The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) Caraga organized a series of training on thematic fluency for the community volunteers on May 20 to 23 and May 27 to 30, 2019.

The training was conducted in four different batches to ensure that the participants will have a more conducive learning atmosphere. The first batch consisted of community volunteers from Trento and Rosario, Agusan del Sur and the second batch was composed of volunteers from Prosperidad and Talacogon, Agusan del Sur. The first two batches were conducted simultaneously at RCBI, San Francisco.

Batches three and four were composed of community volunteers from Tubay, Agusan del Norte and Madrid, Surigao del Sur, respectively. The training for the last batches were separately held at Almont Inland Hotel, Butuan City and Hotel Tavern, Surigao City.

The training was initiated to improve the community volunteers’ capacity in the integration of the Kalahi-CIDSS cross – cutting themes in the Community Empowerment Activity Cycle (CEAC) processes. These themes refer to Gender and Development, Peace Education, Environmental Awareness, and Family Evacuation Preparedness.

“Bridging leadership” was one of the major topics during the training. The resource persons explained to the participants that as volunteers, they play a critical role as bridging leaders in society. It was highly emphasized that they are the prime movers in the progress and growth of their respective communities.

In light of the discussion, the volunteers were asked to describe their leadership journey, define their purpose, and understand the significance of leadership capital.

Further, hands-on activities and workshops were inserted during the discussions as this strategy provided ideal opportunities for active learning.  Each community volunteer was given the chance to express their ideas and to involve themselves in the decision-making.

On the last day of the four-day training, community volunteers pledged their strong commitment as advocates for Community-Driven Development (CDD). They promised to diligently do their responsibilities and to tirelessly champion this development strategy as an effective means of development.

“Mapasalamaton mi ani nga training kay aduna kami mabaon, kumbaga pasalubong inig uli namo, ngadto sa among komunidad labi na sa amoang barangay. Mapasabot namo sa ilaha kung unsaon mahimong usa ka Bridging Leader, Peace Education Advocate ug Gender Sensitive na indibidwal (We are very thankful for this training because it provided us something to keep and to bring to our community especially to our barangay. Now we know how to mold other community members to become as bridging leaders, peace education advocates, and gender-sensitive individuals)”, Dicebel F. Mangao said. Dicebel is a member of the Audit & Inventory Team from Brgy. Tagmamarkay, Tubay.

Specialists and focal persons from the Regional Project Management Office (RPMO) of Kalahi-CIDSS Program served as the resource persons during the thematic training.###(CLEA MARIEL C. MALUNHAO/Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)