report_sofia seminar 2009

8/14/2019 Report_Sofia Seminar 2009

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Contents:

1. Executive Summary2. Seminar Objectives

3. Sofia Seminar Preparation

4. TLCD Presentation of the project and workshops onthemes

(a) Background

(b) Results and Relevance of Relay Visits(c) Relay Visits as a method(d) Learning by Doing (Electronic Tools)(e) Reaching the target of 150 multipliers(f ) Guidelines and Standards in Training and

Learning for Community Development

5. Reflections from the Panel

6. Policy Implications and European Perspectivesa. Introductionb. Reflections on the Budapest Declaration 2004c. Citizen Participation Weekd. European Local Democracy Weeke. Towards Standards for Community Work

7. Making Plans using OPERA Method

8. Dissemination, Multipliers and follow-up


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1. Executive Summary

The European-funded project on Training and Learning for CommunityDevelopment is run by Consortium of 16 partners from non-Governmentalorganisations under the leadership of the Combined European Bureau for Social

Development. The Consortium of 16 partners working on Training and Learning forCommunity Development met as a group in November 2007 in The Hague (NL), inPalermo in November 2008 and at the Sofia Seminar in May 2009.

In the lifetime of the project, the most significant consolidation ofdissemination arose from collaboration with the People in Politics project lead by theSagene District Authority in Oslo, Norway and the European Dialogue project led bythe Hungarian Association for Community Development. A photo on the boat Europetaken at joint event on European dialogue became a symbol of horizontal networkingwith a view of Europe as the sum of the places where people live their everydaylives. It was then combined with the Catalonian Castellers, which became our imageof a human tower of European Citizens reaching vertically towards the structures ofEuropean institutions. Learning was also shared effectively with other more locally

based training projects such as the Project Curriculum for Adult Education in RuralAreas in Romania CAERA . 225352-CP-1-2005-1-RO-GRUNDTVIG-G1. Theevaluation was carried out by Guenther Lorenz from Technet, Berlin which is leadpartner in another project (www.cest-transfer.de), where the objective is to transfer asuccessfully tested curriculum for the social economy, including its communitydevelopment component, in a way that multipliers individually can apply, assess andmonitor it. Synergies were also sought with Eastern Europe through the Central andEastern Citizens Network. Whilst the project itself was limited to the EuropeanUnion, dissemination had a wider scope through connections with the Council ofEurope and NGO networks such as the International Association for CommunityDevelopment.

During this process partners have revisited the application of core principles

of Community Development (as described in the Guidelines for Training andLearning for Community Development produced in the Grundtvig 4 project 2006) totraining and learning systems. The Consortium seeks means of establishingcontinuous open networking in a field dominated by short term funding measures. Ithad its origins in a previous partnership in 2006, which identified the triangle ofexchange between citizens, professionals and policy-makers as a key activity topromote participation in Life Long Learning.

The work programme included a series of experimental relay visits wherepartners carried analysis of Training and Learning in Community Development fromBelgium to Hungary; from Hungary to the United Kingdom; from the United Kingdomto Slovakia; and from Slovakia to Germany. The relay visits included field visits andwere backed up by electronic networking. The involvement of local professionalsfrom Local Authorities, non-governmental organisations, and educationalorganisations enriched the level of exchange and learning from practice. At theLaboratory in Sweden in October 2008, partners distilled lessons from relay visits tomake the process of networking.

At the Seminar in Sofia, the CEGA project, assisted by a Seminar team,created a working context where peer learning was set in the context of the principlesof equality and intercultural exchange. 51 participants from 24 countries and 39organisations explored methods of interactive dissemination where methods andtechniques for training are adjusted to the context and to the participants, whilstmaintaining adherence to the highest standards of practice in training and learning..

Participants also explored the implications of European wide dissemination throughanalysis of the Budapest Declaration, Citizens Participation Weeks in Central and


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3. Sofia Seminar Preparation

A working group led by Kirsten Paaby developed the programme for the SofiaSeminar. Using Skype meetings and exchange of material by e-mail, they planned aScenario that would engage full participation whilst ensuring that programme

objectives were met. A booklet was prepared and printed summarising the point theproject had reached so far. The smooth organisation of the event by CEGA was anexcellent backdrop to the preparation and enactment of the programme.

On the first day of the Seminar, the network circle, led by Kirsten Paaby, setthe tone of active engagement and ownership of the process, recognising thediversity of the group but also the underlying connections that bind us together. Thiswas followed by a welcome by CEGA which led into the country presentations in theMarket Place. Here the concept of Training and Learning for CommunityDevleopment was reflected in the practice of participants. The Market Place wasseen as a contribution to the Creative Commons with free use of material and nolimits on intellectual property rights. It was a sensory experience with visual

representation of significant development in the history, growth, changing contextand organisation of Training and Learning in Community Development from somecountries. Some sampling of local specialities and the buzz of exchange enhancedthe colourful presentation of practice. This was the preliminary to a full programme ofpresentations, workshops, analysis and planning. (See Appendix A).

The discussion in workshops on dissemination of shared experience andanalyis of Training and Learning for Community Development was stimulated by aSpeed Dialogue after the background to the project. Participants, led by KirstenPaaby, Idbanken had the opportunity to engage in pairs on the relevance of theproject on Training and Learning for Community Development to their own work.

4. TLCD project: Presented by Co-ordinator and Partners

4(a) Background: Margo Gorman, Project Co-ordinator presented somebackground to the project. She demonstrated using a participatory method how theexercise of commitment to individual core values and principles could produce moresystematic networking where all participants are linked to each other and some arepotential hubs for a future network.


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When we work from the core principles that guide our practice as individualsand seek to exchange and network with others to improve that practice, we aredrawn into a process of networking that may appear chaotic but has an internaldynamic. Some key figures in European Community Development in the 1980s,such as Ilona Vercseg and Tamas Varga were influential on her individual localcommunity work practice through their writing long before direct European exchangeexperience. Drawing on examples from specific personal experience usingcommunity development methods and approaches in the following areas, Margo

Gorman demonstrated the underlying commitment that binds the participants in theSofia Seminar together:

Training the young unemployed in the UK in 1980s Work with Roma and Travellers in UK Work on Childrens Rights in UK European Anti-Poverty Network Council of Europe Campaign All Equal-All Different Life Long Learning with EACEA

At times the connections between local, personal experience and the contextEuropean may be hidden and the end product of networking is not always well

defined. Greater awareness of connections and a more systematic, scientificapproach to networking could increase results. A Hungarian physicist and otherscientists have mapped out how networking in all contexts has certain similarpatterns. Margo demonstrated the concept of HUBs where certain key individuals inorganisations act as a focal point for networking. More conscious use of HUBS is apotential strategy for creating a sustainable network of multipliers for dissemination ofthe results of the TLCD project.

The process of dissemination also needs a clear product that can be shared.Part of the work of the Seminar was to extract from the project what was mostrelevant to the multipliers who attended the seminar and those in the networks inwhich they operate. In the workshops participants had the opportunity to explore thecontent used and developed in the course of the project.


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4 (b) Workshop on Results and Relevance of Relay Visits:Presentation by Helen Animashaun of CommunityDevelopment Foundation: UK, supported by partners, HansAndersson of CESAM, reboro (SE) and Hans-Georg Rennert,

of KFW, Berlin presented the results of the relay process. Education for democracy and active citizenship are the foundations for both

citizen activism and professional training. A special focal point is the history ofcommunity development and the history of learning in that area.

