The training course was organized to enhance the capacity of members in the organization and implementation of communication activities concerned with disaster risk reduction and climate change in Central Vietnam. There were over 30 students who registered and attended the training course. The participants of the training were members from the provinces of Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh.

Photo: Participants from Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam and Binh Dinh

At the training, Mr. Le Dai Tri – Lecturer of the training was to equip the participants with the main contents of: Communications and Communication campaign; Communication and approaches to behavior change; Behavior change communication and community mobilization; Monitoring and evaluation of campaign; and things to do to organize a communication event. In particular, the lecturer spent time on the content “behavior change communication and community mobilization” and focused on skills instruction to participants, such as: analyzing communication problems; analyzing communication audiences; analyzing organizations; developing communication objectives; determining communication strategy; identifying communications activities; communication training; and production of communication supporting materials.

With the key methods of discussion and practice and sharing from the class, the training course has mobilized the active participation of 30 students in all contents in the course.

Photo : Lecturer lecturing in courses

Photo : Participants discussed lively group exercises

The course not only equipped participants with the knowledge of communication planning. But, more importantly, it urged the desire of most of the participants to develop communication plans after the training to be able to change behaviors. Many participants also intend to change the implementation of communication activities in their organizations. One remaining problem is creating the environment for the participants to apply the knowledge and enthusiasm that the lecturer taught.

Photo: Enthusiasm was aroused in every participant

The course met the initial goals that the organizers had set and was an opportunity for each member of the CCN to come closer and share experiences of working with projects.

At the end of the training, the Executive Board also briefly discussed with the member organizations about determination of behavior communicated and preliminary works to develop an action plan in the near future.

Photo: The training course was memorable for each participant

Bao Hoa
Center for Rural Development in Central Vietnam

Addressing the opening celebration, representatives of the People’s Committee of Danang city and Disaster Management Center (DMC) identified the importance of community participation in disaster prevention, especially the participation of people with disabilities and the elderly in order to promote integration, strength and experience in disaster prevention.

The talk-show session were considered an active and practical importance to the participation of the representatives of Danang city People’s Committee and Disaster Management Center (DMC), representatives of the elderly with disabilities in the community of Danang city and Elderly Association participating in the village flood prevention committee.

During the talk-show, some contents were shared and discussed lively and practically:

• Representatives of the elderly shared life problems of the elderly (with disabilities) at home, in the community and when a disaster occurs; experiences of the elderly should be exploited in the disaster prevention and the needs of the elderly and people with disabilities participating in disaster prevention activities.
• Representatives of the People’s Committee of Danang city, Mr. Huynh Van Thang, Deputy director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vice President of Center for Flood and Storm Control, Search and Rescue of Danang city shared the city activities in disaster prevention with the participation of the community; considered it as one of the core issues that the city has been implementing with the support of local and international organizations and determined the role of the elderly contributing in disasters prevention .
• Disaster Management Center (DMC) provided general information on themes of International Day for Disaster Prevention in recent years, the significance of the theme “The elderly with disasters 2014: Resilience for Life”, the role of the elderly in connection of generations, life experience, experience in disaster prevention and ensuring solidarity and mobilizing all resources in the community.

At the roundtable discussion after talk-show, numerous comments from representatives of  Association of People with Disabilities, the elderly mentioned the difficulties in access to disaster prevention activities, especially developing disaster prevention plan, training and education; representatives of the Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs stressed the problem of people with disabilities and the elderly being currently given special attention and promoted the strength and ensured inclusion of people with disabilities and the elderly in the disaster prevention. To achieve this goal, developing a propaganda team and signing a memorandum with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is very important, and has been currently discussed and developed.

Talking to the participants, the Disaster Management Center (DMC) highlighted standpoints of the government directing the participation of communities, especially vulnerable groups in disaster prevention in the Disaster Prevention Law, National Strategy for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to 2020, the project “Raising public awareness and community-based disaster risk management”, the important role of local government at all levels, social and political organizations, especially Association of People with Disabilities, Elderly Association, international organizations in the implementation of specific activities for people with disabilities and the elderly so that they could participate and contribute to practical activities in the local disaster prevention. These are considered the most important factors to realize the Government’s direction and expectations of the disability community and the elderly.

