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Training of Trainers for Belarusian Non-Governmental Organisations (2001-2003)

This project was preceded by two earlier attempts to create teams of trainers in Belarus, undertaken in the years 1996-1998 by the Belarusian programme of the IDEE Foundation and the Education for Democracy Foundation. We saw the need for another attempt owing to the increase in the number of new Non-Governmental Organisations in small towns and their rising demand for training and qualified trainers. The programme was modelled on the training for trainers programme of the Education for the Democracy Foundation (FED).

The purpose of the programme was to create a group of trainers who would be able to conduct courses for local NGO leaders and teachers, and to develop new training programmes, manuals and publications. The trainers would then join the Belarusian Association of Resource Centres (BARC). Seminars held as part of the programme provided Belarusian organisations with knowledge in the following areas:

- The role of NGO’s in civil society,
- The functioning of democratic institutions,
- The structure of democratic organisations,
- Leadership skills,
- Activity planning for organisations,
- Working with volunteers,
- Basics of negotiation.

During the first stage we provided five basic training courses for local leaders, fourteen of whom were then selected as candidates for future trainers. We conducted four seminars for a total of 104 persons. The next stage of our programme consisted of a basic seven-day trainers seminar provided by FED trainers and a three-day summing up seminar, during which the participants of the first seminar led workshops for local leaders with the support of experienced trainers. The new trainers are currently holding seminars for NGO leaders commissioned by local organisations. The programme will finish in July 2003.

In our view such a training of trainers programme is not feasible given the present circumstances in Belarus, as it does not respond to the needs of Belarusian organisations. During the realisation of the programme we had problems with communication and encountered organisational obstacles. We believe that it is necessary to provide trainers workshops for Belarusian NGO’s, but in a format different than had hitherto been the case.

Our partners in Belarus were the Belarusian Association of Resource Centres (BARC) and Mizhnarodny Kantakt (Minsk), and in Poland – the Education for Democracy Foundation (Warsaw).

A two-year grant was provided by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The programme co-ordinator was Łukasz Byrski (lbyrski@batory.org.pl).

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