There is a danger that over-professionalisation of Community Developmentcan reduce power of citizens and not empower them

There is a need to make a distinction between Training and Learning forCommunity Organising, which involves a specific training focus onempowerment and action as well as different roles for staff and citizens; and

Training and Learning for Community Development where the emphasis onempowerment and direct action by citizens depends on the lead organisationor funding body.

There are distinctions between Community Organising and CommunityDevelopment and also some overlapping concerns. Training and Learningshould start with empowering citizen activists as the key to social change.

Discussion of results of the learning from relay visits in the project and therelevance of these results to a wider network revealed that multipliers were seen as akey to future dissemination but there was poor understanding of what that role shouldbe.

The workshop participants identified a need to place ourselves on the map withinthe bigger picture. To achieve this, we need conversations in each country todiscuss local application of the findings of Training and Learning for CommunityDevelopment. The group proposed that there should be Training of Trainers workingwith multipliers to train them on what they can go on to learn and to pass on withintheir country. The group discussed appropriate support systems and funding for that.It should be linked to informing, involving and participation in a specific context.

Hans gave the example of the city of Malmo where the multipliers are basedaround the hub of Garaget. There are different aspects to this centre including alibrary, which the Librarian wants to build up as a library for participatory methods.The goal is to have gathering together more concrete tools in one place so that they

are accessible. The group proposed an interactive toolkit for trainers and multipliersthat they make input into and that they can use.

4(c) Workshop on the Relay System as a method:Presentation by Sarah Beal, supported by CEGA, (BG).

The RELAY SYSTEM was tested during the project on Training andLearning as a process of international exchange on a team theme. The goal of aRelay System is to maximise exchange of learning from mobility and to createconnections between multipliers. Partners requested a template of the process so

that they could set up a relay system on other themes or topics. This template wasprovided to all participants in the Sofia Seminar Booklet. Ben Williams from theInternational Association for Community Development in his role as Multiplier and


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Sarah Beal from CESIE, partner in the project reported that participants appreciatedthe opportunity to get a better understanding of the process and to hear theexperience of people who had been involved. They reflected that it is not just aboutexchange but there is a chance to go into fundamentals with the intensity of smallgroup and then the wider group for passing on knowledge.

Participants explored the strengths and weaknesses of the method andquestioned whether the themes were well represented at the end of the process. Itseems that some things got lost but then Laboratory gave the chance to revisit thatand whatever came out at the end had real importance to everyone.

Multipliers asked partners to reflect on whether it was the method that led tothe loss of content or whether it was a process of condensing things down andediting things. After each relay visit a report was made but thats not enough toshare the full reality so the Laboratory is essential. Partners reported that it was achallenge to do 5 visits in 6 months but that is was important to the momentum and italso meant reports had to be fast. One of the problems of passing on responsibility is

that there are different perspectives involved. There was agreement that thelaboratory at the end and meeting as a larger group face to face is a fundamentalpart of the process.

The potential to use the relay method to take more grassroots experience topolicy level was explored. It is a good method for building common agreement andunderstanding as there a possibility of sharing experience and creating commongoals. It was interesting to share experience in the group of how it could be adaptedto different realities. We could use the innovative method when you have limitedfunding, as it is a way of everyone gaining experience but with less expenditure.There were two specific examples of possible uses of the method: One was inpreparation for the Forum for Future of Democracy by Council of Europe bringing

together different actors, political representatives etc. The other was in Romania forgroups working on a specific issue. The Host would pick one of two methods and theVisitor would ask questions. Integrating the use drama or mime to reflect experiencewas discussed. The conclusion was that the relay method could maximise exchangeof learning and share experience in different contexts.


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4 (d) Workshop on Learning by Doing: Tools forDissemination: Presentation by Mate Varga (www.tl4cd.com),supported by Gianni Orsini, FDC, Catalonia (ES).

The Consortium in Palermo agreed to focus on electronic tools for dissemination.Mate Varga created the blog and agreed to lead a hands-on workshop on makinguse of electronic tools. Mate structured his presentation around some of the tools:

Around doodle, wikis, blogs but not as far as social networking. The group asked how these tools could be useful, for example: Using Doodle, it is possible to get dates for meetings faster than email. Using Wikis: They created a document in Wikispace and each person added

on ideas. On You Tube, you can find a tutorial film by company called Common Craft

that can teach you how tools are useful. Blogs: TLCD has a blog and it can act as a workshop to develop ideas. Using Skype, you can save time and money on meetings. Skype was used to

plan the workshop and the Seminar.More people need to use the TLCD blog to keep it interactive. Regular entries areimportant to keep it up to date and relevant.

Carole Dane as a multiplier presented the results of hands-one experience ofelectronic tools. Carole explained that she doesnt know much about computers sohad to learn a lot in a short time. In the group each participant explained howelectronic tools are used in our organisations. Some examples were:

Magnus is working on a website for the People and Politics project Gianni uses video conferences with Columbia as part of his international

networking for the Global Social Forum. Members in HACD and CEECN use blogs. Everybody uses electronic tools in some way.

There was also some ambivalence because of so many machines and people likeface-to-face contact. People go onto the website and raise questions. They arelooking for recipes and solutions and less willing to engage with process. In spite ofreservations, it was agreed that we should work with local actors and come up withour own ideas. There is now quite a high dependence on electronic means but theyhave also brought issues quite far for example organisations have conducted pollsthat go directly to politicians. There are limits but also huge potential for use of new

technology in our local work and in the networks we engage with.


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4 (e) Reaching the target of 150 multipliers: Presentation byRuxandra Sasu, PACT, Romania supported by Kirsten Paaby,Idbanken, Norway and Chuck Hirt, CKO, Slovakia.

There was recognition that it is important to get to know each others national

and professional contexts and history in order to acknowledge diversity and todevelop a shared understanding from this basis. The nomination of multipliersrecognises that training and learning as an interactive process. The experience andskills of everyone are valued and everyone is expected to play an active part intraining and learning programmes.

Tatiana Puscasu, Moldova and Nicu Cuta, Romania presented suggestionsfor concrete steps, which are structured into certain topics.

Sustainable network of Euro multipliers initiated and planned for thefuture products and outputs of network. 2 dimensions: Territorial (researchcentres) dimension, sectoral dimension (research orgs) and topic dimension,

remembering that it is not easy to travel all over Europe. An administrativestructure was also included: People made responsible for doing somethingconcrete e.g. organising meetings or travel etc.

Content of Network: Start with what we have, based on concrete things wehave e.g. CEBSD and CEECN are good starting points for organisationalback up. Content has also been tested.

Methods, Values, Principles can be shared through the network ofmultipliers.In the workshop, Ruxandra gave examples where you give information tobeneficiaries then provide feedback, which can be spread, to other members

of network.

Products this includes the means of communication and availability ofinformation. Some things are already there, some more work needs to bedone.

Training and Learning for Community Development needs:Regular newsletterInternship between members of network (human factor bringing experienceand what they gained and also volunteers and exchanging them -)Resources to maintain this big network e.g. common projectsDirect some of resources in your project to development of network

Common Training in regional resource centres, regular annual training inframework of network sectoral or regionalCRONO, Romania, will bring outside ideas, try them out and providefeedbackExpand e-tools such as blog and videos to reportTraining Centre (Training workshops and other options based for example inCivil College, Kundbabony or in Georgia or in Resource Centres.Next event to focus on community artsProject connecting schools curriculum focused on CDCivic Management of Cultural CentresContract with multipliersCreate hubs with themesLook at other methods to learn principlesIdentify key people in each country to co-ordinate activities


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Need for administrative tasks to manage tools like blogsTerritorial dimension and thematic sector dimensionBuild in CEECN best practice data baseJoint event on CD / CO between CEBSD and CEECNIncreased visibilityNeed to address languageAnnual plans for each country related to Budapest DeclarationIdentify other related networks.

