Multipliers Background

Why is the TLCD project looking for multipliers? By nominating multipliers we started to build the Network of people/organizations who will have the access to different innovative forms of training and education. It depends on them how they will use it. The list of suggested activities that they can organize is in the material for multipliers (see below). The Network of multipliers is about an active and interactive form of using outcomes of the TLCD project, common planning of future events and exchanges of experiences between members of the Network. As a multiplier you should not be just a passive member of the Network reading info from the web site, blog, e-mails but you should be involve actively by making comments, suggestions, coming with new ideas and looking for funds to realize future common events. The idea on behalf of the Network of multiplier is that “more heads have more good ideas” and “more hands can do more”  It means that each organization that becomes a member of the Network of multipliers will increase its chance for self-improvement and for involvement to the different possible projects. [email protected] Multipliers for Training and Learning for Community Development Draft document for comment and circulation with those who attended Sofia Seminar You have been nominated as a “Multiplier” for the lessons from of the European funded project on Training and Learning for Community Development. At the Sofia Seminar in May 2009 on dissemination, a group of 51 participants from 24 countries discussed the findings of the project so far. Partners in the project and some of their “multipliers” agreed to work through their existing networks, projects and programs in order to maximize effort and commitment. As a multiplier, you are invited to work on one of these priorities with the organisation , which has nominated you and you are invited to nominate others. Networking with Multipliers: The project is based on an interactive, participative learning process. In Sofia, participants listened to descriptions of the project and reflections on the outcomes and worked on setting priorities. If you participate as a multiplier, you will have access to innovative tools for training and learning and participation in future networking events. Please let us know urgently if you need material in your own language. Priority Theme Suggested Action Develop shared tools for Exchange and use existing tools through the learning network of multipliers and their websites as presented in the marketplace. For example GRUNDTVIG-G1 Project “Curriculum for Adult Education in Rural Areas – CAERA in Romania. Develop connections between centers of learning e.g. Garaget in Malmo,Sweden, Sprengelhaus in Berlin, Germany, Civil College in Kunbabony, Hungary

Maintain

Use the blog and other interactive, electronic

Communication Values, principles, standards

Fund-raising, structure and organisation

means. Use e-mail groups actively. Tell other multipliers what I am doing locally or nationally. Do a local or national workshop on the values, principles and standards shared by participants in the project on Training and Learning for Community Development (See Sofia booklet and notes below.) Develop peer exchanges and share the results. Keep up peer pressure! Work towards adaptable European standards but avoid standardisation! Work with existing networks under the leadership of partner organizations, CEBSD and CEECN to identify potential funds and set up structures to support networking. Get funds for an event in 2010

CRITERIA for Multipliers As a multiplier, you fit somewhere into the following criteria. Please let us know which criteria relate to you. We would like to put you on the multiplier list on the blog at www.tl4cd.wordpress.com. Could you send a photo so that we recognise you when we meet. Please let us know if you need material in your first language. Multipliers should fulfill at least two of the following categories and be willing to take part in the process of dissemination of findings from the project on Training and Learning over a 2-year period. Categories of multiplier:  

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Partners in a European Project for Training and Learning Active in formulation of policy on training for regional or national government, European network or organisation. Active in formulation of policy for community participation and development of civic skills for regional or national government

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Manager of Social/Community Services for district, regional or national government

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Active in training professionals

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Voluntary Activist in the field of civic skills and community participation

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Active in training volunteers in the field of civic skills and community participation Active in organization or network related to training and learning opportunities for civic skills and community participation. Representative of a related European/International network or European / International institution.

What is the role of a multiplier? The idea of multipliers is based on an interactive approach to learning where you assess the relevance to you of how others in your field of action work and give critical feedback to them. You need to participate in opportunities offered and create opportunities. You need to adapt the material to your situation and cultural context. You want to raise the level of citizen awareness and increase opportunities for adults to learn. Within the 150 multipliers, you should find some people who can assist the future development of your organization and the citizens that you work with. What to multiply from the project on Training and Learning for Community Development? There is material from the project on the blog created in the course of the project. Multipliers are asked to reflect on the material generated and discuss it with others within their organizations or in open workshops. Here are some questions to get you started. 

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How much do I agree or disagree with the values, principles, guidelines or standards that have been suggested? (See notes below) Are they relevant to my daily work? How does my work contribute to increased citizen awareness and empowerment? What can I share with others? Is the Do-it-yourself Relay method, a method I could use in a local, national or European exchange? (See printed booklet for Sofia Seminar or pdf format on blog)

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Would my colleagues be interested in a workshop towards developing shared guidelines or standards (See “Towards standards for quality Community Work” www.cwc.ie or TLCD Guidelines in Booklet and www.cebsd.org and Have I something to share in different forms of electronic dialogue? Use www.tl4cd.wordpress.com Do I know civil servants who may be interested in the connections between citizen participation and adult education who would be interested the project and in opportunities for future exchange of informal learning under the Lifelong Learning Programme?

