B R I E F S
Twenty-three participants from eight Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Slovakia and Yugoslavia) attended the course.
In addition to the scheduled training material and based on demand by the participants, a special session on facilitation was carried out. A list of facilitation issues were stated such as those related to participants who are inactive, who challenge the facilitator and who lack motivation. Facilitation tools like eye contact, breaks, presentation skills, asking for help and others were all discussed.
Each day of the workshop, evaluation forms were distributed in an effort to see areas where the module material may be adjusted. This was the first time the module was delivered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency worldwide, and its outcome will be useful in planning its future implementation. The general outcome of the course was rated by the participants highly successful, and its useful repetition at a national level is promising. (See stories: Cooking up successful projects, Your road map to a first-place finish)
The Eco Center Caput Insulae, which hosted the workshop, was established in 1993 in the small ancient town called Beli, on the northern part of the island. The Eco Center works to protect CroatiaÕs natural and cultural heritage. Eco Center Caput Insulae has also been quite successful in its educational activities, particularly its summer school for Nature Conservation. The programs held each year attract participants from all over the world.
During the NGO training session, held July 28 to Aug. 2, Albanian representatives focused on how the center was established and run in order to gain expertise which they could use back home in the recently established eco centers in Ohrid and Shkodra lake regions.
Dr. Goran Susic, director of the Eco Center, organized the event and led the trainings, which included several lectures, discussions and visits to sights around the island. The topics covered included the importance of the Eco Center for nature conservation; the relationship between the Eco Center and the media; experiences with local authorities; educational programs run by the eco center; how to get the local community on your side; and fundraising efforts and successes.
The activity was supported by the REC as part of a project on Fresh water systems in Albania (PHARE funds).
For more information on Eco Center Caput Insulae and its training programs, contact Goran Susic, director, Eco Center Caput Insulae - Beli, Ede Jardasa 35, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia, Tel/fax: (385-51) 621-877, e-mail: orlovlet@olf.tel.hr
The broader context of the workshop is the development of new investment policies based on the principle of "double dividend." The principle describes investment policies that are sustainable or that create new jobs or enrich existing jobs. The main purpose of the Budapest workshop is to identify specific training needs of European countries in this field - especially the training needs of companies, consumer organizations and regional or local authorities that are developing or participating in an Agenda 21 project.
The workshop is part of a broader "Investment Policy" project that was initiated by EPE this year. This project addresses employment and the environment and will review in its first phase several instruments implemented in Europe to promote the creation of jobs. Another objective of the program is to promote green consumerism.
To find out more about this project's activities, contact Frank Hornschu, Tel: (49-541) 8100-710 or (49-541) 8100-0. For more information regarding the workshop, contact Laszlo Karas at the REC, Tel: (36-26) 504-000.