Reaching the target of 150 multipliers is a short time goal, which has been initiatedby the Consortium. The task of the group at the Sofia Seminar is to act multipliers todisseminate results of seminar. Some hubs will be created for example in resourcecentres in Moldova and Romania. The group will spread what we have available,using the TLCD booklet and TLCD blog as starting points. The group sees creation ofa network in the future as an ambitious task but welcomes that. We should havegone beyond target of 150 by end of project. We do not plan to make a new networkbut to use those that exist and each multiplier works with our own partners andnetworks.

4(f) The Workshop on Guidelines and Standards in Trainingand Learning for Community Development: Presentation byLies Beunens, Samenlevingsopbouw Vlaanderen (BE)supported by Oonagh Mc Ardle and Ann Irwin from theCommunity Workers Co-operative (IE)

Lies Beunens presented the key findings from the Brussels relay whereFrance and Spain visited Belgium and recommended that Professional standards for

learning and training for community development should be set within a framework,which includes the meaning of learning, core values and principles, target groups and


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content. Creative implementation of this framework combined with local needsassessment is the key to good training opportunities.

The group agreed that Guidelines and Standards for Training are located inthe values of Community Development and that Quality Standards develop from acommon base. The group stressed that this is not setting standards, where everycountry does the same as some process of standardisation. On the contrary, itmeans that all practice aspires to reach a certain level of quality. Not everything isCommunity Organising or Community Development or Community Work. It has to bedefined. It is important that there are shared core values for Community Developmentacross these different and sometimes overlapping fields.

Community Development has Social Change and Social Justice as a corevalue. The terms that you use should be fitting for example the outcomes should beclearly defined. Any specific group should ask, What does good practice look like?Here it can be useful to look at how other groups have defined good practice. Theexample of Ireland and the booklet, Towards Standards for Quality Community

Work was used in the discussion. This statement of values, principles and workstandards was prepared as part of a bottom-up process, which is important to bothdefinition and learning. Standards that can be applied to unpaid work and to paidwork are important and can aid the transition from unpaid to paid. It is important toremember the different status and expectations from paid and unpaid work.

The group emphasised the importance of who is involved in setting thestandards and in defining the knowledge and skills needed. Participants werereferred to the report on Guidelines for Training and Learning prepared byparticipants in the Grundtvig project in 2005-2006, summarised in the SeminarBooklet. They were also referred to the relay in Brussels for further resource materialon guidelines. There are six themes presented. This material is also on the blog.

Groups should ask, Is the training or learning opportunity for professionals, publicetc? What themes are important?

The question of who is involved led to discussion of multipliers? Who arethey? We can attract huge numbers if we want but we should look at the experienceto-day of those who are here and are insecure in their own jobs and unsure of theirrole as multiplier in the project. There is a lot of scepticism about the vision ofTraining and Learning for Community Development. To have a vision is good but weneed to step back a bit and look at what individuals can do in their daily work. It canbe drowned by other things. Participants advised that we should all slow down andlook carefully at commitment. We should remember that it is a lot of work to set andapply guidelines and standards. We should remember that small is beautiful and use

the OPERA process to make realistic plans. We are building a new Europe. We havealready more than 150 multipliers. How can we build on that to create a new spirit forlocal communities?


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5. Panel Reflections

John Grayson: AdEdKnowledge Company, UK

John Grayson has experience of Adult Education and was a leader of a workshop ata conference hosted by HACD, CEBSD and IACD, which led to the BudapestDeclaration, which inspired the project on Training and Learning for CommunityDevelopment. He spoke of his lifetime commitment to popular Adult Education.John has followed the project from Budapest Declaration right through to the currentSeminar and finds it is impressive what has happened. There is a question abouthow we can connect the local and democratic activities with that European wideprocess. There is still an issue of getting community activists to talk together.Community activists have limited opportunity and where they do have opportunitythey remember it, for example some UK Gypsy and Traveller groups to Hungary andthey are still talking about it 4 years later.

How has this initiative engaged with rapid change in communities andeconomies? One major change with massive implications is the extension of EU.Adult education needs to relate to issues such as the migration of workers. Pan-European groups such as Roma have raised political, democratic and human rightsissues. In the UK there is an obsession with the other and a desire to closeborders. There is some evidence of the resurgence of far right e.g. local elections inBarnsley 20 of 21 has fascist candidate and achieved 20% of vote. This is achallenge to Community Development and the democratic process. To think togetherabout those issues in a way that is true to our values and ethics. How can we holdfast to democratic values in adult education such as those of Paolo Freire?

There is more and more vocational education and less citizen education. Weneed to offer alternatives that are broader - a form of education for citizenshipconnecting the local to global change and engaging with big issues

Igor Stojanovic: Central and Eastern European Citizens Network

Igor Stojanovic spoke about the comprehensive development of CEECN, whichdeveloped eight years ago with similar organisations seeking not only national butregional organisations interested in community organising. Now there are 18countries and 30 organisations as members. It is difficult to go deeply into thematerial presented on the Training and Learning for Community Development but it ispossible to understand context, to have a vision of it and have some idea of what is

behind it.Implementing activities on this scale with different stakeholders is a tough job.


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Igor spoke of two major impressions arising from the dissemination process, whichhe formulated, into proposals for discussion.

Future dissemination and proposals for replication in different countries is agood idea but we must adjust this to specific country needs. The processneeds to be reshaped to create country-friendly models.

The starting point should be with our partners whoever they are. An initiativewith some pilots in some countries would be a positive development. Weneed government representatives in some places to give the dialogueadditional force and speed. This means selecting key partners from civilsociety side and government side.

Ben Williams: International Association of Community Development

Ben Williams described IACD is a global network of individuals or organisationscommitted to Community Development. There is a Board of Directors from 7 regionsof the World with Teodora Borghoff, Regional Director for Europe, who was alsopresent in the Seminar. The International Association of Community Development is

committed to Community Development as an approach across internationalorganisations such as UN.

A current initiative is the Global Village project, which is research and actionbased. There are people from the South working with people in UK and Irelandmaking connections also to the other regions. He raised some questions forparticipants to reflect on.

The focus is on dissemination but what about implementation? How is it

embedded? How does it take account of different contexts? Building on that with communities themselves. Are there opportunities for

communities to explore ways of building on the project themselves? Can wegather some community groups together to explore for example CommunityDevelopment and Community Organising. Stark issues are often sidelined ormeet with passivity and we need to work on this.

Networking what is the value of it? Should we be more explicit how do weknow that it makes a difference? There are a lot of networks out there isthere a way to utilise what is already there and make connections. ShouldTLCD be for that or be part of a wider network? IACD would be interested inexploring that further but not interested in inventing new things but more onconnecting what is there. We need to utilise an approach which is based onassessing what resources we have already.


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6. Policy Implications and European Perspectives

6(a)Introduction: Kirsten Paaby introduced the discussion with the imageof Our Europe as symbolised in the Laboratory by a photo in the old riverboat

named Europ from the press conference in Budapest for European Dialogueseminar. This seminar explored the joint commitment of the Combined EuropeanBureau for Social Development and the Central and East Citizens Network to theissue of Citizens participation across Europe. The photo on the boat was seen as asymbol of the horizontal networking people to people and a view of Europe as all theplaces where people live their everyday lives. It was then juxtaposed with another ofthe Catalonian Castellers seen as a human tower of European Citizens/humantowers reaching towards the vertical structures of European institutions.

