Community development becomes possible when its residents are component and change-makers equipped with knowledge, skills and expertise.
For this purpose, between September 6-10 the first module of “Academy of Local Workers” took place in the framework of “CapSLoc: Capacities for Sustained Locally-Led Development” project that focused on enhancing skills and capabilities of residents of Akhuryan consolidated community. The Academy of Local Workers consists of 4 modules. The members of Local learders’ team (LLT) formed in Akhuryan community, have opportunity to participate in the Academy. LLT represents all settlements of the community, local self-government bodies and the private sector.
At the opening of the first module of the Academy, Artur Drampyan, the head of the CapSLoc project from the USAID, Arpine Hakobyan, the president of the NGO Center, and Araks Mikayelyan, the project team leader from the Urban Foundation, gave a welcome speech.
On the first day of the Academy, the participants studied the concept of “Good Governance” and its essence. They also engaged in discussions regarding how the implementation of Good Governance leads to community development.
In the last part of the first day, the international expert of the CapSLoc program, Paolo Crugnola, presented the “Citizenship Index” survey, which was executed with such methodology for the first time in RA.
Vardan from the Haykavan settlement of Akhuryan community, who participated in non-formal educational program for the first time, says that as a result of the knowledge he gained during the Academy, he is able to find the cause-and-effect relationships of problems. “During the Academy, I learned how to analyze the problem, focusing on the causes from the beginning, and then on the consequences,” says eighteen-year-old Vardan Manukyan.
During the five days of the Academy, the participants got acquainted with the nature of RA local self-government and the value system approaches of participation. During the Leadership training session, the participants studied its types, got acquainted with the positive changes made in the world due to leadership. Within the framework of the Academy, the topics of strategic thinking and planning were especially discussed as an important component of leadership and community development.
Vahramaberd village is one of the settlements of Akhuryan community. It has more than a thousand inhabitants and is located north of the city of Gyumri. LLT member Hripsime Mkrtchyan is from Vahramaberd, who also participated in the first group session of the Academy of Local Workers’ first module. She notes that she aquired a lot of knowledge applicable in the field of local self-government during the five-day training course.
“As a result of the Academy, I realized that being a leader is not only managing a group of people, but also equal participation in the processes of overcoming difficulties with them, listening to them and helping them, creating a motivating environment,” says 21-year-old Hripsime and adds that the acquired knowledge will assist her to become a good community leader in the future, to support the community raise the problems and provide the right solutions to them. Around 27 members of the Community Active Team (CAT) formed in the Akhuryan community participated in the first group of the first module of the Academy of Local Workers. At the end of the month, it is planned to organize the same module of the academy with the involvement of the second group of HAT.
Around 27 members of the Local leaders’ team (LLT) formed in Akhuryan community participated in the first group session of the Academy of Local Workers’ first module.
At the end of the month, it is planned to organize the same module of the Academy with the involvement of the second group of LLT.
“CapSLoc: Capacities for Sustained Locally-Led Development” project is supported by the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
“CapSLoc: Capacities for Sustained Locally-Led Development” project is implemented by “NGO Center” civil society development NGO, in cooperation with Urban Foundation, “Women for Development” NGO, “Armenian Caritas” benevolent NGO and “Compass” scientific-research, education and consulting center” NGO.