Adaptation of Modules:
• PACOS modules adapted and translated into Bangla.
• Finally following Modules have been included for CO training
Module 1: Orientation and Basics of Community Organising
Module 2: Governance System
Module 3: Socio-economy, Gender, Culture and Education
Module 4: Constitutional and Fundamental Rights
Module 5: Natural Resource Management
Module 6: People’s Organization
The process for selection of trainers began in 2005.
3. Selection of Trainees
4. Selection of communities
5. Training of trainers (ToT)
• A TOT on CO conducted in June (10 – 16), 2006.
• The ToT facilitated by Ms. Claudia Lasimbang Yoggie.
• 10 participants (6 trainers + 3 local resource persons + 1 lead trainer) attended the ToT.
• At ToT a 3 month activity plan adopted.
6. Establishment of Training Centre
• In order to conduct the training session, a training centre titled Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) has been set up in a rented house in Rangamati. For accommodation of women trainees another house is rented. To avoid visits and curiosity from the intelligence branch, Human Resource Development Centre (HRDC) is the term used for training centre rather than Community Organizing which has a more political orientation.
1. Conduct of COT
• COT has been divided into two parts: theory sessions (studies in the house) and field visits (visit to communities, and different organizations)
• Up to February2007, 3 modules were completed:
Module 1: Orientation and Basics of Community Organizing
Module 2: Governance System
Module 3: Socio-economy, Gender, Culture and Education
• Support of external resource persons – to provide in-depth knowledge the training sessions were complemented with the support of external resource persons. For 12 sessions, 12 resource persons were invited to take classes on specific tops/subjects.
2. Exposure visits to Sabah:
• The trainers’ team consisted of 5 members visited Sabah from 8-16 August 2006. The aim of the visit was to establish a decentralized training and capacity building network.
Challenges Faced & Lessons Learned
|
Challenges |
Resolutions/Learning |
|
1. Delay in getting approval to project by NGO Bureau for clearance. |
The approval process should start before 3/4 months of starting the project. |
|
2. Selection of Committed Trainer and Trainee |
To give more time for scanning and observation in the field/communities. |
|
3. Many issues raised by communities. |
Response to the needs of communities through support – financial and technical. |
|
4. Security (Operation Uttaran in CHT) |
Avoiding most risky zones/ areas; More open to community, Local government etc. about CO activities; |
|
5. Insufficient Reference Materials on community organizing (terms, process etc); |
Communication with Lead Trainer and other resources person for clarifications and references. |
|
6. Information sharing among partners |
Need more initiatives to increase communications system |
|
7. Government issued a Suspension Order to TUS on 28 February 07 under the Emergency Ordinance of 2007 to suspend all its activities until a further. |
|
Specific Experience in the field:
Women with women
Almost 50% of the groups are women. We inform the women’s groups in the field in various ways, and talk to the women leaders about the program and the objectives. We found that women are mostly shy in talking with our group members. We overcome this problem with time, after the second or third field visit they are very helpful and eager to work with us. Our group members also share things like clothing, food with the women in the field, and they don’t have much time to share with us.
Dealing with authorities
We inform the local government authorities officially of our program. We also inform the local and traditional leaders about the program.
Logistics in traveling
Reaching the communities must be done by boat. Sometimes we don’t have access to boats and so we don’t have regular access to the communities. If there are problems in the community, we can’t always get there.
We don’t have many resources in the office like vehicle, internet etc. This hampers the preparation of the field work.
Security
As an organization, we are always under surveillance by different security agencies. They often visit our offices, and they are present in the villages. We can’t always work comfortably because of their presence in the area.
Materials
We were provided with materials from PACOS, and our lead trainer has been able to get the materials whenever needed. We are also developing local materials.
Dealing with traditional leaders
Traditional leaders have been very helpful and cooperative. In one of the communities, we found no traditional leader or chief, but we found others who fulfilled that role. In general, we have no problem in this area.