6 (b) Presentation by Ilona Vercseg, Honorary President of the

Hungarian Association for Community Development onReflections on the Budapest Declaration 2004

6b1. I represent here HACD the organization that hosted the conference in 2004,which was planned and elaborated by IACD and CEBSD, and there was anexcellent cooperation between them. To me, the event meant the realunification of Europe it was the first time when Community Organising andCommunity Development professionals from Central and Eastern Europe joined the existing worldwide International Association for CommunityDevelopment and the European organizations, CEBSD. All this happenedparallel to the accession of the 10 new member states. Each workshop at the

conference was facilitated by 2 professionals one from the West and onefrom the East.


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6b2. The significance of the eventEuropean community development was placed firmly in the context of civilsociety.The concept of civil society gained new significance in Europe in the 1990s. Itgave hope that democracy could be revived. Efforts to increase peoplesparticipation in their own affairs intensified across Europe. In the West, theusual explanation given for the changes cited the crisis of the welfare stateand democracy, while in Central and Eastern Europe it related to the historicopportunity to build new democracies.

6b3. Is the Budapest Declaration relevant after 5 years?

Indeed, it is still relevant. The direction is good, but we should go on andbenefit more from it. There are two main reasons underlying this opinion:

(i) Part of its current relevance stems from obvious success.We have some very good examples on how the Budapest Declaration has

influenced policy, both on national and international levels. In Hungary, forexample, this was the occasion upon which Community Developmentbecame an issue for the political agenda. HACD was invited to long-termplanning process for new EU programmes due between 2007-2013. As aresult, some of these programmes have included community development,and a full CD programme will appear this autumn.

Another result is the appearance of the nationwide HungarianVocational Network for Supporting Community Initiatives, which wasstarted in2004 with funding from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour.Since 2004 we have initiated some important CD/CO internationalprogrammes and events in Europe together. In 2006 we organized aGrundtvigseminar in Budapest, the first and most decisive step towards

network building in TLCD. In 2008, the European Dialogue, a joint workshopbetween CEBSD and CEE CN was again organized in Hungary. Since thattime the elaboration of the framework and contents of European co-operationhas been going on a regular basis. Coming closer to our recent programme,we can state that The Budapest Declaration's statements on TLCD were themotor energy behind our project.

(ii) The second reason, which gives relevance to the renewal of BudapestDeclaration, is the danger that manifests itself in the European trends of CD.Today the emphasis has shifted towards regarding civil society as a serviceprovider and community development as an organiser of services. Both theseperceptions have raised concerns among many professionals.

6b4. Sharing my priorities

I. The development of civil society is a strong idea, which must remainaccessible. Fenny noted at the 2nd Relay Visit in Budapest that we shouldkeep in our minds big concepts too, instead of merely loosing ourselves indetails. The concept of civil society offers an enormous scope. It facilitatesdevelopment by local communities.

II. We all know that community development is both a social movement and aprofession at the same time. We must preserve and expand themovement-side of CD/CO in order to counterbalance the service-providingand business-oriented approach, which has emerged recently.


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III. Community development needs to take further steps in the context of civilsociety. It has to increase its flexibility, its independence and, in the courseof collaborating with civil society, it should also develop new theoreticalframeworks and methods.

IV. In the context of civil society community development has a chance to make

the best use of its own theory and practice tools in the development ofnational and supranational civil societies, including CD/CO training andlearning opportunities at local, national and European levels.

6b5. As far as the TLCD network is concerned:

Our excellent booklet contains a draft of a new policy statement suggested forTLCD (p 24). I would like to emphasize on 2 further matters, which should beadded.

I. I agree that in the unified Europe we should put more emphasis onempowerment, but I would add special emphasis to 3 fields: thesocialisation process of young people; community and democraticsocialisation in the CEE regions; and non-formal education for adults.

II. Europe and its member states must provide more community-based

training and learning opportunities in order to strengthen civil society, bydeveloping awareness on community and democracy, and perspectives onsocial, economic and environmental policy.

- This requires some basic changes in terms of fundingopportunities.

- More long-term funding would be needed to replace quick and crude,result-oriented project-based initiatives. It would be necessary toproduce process-based and long-term programmes, which areembedded and sustainable.

- It would be desirable if funding programmes could give localcommunity groups a chance to employ local community developmentprofessionals. This move could secure the loyalty of professionals

towards the community groups they work with. When it becomespossible to employ professionals in this way, an entirely new kind of


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professional selection will emerge, one, which emphasizes a catalystrole, instead that of service provision.

III. Finally: the organisation of communication and co-operation between local,regional, national and European civil institutions and networks should gainfurther importance.

Thank you.

6 (c ) Presentation by Chuck Hirt: Citizen Participation week

There are some significant events that underpin the development of CitizenParticipation Week.

In 2000, 6 countries came together to share experience and formed theCEECN. CEGA our hosts for this Seminar was one of the founders. The conferencewas an event to bring together various groups active in citizen participation. They

found that coming together gave them greater inspiration to continue the work. Thisgave birth to the Citizens Network. The focus of the Network was to shareexperience through conferences, trainings and web sites.

Another significant event was the success of the campaign on boycottingShell in Slovakia. This had a profound effect on Citizens Network. A whole new wayof thinking began. We asked ourselves if maybe we should be more pro-active. Weagreed that the answer was YES. No campaigns emerged to focus this energy. TheLeadership group discussed for a year or so how to make this commitment to actionmore real and came up with Democracy Days modelling on Sweden and this lead toan annual event called Citizen Participation Week, which represented a fundamentalshift in direction.

2009 is the 5th year of Citizen Participation week. All members areencouraged to develop activities. Some have raised money in own countries forexample the Balkan Trust made a grant for activities on Community Development.

Members encourage citizens to enter into process and the whole week is about thisand also to keep pushing for more space for citizens to participate.


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Some examples of actions are:

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia invited County Durham and they paid for fourpeople to spend the week there where they did training and presentations

Croatia held an event that connected the village Mayor and its citizens during

the week and it has now become a regular action. Most extensive action has been in Hungary where there are 200 events

during the week with considerable media attention.

There could be ties with our TLCD project as we need to be more visible aroundthe issues that affect citizens. The Central and Eastern Citizens Network (CEECN)has now made it a requirement of membership to commit to some activity in CitizenParticipation Week. Pep Net been invited to assist with use of electronic networking.New symbols need to be developed if CEBSD joins with this event as they arecurrently focused on Central and Eastern Europe. It seemed to the Central andEastern Citizens Network that it was appropriate to Eastern countries and now weare a bit surprised that Western countries are saying we need this too. CEECN is

now faced with the challenge of broadening it to include more countries and moreorganisations. We want to keep this event separate from the Council of Europe leddemocracy week because it is bottom up. We want to keep it linked to socialmovement and thinking of events led by citizens and maybe leading into Democracyweek, which is more top down.

6 (d) European Local Democracy Week: Presentation by JosLemmers, Council of Europe

Jos Lemmers referred participants to the European Local Democracy Weekwebsite: www.coe.int/demoweek for the implementation of the Week in 2008 and2009. This project was initiated in 2007 in conjunction with the Conference ofEuropean Ministers responsible for Local and Regional Democracy in Valencia on15-16 October 2007 with the full support of the Congress of Local and RegionalAuthorities of the Council of Europe. I want to underline that this entire project hasbeen dependent on close co-operation between DG-DPA and the Congress.

In 2007 events took place in 12 European countries. We received reportsfrom 37 cities and municipalities but it is reasonable to assume that others also tookaction without necessarily informing the Council of Europe.

