Training Description

GGTP Description

Gender and Governance Training Program popularly known as GGTP has completed its 10th batch. Right now it has started its 11th batch with 13 participants. There is a great demand among the graduates for this very helpful practical and innovative program, and it has already created considerable interest among the intelligentsia's who have been contributing throughout the design and implementation phase of this program. It's only the beginning. We would like to have more involvement of the youth as well as the development activists and mass people in order to establish a gender sensitive democratic society who will contribute for development of the country. It is a great opportunity to explain in brief the why, what and how related queries regarding the course. Thank you

What is GGTP

Like a few other NGOs Democracywatch also works towards promotion and awareness of gender, democracy and good governance in the country. It conducts opinion polls, carries out campaigns, holds seminars, workshops and hard question sessions on problems close to home. Its training idea is a relatively new initiative. It lasts for four months. Out of this four months the first 2 ½ months consists of in house training and research while the next 1½ months is devoted to internship. At the end of in house training the students submit their research reports. On the other hand they have to record their experiences in a process diary through out the internship period. Finally they are evaluated on the basis of the research report. Further, they are deemed to have completed the internship period on submission of the process diary. Besides all through the class time they fill out self- audit grids so as to evaluate their own development.

Why GGTP

It grew out of the need for the development of a new generation of leadership who will enact
good governance and increase awareness on Gender issues in their respective areas in future
Bangladesh. This training facilitate gender sensitivity and increase concept of good
governance among the youth, women and development activist through training and Internship
for secured livelihood, economic empowerment and leadership.
Therefore the training tries to:

  • Impart useful information on Gender and Governance.
  • Develop practical understanding of gender and governance among graduates and development activists who will be able to merge theory and practice
  • Encourage development practitioners to increase gender awareness as part of the development process.

How do we do it

The training has two folds: content and process.

Content

The training has two folds: content and process. The training covers the knowledge part through the content. We have a syllabus on Gender and Governance. It is flexible and responds to the needs of the time. The students get a basic idea on the concept of Gender, good governance, the human rights, women rights laws, are informed about the Constitution of Bangladesh, structures of different organs of the state, globalization, PRSP,MDG, Governance and Civil Society, Advocacy and Campaign, VAW, Research Methodology etc.

Process

We try to build capacity of our participants through the process of teaching and learning. We have activities like attend various seminars, workshop on relevant issues, field visit, Parliament, drop in center, Day care center visit, group work and presentation and internship with various NGOs. Our concentration is on developing practical understanding of gender and governance, prepare fresh graduates for development sector by developing their interpersonal skills, making them proactive and honest, increase their self-direction, reflection abilities. Through the process they learn to make presentation, report, research topic, questionnaire, data processing tools, research report etc.

What is it for

It is basically for young graduates both male & female and development activists for working in the development areas and to promote good governance by ensuring equal participations of women in this field for a balanced, gender sensitive society. But unfortunately we have seat limitations. We believe in keeping the class size small so as to provide quality service. Initially we started with twenty five students but experience proves that we can limit it to maximum twenty. The training requires a lot of time and commitment from its students. Therefore, to retain the quality we prefer mature students e.g. who graduates/Masters are seeking jobs or people already working in NGOs.

Theoretical Underplanings

In GGTP creativity and reflection are key words. The curriculum is based on the principles of adult education. Adult educators like Kolb, Mezirow, Paulo Freire have given most importance to the experience and self-direction that adult students bring into a learning situation. Learning occurs when students are able to reflect on their experience and afterwards act in the light of their new knowledge. According to David, Kolb learning is "the process where knowledge is created through the transformation of experience" (Kolb, David A. 1984, Experiential Learning, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall).
It gives more importance to the process of adaptation and learning as opposed to content or outcomes. The kind of learning process that the students undergo in GGTP can be expressed through the following learning cycle. It is an adaptation of Kolb's experiential learning cycle.