The celebration also includeds communication activities such as exhibitions, music activities, drama by the Association of people with disabilities and the elderly of city and provinces of Danang, Hue and Quang Tri that were made by themselves and performed. This is seen as a strong message about the role and expectations to contributing the strength in disaster prevention in the community.

Closing the ceremony, the participants evaluated communication activities celebrating the International Day for Disaster Reduction very practical and expect more activity for gradually including the disabled and the elderly in disaster prevention.

(Department of Information and Statistics – Disaster Management Center)

Active Participants

Facilitating a meeting is one of the most important activities that requires good skills while working with stakeholders, and creating the coordination and cooperation among members of the CCN. Holding this training workshop, the Executive Board desired to build capacity and mobilize the members’ participation, collection and data processing effectively when facilitating a workshop or a meeting and bringing better coordination in operation of its activities. From June 27-29, Mr. Tran Phong enthusiastically guided the training workshop by using a guidance-oriented approach in accordance with the specified time and specific audiences. Most of the trainees acquired many useful lessons during practicing time.

The training workshop on “Facilitation and Coordination skills in network operation” was held with the aim of creating opportunities for the CCN’s members to share experiences to improve skills in mobilizing participation, collection and  data processing effectively when facilitating a workshop or a meeting and bring better coordination to the operation of its activities.

The training workshop is organized within the framework of the project “Formation and Development of Network on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Vietnam” funded by the Plan International and coordinated by the Center for Rural Development in Central Vietnam in 2014.

Details of the training workshop:

• Duration: 3 days, 27 – 29.06.2014 (8:00 to 17:00)
• Location: Hotel Snow White, Lot 5-6 Nguyen Van Linh, Da Nang
• Lecturer/Coordinator: Mr. Tran Phong with extensive experience in the fields of communication, coordination skills and visualization in participatory group activities, training for adult skills, team leadership skills, community development skills, presentation skills, conflict management and negotiation skills.
• Language: Vietnamese
• Support for logistics: the organization committee will provide support for travel and accommodation for trainees outside of Danang (will notify selected trainees directly).

Register for the training workshop by filling out the attached evaluation form and send to nga.nguyen@malteser-international.org before 15 June 2014.

CCN was established for the purpose of linking and mobilizing resources to have a hand in vulnerability reduction and resilience enhancement of the Central communities under the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

With the aim of summative assessment and lessons-learnt of the first three quarters in 2014 and preparation for action plan in the IV/2014 and 2015, on 18 November, the meeting among Executive Board members took place at the office of Materser International, no. 48 Nguyen Chi Thanh, Hai Chau District, Danang city.

Fig.1. Meeting took place in Mateser International Office – Danang city

Fig.1. Meeting took place in Mateser International Office – Danang city

The main focus of the meeting was to exchange, share experiences to draw lessons-learnt about the work of network coordination and experience in organizing activities during the first 3 quarters of 2014.

Under the sponsorship of Plan International with the component “Formation and Development of Network on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Vietnam”, CCN has upgraded their level of operation and impact, voices to CBOs and other social networks on climate change and disaster risk reduction. Accordingly, from early 2014 till now, CCN has organized a number of meaningful activities to build capacity of members on climate change, as well as communication, enhance awareness of community and members on climate change and disaster risk reduction.

One of the activities rated as highly successful that not only brought great influence to the community and members of the network but also contributed to communicate its voice and image to other organizations and government agencies was the event responding to the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2014 held in Danang in 10 October. This event attracted special interest and was broadcasted widely in many mass media.

Agreement among members of Executive Board

In addition, members of Executive Board discussed and outlined the working plan for 2015, especially focused on developing ideas for fundraising for the network’s operation in the following years.

Despite many difficulties and challenges in organizing, coordinating and overcoming obstacles because CCN has just formed, the operation of CCN in the first year was successful and achieved the set objectives in 2014.

In the future, with plans and strategies clearly outlined and assigned to members specifically, the CCN will continue to assert and contribute practically to link resources among NGOs, governmental agencies and other partners working together for a common goal to help the community “Adaptation to Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction”.