In the year 2008 we appealed to all National Associations of Local Authoritiesaround Europe to consider participating in the Week from 13 to 19 October. As youcan see on the ELDW website, we estimate that in 2008 over 2000 activities havetaken place in at least 800 municipalities in some 33 countries all around Europe.But I hasten to add that the NGO involvement has been very small in 2008. I wasgrateful that we managed to establish good links with the European CitizensNetwork, one of the organisers of this meeting, and that NGO representatives cameto some of the planning meetings last year, but clearly more needs to be done for thisyears round.

For 2009 we are in the process of appealing to all National Associations of

Local Authorities in all Council of Europe member States to consider participating inthis years European Local Democracy Week. We hope that we can further increase


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the participation from 33 countries to as close to 47 as possible. But I would like touse this opportunity to stress the importance of the NGO communitys involvement inthe planning and implementation of the Week in 2009. It seems to me that theinvolvement of your networks, present her in Sofia, and with your tremendousexperience with the Citizens Participation Week, could help create the conditions foran active NGO involvement in the ELDW which could make a real difference. We arepleased in this context that both the Civil Society and Democracy Committee and theSustainable Territorial Development Committee of the Council of Europes INGOConference are now involved in the planning for the next ELDW.

Now a few words about the contents of the ELDW. What is the objective ofthis Week?

The ELDW will always take place during the week around 15 October tocelebrate the anniversary of the opening for signature on 15 October 1985 of theEuropean Charter for Local Self-Government, known as the Magna Charta of localdemocracy.

The aim is to promote local activities all over Europe under a common logo topromote the idea that local democracy and its aspirations with regard to participationand good government are an integral part of the values shared by all Europeans.In practice the Week serves to pass information to local citizens on how localauthorities operate, what their representatives do and how their voices can be heardin local affairs. But in addition the ELDW is also the occasion for raising localcouncillors and local civil servants awareness of democratic participation andenables them to meet their fellow citizens in an informal, entertaining and sometimesfestive setting. It is an opportunity to debate on issues of local interest, to assesscitizens needs more accurately, to establish a relationship of confidence and to passon a message of mutual responsibility. And all this to also remind citizens and localcivil servants of the European context in which towns and cities operate and of the

common values in respect of human rights, democracy and social cohesion. It goeswithout saying that an initiative, which enjoys the dual support of the NGO communityactive on local democracy issues and of the elected leadership at municipal level,could go a long way to make two ends meet.


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The Council of Europes role is to stimulate action by the local authorities andcitizenry themselves in their own setting and their own context. It should be cleartherefore that the role of NGOs would be indispensable for the longer-term successof this project and I appeal to you to help make this possible.

I would just like to add that, to enhance the visibility of this Europe-wide Weekfor Local Democracy, we chose last year to highlight the role of some towns andcities from different parts of our continent. The Brussels Capital-Region participatedwith its 19 communes in some 90 projects. The City of Odessa also played a majorrole as a pilot city. Varna, in Bulgaria, was an active pilot-city as well and, last but notleast, the city of Madrid played an active role in conjunction with the Forum for theFuture of Democracy, which took place during the Democracy Week last year. Theaction by these cities was an example of the Europe-wide nature of this action andwe may only hope that in 2009 towns and cities in most of the member States will bepart of this exciting project and that the NGO community will also see this as anopportunity to work more closely with the local government sector.

Finally, I would also like to mention the impressive newspaper and mediacoverage generated by the European Local Democracy Week all around Europe.Surely the potential for press coverage will only further increase if the NGOcommunity commits itself to this Week alongside the official municipal sector.

6 (e) Oonagh Mc Ardle and Ann Irwin presentedTowards Standards for Community WorkAn All Ireland Statement of Values, Principles and WorkStandards

6e1 Background

Towards Standards for Quality Community Work: An All Ireland Statement ofValues, Principles and Work Standardsrecognises that, if effective community workpractice is to be ensured in a rapidly changing Ireland of increasingly diversecommunities, it is vital that standards are set to guide and focus practice.Towards Standards for Quality Community Work was produced by the TowardsStandards Ad Hoc Group including community worker, educators and funders fromthe Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland

The work of establishing and agreeing standards for community work on an all-islandbasis had its origins in a number of factors:

Increasing professionalism- different interpretations Concerns that community work was being defined and redefined resulting in

a dilution of its critical agenda and a move away from social justice and socialchange

The equation of all community activity with community work Emphasis on service provision and the discouraging of advocacy and policy

work The increasing emphasis in recent years on quality and standards in a range

of occupations A recognition that, Standards can guide & focus community work practice in a

rapidly changing Ireland


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6e2 Towards Standards is relevant

Where a person is employed as a community worker Where community work is undertaken on an unpaid/voluntary basis Where community work methods are used

Towards Standards is designed to be of relevance to all community workstakeholders: Communities Community workers (paid and unpaid) Employers Funders Education & training providers

6e3 Towards Standards for Quality Community Worksets out the:knowledgeskillsqualities

values andpractice principles

That combines to form standards relating to community work practice and to

education and training for that practice.

6e4 KnowledgeEssential areas of knowledge include:

The principles and processes of community workSocial policies and social theoriesGovernance, management & organisational analysisPublic Administration

Group work theory, purpose & processes


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6e5 SkillsEssential skills include:

Research & observationCommunication, writing & presentationWorking with people, empowerment & activation

Reflective practiceStrategic planningLeadership

Innovation

6e6 QualitiesEssential qualities include:

IntegrityCompetencePersonal awarenessEmpathyDependability

Sensitivity & respectFlexibilityCommitment to change, equality & inclusion

Political consciousness & environmental awareness

6e7 Values and Practice PrinciplesCollective actionEmpowermentSocial JusticeEquality & Anti-Discrimination

Participation

6e8 Ways to use StandardsProfessional development from own or employer

perspectiveRecruitment and selection

Informing and shaping policy

Supporting work with communities

Designing workforce training/development

7. OPERA method

Hans Andersson, CESAM presented the stages in the Opera method for planning,which are:

Own thoughtsPairs thoughtsExposeRangeArrange

This method leads into a session on what to do? When? By whom? And How?The OPERA Method identified the most important actions in order to bring the TLCDessence and priorities to the next step in the process .


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Group 1Individual ideas:

Print a reader of best practices Train local officials Local trainings Local networks Translation into local languages Signed commitment inform 15 people Relay visits Arrange local workshops based on TLCD/CD principles and/or CD as the

subject Inform CD organizations from our networks about the results of this project Improve our practices and methodologies by using internship stages among

network partners Country seminar on standards, etc. Demonstrate clearly how the learning from this project is making a difference

at a grassroots level

Priorities for the themes:A B C DTo work through localnetworks, projects andprogrammes maximizing what isalready in place

Blog on TLCD in locallanguages

Commitment signed byeach partner todisseminate directly toat least 15persons/organizations

countdown post onproject website till weend up to 150

Organize thestructure ofthe network:who, how,when, where,

what?

Translations into locallanguages

To work throughexisting projectsprogrammes andnetworks insteadof creatingsomething new

Use existing tools(blog, Skype,googledoc, etc) tokeep constant andconsistentcommunication andexchange (eachpartner shouldpromote blog on own

website by posting thelink)


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Group 2

Individual ideas: After clarification identify specific stakeholders across the sectors +

grassroots Start in-country networking on TLCD (in each country) Start working on TLCD European standards (or to think about it) More exchanges, study visits Identify more national partners to involve in TLCD (and start in-country

networking) Utilize network links and transnational links into development of (participative)

democracy Use Doodle to set up e-relays between partners and other multipliers and

hold a conference with 6 12 months Make sure the blog stay active by reporting actions, by asking questions, or

by leaving proposals etc. Find financial resources to continue and expand project with administrator

and support for several concrete actions like creating training centres inKunbabony and Georgia Focus on information tools/strategies like web site, learning practices, blog,

electronic newsletter related to TLCD and pilot projects in several countrieswith both internal and external focus.

