Consultation/Trainng with Armenia Round Table

In August 2006, a representative from the World Council of Churches Armenia Inter-Church Round Table attended Village Earth/IISD's two week flagship training in Participatory Practices for Sustainable Development at Colorado State University. She quickly saw the applicability of Village Earth's approach to sustainable community-based development for the network of organization that her organization supports in Armenia. Before the end of the training at CSU she had already made preliminary arrangements for a team from Village Earth to travel to Armenia to provide training and consultation to A.R.T. and their partner NGO's.

Below is an excerpt from the WCC's web page.

"Through October 20 to November 3, 2006, the Armenia Round Table invited the Consortium for Sustainable Village Based Development “Village Earth” to Armenia with the request to provide consultancy to ART staff in development of ART strategy axe “Integrated Community Development” and provide a training course for ART staff and ART local implementing partners in “Sustainable Village Based Development” to assist with the conceptual development and professional management of ART and its partners.

Throughout the Mission, the ART staff and Village Earth representatives, Ms. Mimi Shinn, Dr. Ed Shinn and Mr. David Bartecchi paid visits to ART supported projects, particularly to “Culture as a tool for Child Development and Socialization” implemented by Cross of Armenian Unity NGO, Establishment of Social Center in Jervezh” implemented by “Youth of Jervezh” NGO, “Establishment of Social Center in Gyumri” implemented by Diocese of Shirak and “Water and Sanitation for Six Communities” implemented by “Caravan-88” NGO and had discussions over project activities and community involvement in projects with clergymen, project managers, educators, youth groups and ordinary villagers.

The site visits and discussions assisted the Mission in its work with the ART staff on the development of the Integrated Community Development proposal.

Following the discussions in the ART and site visits, a training on “Sustainable Village-Based Development” was carried out by Village Earth for ART partners representing Armavir Diocese, Shirak Diocese, Catholic Our Lady of Armenian Center, “Syunik” NGO, “Bolor Sar” NGO, “Caravan-88”, “Cross of Armenian Unity” NGO, “Eco-99“ NGO, “Youth of Jervezh” Cultural-Educational NGO, “Legacy of Perished and Disabled Soldiers” NGO, “Sisian Center for Development” NGO through October 26 to November 1, 2006 in the Writers’ House of Tsakhadzor.

The course introduced the principles of community development approach as elaborated and experienced in Village Earth. The training mainly covered Introduction into Sustainable Village Based Development, Approaches to Village Based Development, Roles of Activator, Service Center, Strategy Planning; the Village Earth provided practical guide for work with communities and shared own experience of development work in communities.

In the result of general and groups’ discussions participants created models of Service Centers, shaped vision of the Center, identified strategic priorities and obstacles that can impede the work and achievements of Centers.

The training was inter-active and participants were engaged with group work and discussions, expressed their thoughts and opinions on points at issues, suggested different solutions to obstacles. An important fact worth mentioning is that good relations were established among participants, which was contributory to the development of ART partners’ network.

The Mission in general was successful in terms of comprehending the local context in relatively short time and providing consultancy and training relevant to local needs. Based on the experience of the training, evaluation of the training and feedback by its participants, the ART would like to continue cooperation with Village Earth."