Certificate Programme 'Managing NGO Resource Centres'
Coady International Institute, Antigonish, Canada, May 12 - June 6, 2003

One major objective of ALADIN, the Adult Learning Documentation and Information Network, is to improve access to relevant information. Training and capacity building of ALADIN members plays a key role in reaching this objective. Therefore it has been decided at the last ALADIN Task Force Meeting to award five full scholarships to ALADIN members from all regions of the world to attend the four-weeks programme on 'Managing NGO Resource Centres' at the Coady International Institute in Canada.
 
In all, twelve NGO information workers from Nigeria, Namibia, Zambia, Philippines, Nepal, India, Israel, Ethiopia and Belize took part and successfully completed the program. The participants came from organizations that currently have or wish to start Resource Centres.
Some provide traditional library services, while others work in technologically advanced virtual libraries; some developed plans to establish a Resource Centre, while others worked on ways to improve existing centers. While some of the participants' centres focus on providing information services to their communities, others mainly do advocacy work through training, public education and other forms of capacity building. The group, while diverse, discovered many common challenges and an excitement in new linkages and opportunities. The opportunity to interact with resource centre workers from around the world was regarded as a very significant aspect of the program.

The group could draw on the expertise of Lisa Krolak, ALADIN Co-ordinator and Head of Documentation Centre at UIE, who facilitated two sessions on networking. This integral part of the program complemented the more general management framework of planning, implementation and monitoring of resource centre activities, and technical skills sessions. Participants also had the opportunity to explore participatory and asset-based approaches to developing their resource centres.
 
Participants' Evaluation

Lisa Krolak had the opportunity to interview the scholarship recipients and reported that all participants evaluated the course extremely well. You might be interested in examples of what the ALADIN scholarship recipients said in their final evaluations:
 
Noemi Reyes from SPEAR, Belize: "The course was very useful, because it emphasized on the importance of information and how we as individuals can properly manage it ... I would like to thank ALADIN, because what we have gained can never be fully repaid. All I can do is to offer my help whenever needed."

Olutoyin Mejiuni Fashina from WARSHE, Nigeria: "The course is useful because it focuses on the general management or organisations and on organizing the resource centre, giving it energy. That is, a resource centre, can be and ought to be more than a documentation centre. It ought to be an active participant for change."
 
Linda Beukes from the Rössing Foundation, Namibia: "Coming here for me personally, also taught myself how to be more confident and to believe in myself. The course for me was very useful ... I am very grateful in every way, for this opportunity to be at this amazing Institute and I've really learnt that what I got here . nobody will take away from me, my whole perspective has changed. And I am grateful - that I had also such a chance.

Noraida Sinalindo Chio from NDF, Philippines: "Thank you very much for this opportunity. My learning here includes not only my professional growth for myself and for my organization, but also my growth as a human being who needs to interact and communicate with other people".
 
Martha Ramon from IAEA, Israel "I didn't believe I will be accepted to the course because of my age, and consoled myself with the thought "What can they teach me I don't yet know???" Well, it turned out to be quite a lot! My first lesson was that people involved in adult education are
less prejudiced than my own quasi-liberal self: people at UNESCO and Coady didn't discriminate against me because of my age! They actually practice what they preach concerning lifelong education! ... The greatest lesson is one of mutual respect: we all can learn from each other as well as teach each other ... Thanks Lisa from ALADIN - UNESCO for enabling me to come."
 
Follow-up activities

Course co-ordinator Sue Adams will follow-up on the participants' individual action plans and report at CONFINTEA V follow-up how the course went and how it was introduced into participants daily life. As the course was well-received, it is very likely that it will run again
in 2005 and that ALADIN will again provide scholarships.

ALADIN's work in building the capacity of network members was clearly highly appreciated.

For more information on ALADIN, please consult the ALADIN website 
or contact the ALADIN Co-ordinator, Lisa Krolak