Promote the use of the relay system to build a dialog on key issues andresults in an informed outcomes/strategy (utilizing learning methodology)

Research and CD related training bodies and networks in Europe (or outside)

Priorities for the themes:A B C D

Work to develop

standards coreprinciples/values of communitydevelopment should be agreed byTLCD partnersinitially and then onbroadertransnational level.Identify basic values(national,international)Use relay as aprocess

CEBSD and

CEECN officiallyjoint forces to adoptTLCD effort withleadership group topropose strategyand overseeimplementation

Develop an

accessible toolkitwith TLCDframeworkResearch on CDrelate trainingbodies, networks inEurope (or outside)

Group 3

Individual ideas: Personal level: annual meeting 2010 on the topic of training and learning CD

through the arts and culture: toolbox of skills to work, re-thinking independentcultural centers the civic management as alternative

Many small project lead to a big event that brings together many peopleinvolved in action + reflection to discuss on next steps and collect learning


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Every member of the network has to appoint a responsible person in a certainregion

Research, discuss and clarify different understanding (sometimes onlyoutside), concepts and terms about civil society, NGOs, communitydevelopment in different regions

Priorities for the themes:A B C DDevelop many smallscale projects forintensive exchangeon topics ofcommon interestinvolving activistsand professionalsTopic: communitybased

education/learningand the role ofcommunity centers

Develop adatabase withtraining providersin communitydevelopmentacross Europe

More cooperationwith localgovernment

The members of thenetwork shouldexchange tangibleideas andexperiences

Internshipbetween people ofnetwork

Group 4

Individual ideas: Raise funds for exchanges in the networks Raise funds for enlarging the body of knowledge Initiate pilot projects in certain countries and investigate similarities and

differences Find influential sponsors like the police, housing organizations and trade

unions We should to do a presentation on our new training system to make

motivation for those who does not have yet systematic training activity

Find mechanism to share modules, methods, materials etc. on TLCD Establishing a tool/method/database (e.g. story telling)


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Discussions with IACD and other existing European networks on viability ofanother

TLCD networking in my own country To implement the relay - visit method in my small local development network Develop a policy statement on CD values and principles based on Budapest

declaration to be followed by principles for TLCD (based on value statement) Bringing together local organizations in a round table Share knowledge in order to enlarge the body of knowledge about CD by

using internet/e-learning

Priorities for the themes:A B C D

Host and visittraining programmeson community anddemocracyawareness raising

The TLCDnetwork/consortiumshould connectthose NGOs whoare interested in the

same issues relatedto CD to build upCD trainer school

Raise funds tomeet agreedpriorities(networking,developing bodies

of knowledge,maintainingknowledgeexchange)

Initiatingseminars/trainingsfor organizationsinvolved in CDBridging theory andpractices

Group 5

Individual ideas: In depth conversation with some partners Distribute the material from market, booklet, summary in own organization

and own network on TLCD I will continue to work with colleagues in Hungary and support their work in

whatever way I can I have promised to read and comment by writing on a colleagues paper my

views about rural community development in his country Articles/knowledge sharing Common project activity for network members organizations Common projects for sustainability network organizations Promote networking with likeminded NGOs to achieve results across national

borders create a stranger European movement for local democracy For the network create new projects together Need to develop recommendation/conclusions/booklet so as to give

sustainability to actions We need to meet on the individual country level to develop a plan to apply

and spread the learning and continue developing the ideas Common educational activity (workshop, seminars)

Strong relationship with external players (CoE, EU Commission, Government)through PR, publications, materials


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NetworkingRose Marie Mazzoni, Jos Lemmers, Chuck Hirt, Nicu Cuta, Igor Stojanovic, BenjaminWilliams, Gianni Orsini, Mirela Despotovic

Making a connection between local groups and local government Leadership group to propose strategy To work through the local networks, projects and programs in order

maximizing the effort Commitment to sign up and share with others

CONCLUSION:a) To use as an anchor the other existing events and networks for example,

Citizen Participation Week, European Local Democracy Week.b) Proposal to make connections with networks such as the International

Association for Community Development and combine effortsc) Systemize findings of seminar

ValuesLies Beunens, Oonagh Mc Ardle, Marion Horton, Ann Irwin

Setting standards and values Principles and values agreed by TLCD partners and to go to a broader level

CONCLUSION:Make various proposals using the Budapest declaration and Ireland Community

Development structure. The first draft a the proposal to be done through CEBSDWHEN: agreed on procedure: 20th of May 2009,Draft: September 15 by Lies, Oonagh, Marion, AnnSeptember 15 October 15: circulate in CEBSDNovember: agreed in CEBSDPublish the agreement on the blogDissemination to be agreed by each person/group/network/country when they wish toundertake CD and TLCD

CommunicationGiorgi Meskhidze, Ruxandra Sasu, Gleb Tyurin

Regular communication

Follow up - personal, e-mails, etc. Blog and translation to local languages


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Using the existing tools like blogs, Skype to make sure that the work isconsistent

CONCLUSION:WHO: each partner under CEBSD coordination and each volunteer will be supportedand welcomeHOW/WHERE: e-mail, blog, e-groups, skype, Wiki, Doodle, etc. It is necessary tohave a specific technical group on voluntary basis or paid.WHEN: start tomorrow

FundraisingSarah Beale, Marta Dozy, Helmut Hallemaa

Raise funds to meet agreed prioritiesCONCLUSION:How: national governments, different program of EU, foundations, cross borderprograms/cooperationWho: CEBSD, CEE CN, different networks, partnership, boards and all who want tocollaborate together

When: structure idea/strategy ASAP

Structure/ organizingXavier Perez Sanchez, Magnus Nilsson, Hans Georg Rennert, Carole Dane,Dmytro Koval

Coordinator role from CEBSD Create working groups between organizations in the network Exchanges of tangible results CEE CN and CEBSD join forces taking first step and leadership

CONCLUSION:There was a very deep discussion on whether a CEE CN and CEBSD joint meetings

are possible (EU countries and non EU countries). This would help establish deeperrelationship between Eastern and Western Europe.


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8. Dissemination, Multipliers and follow-up

The follow-up to the Sofia Seminar is built around nominated multipliers. Partners inthe project and some of their multipliers agreed to work through their existingnetworks, projects and programs in order to maximize effort and commitment.

Multipliers are invited to work on one of the priorities identified in the Sofia Seminarand you are invited to nominate others.

Networking with Multipliers: The project is based on an interactive, participativelearning process. In Sofia, participants listened to descriptions of the project andreflections on the outcomes and worked on setting priorities. Multipliers have accessto innovative tools for training and learning and participation in future networking.

Priority Theme Suggested ActionDevelop shared tools forlearning

Exchange and use existing tools through thenetwork of multipliers and their websites aspresented in the marketplace. For example

GRUNDTVIG-G1 Project Curriculum for AdultEducation in Rural Areas CAERA inRomania.Develop connections between centers oflearning e.g. Garaget in Malmo,Sweden,Sprengelhaus in Berlin, Germany, Civil Collegein Kunbabony, Hungary

Maintain Communication Use the blog and other interactive, electronicmeans. Use e-mail groups actively. Tell othermultipliers what I am doing locally or nationally.

Values, principles,standards

Do a local or national workshop on the values,principles and standards shared by participantsin the project on Training and Learning forCommunity Development (See Sofia bookletand notes below.)Develop peer exchanges and share the results.Keep up peer pressure! Work towardsadaptable European standards but avoidstandardisation!