What can I expect from my role as multiplier? 

Consciousness of what others are doing in this field in East and West Europe

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Access to ideas and materials that can help me in my work.

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Awareness of opportunities to participate in exchanges, which explore the findings in more depth Inspiration, reflection, challenges…and renewal of energy and commitment.

TLCD GUIDELINES Notes on project starting point for values, principles, standards and guidelines: Participants in Sofia want to start an interactive dialogue. As a multiplier, the following are offered as a starting point are are open to you to agree, disagree and change through dialogue on the blog. 1. Definition of Community Development: The broad definition of Community Development that underpins the project on Training and Learning for Community Development is taken from the Budapest Declaration. “Community development is a way of strengthening civil society by prioritising the actions of communities and their perspectives in the development of social, economic and environmental policy. It seeks the empowerment of local communities, taken to mean both geographical communities, communities of interest or identity and communities organising around specific themes or policy initiatives. It strengthens the capacity of people as active citizens through their community groups, organisations and networks; and the capacity of institutions and agencies (public, private and non-governmental) to work in dialogue with citizens to shape and determine change in their communities. It plays a crucial role in supporting active democratic life by promoting the autonomous voice of disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. It has a core set of values / social principles covering human rights, social inclusion, equality and respect for diversity; and a specific skills and knowledge base.” 2. Definition of ‘Community’: The summary of definitions of ‘community’ follows from this broad definition and they are also shared by members of the Combined European Bureau for Social Development (CEBSD) and partners in the Grundtvig Project 2005-2006. The summary is drawn mainly from the CEBSD publication “Including the Excluded: From practice to policy in European Community Development”, Policy Press, June 2005. www.policypress.org.uk, ISBN

1-86134-745-6. This definition of community “embraces locality, common interests and shared identity.” (Page 14, including the Excluded”) A community can be a cross-section of different communities and individuals are often members of several ‘communities’. For example the ‘community’ of Rom in Europe contains many different communities and has many diverse connections to local communities across Europe. The refugee ‘community’ may have common interests across local, regional and national boundaries. The CEBSD definition recognises the distinctiveness of diverse communities, while recognising common patterns across Europe. Connection to a number of ‘communities’ increases with increased mobility across Europe. In community development terms a sense of ‘community’ implies a commitment to human rights, solidarity and equality and engagement with the development of civil society. Members of CEBSD give priority to different areas within community development for example participative democracy; intercultural mediation; sustainable development; antipoverty and social exclusion.

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Some of the terms used for Community Development in Europe dezvoltare comunitara samhällsarbete och Mobilisering desenvolupament comunitari devéloppement solidaire/communitaire komunitneho rozvoja samenlevingsopbouw

desarrollo comunitario sviluppo di comunità områdesutveckling samfunnsutvikling gemeinwesenarbeit közösségfejlesztés community development 4

Some shared principles: The following principles have been identified as core principles shared by members of the Combined European Bureau for Social Development, See the publication “Including the Excluded” (Page 57-67) for a description of how they were identified and how they are understood: 

Equality, Diversity, Tolerance

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Partnership, Solidarity and Co-operation

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Participation

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Creative and Innovative Organisation

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Some shared concepts that define what we mean by Community Development (taken from the Combined European Bureau for Social Development, See the publication “Including the Excluded”, Page 73)  Delivers interdisciplinary, professional and independent support to groups of people  Identifies, together with local people, community problems  Increases the empowerment of local people so that they can organise themselves in order to solve problems  Turns its attention primarily to people struggling with social deprivation, poverty, inequality and exclusion  Contributes to a sustainable community based on mutual respect and social justice  Challenges power structures which hinder people’s participation  Contributes to the socio-cultural development of the neighbourhood by local people.

Resources The CEBSD website and publications plus www.tl4cd.wordpress.org and the linked websites of partners contain more material on principles, concepts, terms including terms such as ‘social capital’, empowerment, participation and how they are drawn from practice and used to form policy. For some suggested guidelines when creating training opportunities – see the booklet for the Sofia seminar (also on blog www.tl4cd.wordpress.com and www.cebsd.org)

For more information on participatory methods used in the project on Training and Learning for Community Development contact: Creating a blog: [email protected] Relay and Laboratory: [email protected] Network Circle: [email protected] Speed Dialogue: [email protected] OPERA Method: [email protected] Community Organising: [email protected] Role play: [email protected] Using Excel for participative management: [email protected] For the publication “Towards Standards for Quality Community Work: An All Ireland Statement of Values, Principles and Work Standards” see www.cwc.ie or contact [email protected]

Margo Gorman and Anna Karailieva June 2009 [email protected] www.cebsd.org Note: This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This paper reflects the views only of the Consortium, and the Commission cannot be

held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained therein. References: 135744-NL-KA4MP Life Long Learning Programme – Key Activity 4