From August 11 to 12, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) organized training workshop on “Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment (PCVA) and Community Communication Skills”. This activity is under the framework of project: “Internship and Village facilitators (IVF) for Climate change community based adaptation program in biosphere reserves of Vietnam” funded by McKnight Foundation.

The training course lasted 2 days with the participation of Blue Lighthouse Interns from Hanoi and Quang Ninh, representatives of Hoanh Bo Youth Union and volunteers from communes: Dong Lam, Le Loi, Ki Thuong, Dong Son, Thong Nhat of Hoanh Bo district.

Participants at the traning course

During the workshop, participants were provided information about MCD and achievements that the project has attained in Nam Dinh. Thereby, Blue Lighthouse Interns and volunteers were inspirited to work on the currently implemented project in Ha Long, Quang Ninh; specifically, Hoanh Bo District.

Mrs. Nguyen Thu Hue – Director of MCD introducing Blue Lighthouse project

Participants had discussed and received feedbacks from MCD expert and officers on MCD working plan, including surveying and evaluating communes being appropriate to project implementation; building Climate change adaptation initiatives among youth and communities; choosing initiatives to put into practice and replicate among communities. Under the guidance of Mr. Minh Hoang – Expert in Climate change from MCD, trainees also learned about community development and needed skills of a community development officers.

 Mr. Minh Hoang – MCD Climate change expert introduced needed skills of a community development officers to participants

Simultaneously, participants was introduced to and practiced community developing tools: PRA (Participatory rural appraisal) and PCVA (Participatory Capacity and Vulnerability Assessment).

Participants practice mapping

Participants at the training course

The training course was in the activity series aimed at building capacity for Blue Lighthouse interns and local youth, focusing on skills relevant to operating project and locality connection. After these capacity building activities, volunteers will be able to conduct survey and evaluate communes by themselves to figure out local situation and needs in order to come up with realistic initiatives for the interest of local citizens.