Fund-raising, structureand organisation

Work with existing networks under theleadership of partner organizations, CEBSDand CEECN to identify potential funds and setup 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 whichcriteria relate to you. We would like to put you on the multiplier list on the blog atwww.tl4cd.wordpress.com. Please fill in a profile and send a photo so that werecognise you when we meet. Please let us know if you need material in your firstlanguage.

Multipliers should fulfill at least two of the following categories and be willing to takepart in the process of dissemination of findings from the project on Training and

Learning over a 2-year period.


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What is the role of a multiplier?

The idea of multipliers is based on an interactive approach to learning where youassess the relevance to you of how others in your field of action work and give criticalfeedback to them. You need to participate in opportunities offered and createopportunities. 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 adultsto learn. Within the 150 multipliers, you should find some people who can assist thefuture development of your organization and the citizens that you work with.

What to multiply from the project on Training and Learning for CommunityDevelopment?

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 otherswithin their organizations or in open workshops. Here are some questions to get youstarted.

How much do I agree or disagree with the values, principles, guidelines or standardsthat 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 orEuropean 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 sharedguidelines or standards (See Towards standards for quality Community Workwww.cwc.ie or TLCD Guidelines in Booklet and www.cebsd.org and

Have I something to share in different forms of electronic dialogue? Usewww.tl4cd.wordpress.com

Do I know civil servants who may be interested in the connections between citizenparticipation and adult education who would be interested the project and inopportunities for future exchange of informal learning under the Lifelong LearningProgramme?

What can I expect from my role as multiplier?

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

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

Awareness of opportunities to participate in exchanges, which explore the findings inmore depth

Inspiration, reflection, challengesand renewal of energy and commitment.

Margo Gorman/Kirsten Paaby/Emil Metodiev/Anna KarailievaOctober [email protected]

www.cebsd.org


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Appendix A

Programme DAY 1: 18th May 2009: Network Circle and Market Place

Programme DAY 2 on 19th May 2009 and DAY 3 on 20th May 2009

DATE andTime

Topic / Activity Who How Logistic,technicalneeds

DAY 2, 19thMay

9.00-9.30Formal welcomeby CEGA anddomesticinformation

Content ofProgramme

Rumyan SechkovCEGA

Kirsten Paaby,CEBSD

Presentation

Presentation

Chairs inrows inconferenceroom

9.30 10.30

The foundationand findings ofthe project

Margo GormanLies BeunensMate VargaRuxandra Sasu

Hans Andersson

Shortpresentations

Blog andphotos onprojector

10.30-11.00 Coffee Lobby bar ALL Prepareroom

11-12 Dialogue and panelon passing on thelessons of TLCD

Speed Dialoguefollowed by Panelof reflection anddiscussion

KirstenCEECN (2)IACD (2)Adult Ed (2)

Chairs withno tables

12 1.30 Lunch Restaurants ALL

1.30 -3.30 Workshops:

Relay visits as amethod

Assess therelevance of thekeys from Relayand Laboratory to awider network

Learning byDoing: Electronic

Each workshop isled by partnerswith the followingleaders in orderof topic:CEGA, MOVISIEand CESIE

Samenlevingsopbouw, CDF andCESAM

HACD, PACT andCKO

ParallelWorkshopsAllparticipantschoose oneworkshop andwork withpartners toidentify adoor and akey toachieving theSeminarobjectives.

Learning bydoing andmultipliersinconferenceroom.

Otherworkshopsin otherspaces.


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tools fordissemination please bring alaptop to thissession.

Reaching thetarget of 150multipliers

Sharing guidelinesand settingcommon standards

FDC, KFW andID

CWC, ARCD andPBW

Multipliersfeed back

3.30 4-00 Coffee Lobby Bar

4.00-5.30 Reports from the

workshops

Multipliers who

are not already inpartnership

Presentation

of outcomesfrom TLCDthat opendoors tofuture co-operation

5.30-18.00 Introduction ofEvaluator

Guenther Lorenz,introduced bySue Webb

7.30 Dinner in Sofia All Emil toorganise

DAY 320th May9-10.3

Policyimplications andEuropeanperspectives

The Budapestdeclaration HACD

TLCD related tocitizensparticipation weekand the localdemocracy week(with Council ofEuropeinvolvement)

Is the OpenMethod ofcoordination inLisbon Process akey to the door of

setting EuropeanStandards?

Presentations onthemes by:Ilona VercsegChuck Hirt andJos LemmersOonagh Mc Ardle

This will befollowed bycombinedreflection andanalysis ofopportunities forinfluencing policy

Hans Anderssonwill presentOPERA methodto help identifypriorities.

Using OPERAmethod


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10.30-11.00 Work on priorities All participantsled by HansAndersson andnominated

leaders

Using OPERAmethod

12 1.30p.m.

Lunch Dining room

1.30 2.30: Work on priorities All participantsled by HansAndersson andnominatedleaders

Using OPERAmethod

2.30-3.30 Setting priorities foraction

All participantsled by Hans

Andersson andnominatedleaders

Completion ofOPERA

Circles forgroups

3.30 p.m.4.00

Coffee Lobby Bar

4.00-5.00 Evaluation andClose of Seminar

Emil Metodiev,Kirsten Paabyand GuentherLorenz

Paperprepared byGL followedbyspeak upCircle

Individualspacefollowed byopen Space

5.15 7.00:Consortiummeeting:business

Agenda:Completing thework programmesfor the TLCDProjectCompletion ofPartneragreements andbusinessDiscussion and

decision the futureof the TLCD andthe role of theexisting partners ofthe consortiumTLCD.

All PARTNERSChaired bySarah, CESIE

ConsortiumMeeting inConferenceHall

Tables inboardmeetingformat


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Appendix B

TLCD GUIDELINES

Notes on project starting point for values, principles, standards andguidelines: Participants in Sofia want to start an interactive dialogue. As amultiplier, the following are offered as a starting point are are open to you toagree, disagree and change through dialogue on the blog.

1. Definition of Community Development: The broad definition of CommunityDevelopment that underpins the project on Training and Learning for CommunityDevelopment 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, economicand environmental policy. It seeks the empowerment of local communities, taken tomean both geographical communities, communities of interest or identity andcommunities organising around specific themes or policy initiatives. It strengthensthe 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 anddetermine change in their communities. It plays a crucial role in supporting activedemocratic life by promoting the autonomous voice of disadvantaged and vulnerablecommunities. It has a core set of values / social principles covering human rights,social inclusion, equality and respect for diversity; and a specific skills and knowledgebase.

2. Definition of Community: The summary of definitions of communityfollows from this broad definition and they are also shared by members of theCombined European Bureau for Social Development (CEBSD) and partners inthe Grundtvig Project 2005-2006. The summary is drawn mainly from the CEBSDpublication Including the Excluded: From practice to policy in European CommunityDevelopment, Policy Press, June 2005. www.policypress.org.uk, ISBN 1-86134-745-6. This definition of community embraces locality, common interests and sharedidentity. (Page 14, including the Excluded) A community can be a cross-section ofdifferent communities and individuals are often members of several communities.For example the community of Rom in Europe contains many different communitiesand has many diverse connections to local communities across Europe. The refugeecommunity may have common interests across local, regional and nationalboundaries. The CEBSD definition recognises the distinctiveness of diversecommunities, while recognising common patterns across Europe. Connection to anumber of communities increases with increased mobility across Europe. Incommunity development terms a sense of community implies a commitment tohuman rights, solidarity and equality and engagement with the development of civilsociety. Members of CEBSD give priority to different areas within communitydevelopment for example participative democracy; intercultural mediation;sustainable development; anti-poverty and social exclusion.


