Project Name: Community Organisers and Leadership Training (COLT)

Donor: Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation (Thailand)

Total Budget: Tk 43,81,800

Staff: Five

Duration: April 2006 to October 2007

Working Area: Chittagong Hill Tracts

Participants : 20 local youths from six different communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Project Purpose:
To enhance the capacity of local youth so they could play an active role in the effective development of the Chittagong Hill Tracts

Project Summary: TUS’ COLT project was the first of its kind in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.  TUS staff worked to train 20 local youths from six different communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, developing the skills, knowledge, and attitudes they needed to act as effective community organisers, and support the development of their villages, and poor communities throughout the region.

Through a series of intensive, residential trainings, participants were introduced to the ideas and practices of community organising, as well as a range of social, economic and development issues, including gender, governance systems, natural resource management, culture, and human rights.

Participants undertook fieldwork in five villages in Rangamati district, through which they learned about the lifestyles of the villagers, ways to integrate themselves with the communities.  They were given opportunities to apply some of the theoretical concepts they had been introduced to, and learn about their own strengths and weaknesses as community organisers.

The COLT project gave 20 young people theoretical and practical insights into issues of community organising and development, helping them develop as change agents, and to contribute to positive futures for communities of the Chittagong Hill Tracts.  The majority of the trainees are now involved in local social and village-level organisations, such as Para Development Committees, in their communities, and four are working as Community Organisers in development organisations.  The trainers and trainees continue to communicate, and share their experiences and ideas on development issues and community organising in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Reference Contact Details:

Atina Gangmei
Coordinator , Capacity Building
AIPP
108 Moo 5 Tamban Sanpranate
Amphur Sansai,
Chiang Mai 50210,
Thailand