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3. Some of the terms used for Community Development in Europe

dezvoltare comunitara

samhllsarbete och Mobilisering

desenvolupament comunitari

devloppement solidaire/communitaire

komunitn rozvoj

samenlevingsopbouw

desarrollo comunitario

sviluppo di comunit

omrdesutveckling

samfunnsutvikling

gemeinwesenarbeit

kzssgfejleszts

community development

4. Some shared principles: The following principles have been identified ascore principles shared by members of the Combined European Bureau for SocialDevelopment. See the publication Including the Excluded (Page 57-67) for adescription of how they were identified and how they are understood:

Equality, Diversity, Tolerance

Partnership, Solidarity and Co-operation

Participation

Creative and Innovative Organisation

5. Some shared concepts that define what we mean by CommunityDevelopment (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 peopleIdentifies, together with local people, community problemsIncreases the empowerment of local people so that they can organise themselves inorder to solve problemsTurns its attention primarily to people struggling with social deprivation, poverty,inequality and exclusionContributes to a sustainable community based on mutual respect and social justiceChallenges power structures which hinder peoples participationContributes to the socio-cultural development of the neighbourhood by local people.


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Support mutual learning through networking, regular reunions (forexample collegial supervision meetings every 15 days) etc.Communicate/provide existing and/or new information on community developmentStimulate writing/publicationsIntegrate new media technologies (such as internet research, blogs etc.)Aim to have an added value/multiplier effect for community development3 categories of Target Groups of TLCDPolitical - policy makers, civil servants and authorities in general with a focus onspecific groups for specific objectives (i.e. elected representatives, people whodesign curricula, and people in charge of funding)Public - civil society groups and silent groups; the local community (all citizens) andalso specific target groups (voluntary organisations, business people/organisations,minority groups, artists etc.)Professionals - those who are in paid work (professionals in NGOs, CommunityWorkers/Community Development Workers in NGOs or statutory bodies,professionals in centres of education and schools, businesses, institutions, healthprofessionals, experts

BACKGROUND39 representatives, 17 countries - a seminar hosted in Budapest by The HungarianAssociation for Community Development (March 30th April 2nd 2006), within aprevious project (Grundtvig 4 Program - Thematic Network) developed by partner-organisations from Hungary, United Kingdom, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Romania,the Netherlands, Italy and Irelanda mix of disciplines teachers, trainers, community workers/developers, socialworkers, advisers/consultants and managersNGOs sharing the view that community development has a potentially uniquecontribution to make to the field of lifelong learningwork based on definitions of community development, developed by practitioners in

community development in a European Union funded project on Good Practice.experience of working in diverse communities - common elements of good practice intraining and learning for community development, a first step to developing EuropeanGuidelinesresult: a document on Guidelines on TLCD

WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED FROM BEING PART OF THE NETWORK?

Partners used the mobility for exchange of good practice in relay visits andcarried analysis of TLCD from Belgium to Hungary; from Hungary to the UnitedKingdom; from the United Kingdom to Slovakia; and from Slovakia to Germany.These mobilities were backed up by electronic networking and relay visits included

field visits. The involvement of local professionals from local authorities, nationalNGOs and educational organisations enriched the level of exchange and learningfrom practice in the triangle of exchange identified in the Grundtvig 4 project.Creating a Laboratory for distilling lessonsA Laboratory was organized in Sweden in October 2008, where partners distilledlessons from relay visits to make the process of networking and disseminationrelevant to the 150 multipliers who would interact with the partners.The Laboratory setting was created to test out whether and how TLCD can createmultipliers in the public, policy-making and professional arenas. Some core pointsfrom guidance training and learning for community development were tested fortransferability and sustainability in the Laboratory setting.The Laboratory was divided in two important parts: analysing the relay visitsorganised during the project (looking at the past) and planning the dissemination andmultiplication of results (looking at the future).


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Dissemination seminarkey multipliers invited to the final seminar, to distil the main points of consensus andidentify how to maximise the results of the project in relation to other Grundtvigprojects and networks.identify the means of maintaining momentum and organisation of networking, toincrease accessibility and transparency between local, regional, national andEuropean levels with regard to TLCDlink the training and learning needs of NGOs and staff of local and nationalgovernment who work to support opportunities for community-based TLCD.Interactive disseminationbased on the concept identified in the guidelines and reiterated in the relay visits andlaboratory that training and learning is an interactive process.methods and techniques for training have to be adjusted to the context and to theparticipants, whilst maintaining adherence to the highest standards of practice intraining and learning combined with a high level of engagement with lifelong learning,the principles of equality and intercultural exchange.Multiplication and dissemination

all target groups including professionals, community leaders and activists are seenas potential multipliers of community development principles and practices throughthe development of skills and capacities.identify key multipliers in countries not represented in the consortium and ensuretransfer between government and non-government organisations and staffincluding the key multipliers in active and on-going dissemination of the results of theproject through existing networks, meetings etc. and through electronic networkingwhich will supplement work done at the meeting of multipliersinteractive sustainable exchange on implementing, adapting and evaluatingEuropean guidelines for TLCD based on previous Grundtvig programmes

JOIN THE NETWORK ON TLCD !

WHATS IN THERE FOR YOU?

opportunities for exchanging ideas among professionals in the field of communitydevelopment and compare different practices and approaches shaped by differentnational contexts.connect in a meaningful way professionals in the area of community developmentwhich otherwise have very few opportunities to meet in Europeeach partners context would be specific, yet the lessons drawn at a European levelcould be used to influence community development practices of training and learningin various national approaches

GET INSPIRED, GIVE AND TAKE !

Access to diversity create new ways for over passing national gapsContinue exchange on good practice, towards concrete impactBring together considerable experienceInvolve the grass root levelDOs and DONTs in TLCD and how community development is done

There is no simple recipe that can be applied to every situation !YetThere are commonalities of experience that can be used as points of referenceor illuminators of practice !


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Any training programme on community development should take the contextof the training into account in its design and delivery and the training orlearning should be related to practice in real situations.European Guidelines should be flexible enough to be adapted to the specificsituation. The guidelines may be useful as a indication of the potential for linksbetween the one local situation and another.It is the responsibility of the body at the lowest local point to set the points ofcommon interest in the local context and make the connections to provisionfor training and learning for community development at a national and regionallevel.

CHALLENGES TO BE ADDRESSEDSustainability of training and learning programmesRecognition of learning in Community DevelopmentHow to improve legislation for public participation

FURTHER STEPS TO BE TAKEN in order to...

Make such initiatives later on lead towards building a big common initiative at theEuropean level (i.e. common event, Study Program in the area of communitydevelopment acknowledged all over Europe)Develop projects to build towards more substantial common action in the future.

ResourcesThe CEBSD website and publications plus www.tl4cd.wordpress.org and the linkedwebsites of partners contain more material on principles, concepts, terms includingterms such as social capital, empowerment, participation and how they are drawnfrom 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 andwww.cebsd.org)

For more information on participatory methods used in the project on Trainingand Learning for Community Development contact:

Creating a blog: [email protected] and Laboratory: [email protected] Circle: [email protected] Dialogue: [email protected] Method: [email protected] Organising: [email protected]

Role play: [email protected] Excel for participative management: [email protected] the publication Towards Standards for Quality Community Work: An AllIreland Statement of Values, Principles and Work Standards see www.cwc.ieor contact [email protected]

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 beheld responsible for any use, which may be made of the information containedtherein.

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report_sofia seminar 2009

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