Why is the TLCD project looking for multipliers?

By nominating multipliers we started to build the Network of people/organizations

who will have the access to different innovative forms of training and education. It
depends on them how they will use it. The list of suggested activities that they can
organize is in the material for multipliers (see below).

The Network of multipliers is about an active and interactive form of using outcomes
of the TLCD project, common planning of future events and exchanges of
experiences between members of the Network. As a multiplier you should not be just
a passive member of the Network reading info from the web site, blog, e-mails but
you should be involve actively by making comments, suggestions, coming with new
ideas and looking for funds to realize future common events. The idea on behalf of the
Network of multiplier is that “more heads have more good ideas” and “more hands
can do more” 
It means that each organization that becomes a member of the Network of multipliers
will increase its chance for self-improvement and for involvement to the different
possible projects.
anna@ceecn.net

Multipliers for Training and Learning for Community Development

Draft document for comment and circulation with those who attended Sofia Seminar

You have been nominated as a “Multiplier” for the lessons from of the European
funded project on Training and Learning for Community Development.

At the Sofia Seminar in May 2009 on dissemination, a group of 51 participants from

24 countries discussed the findings of the project so far. Partners in the project and
some of their “multipliers” agreed to work through their existing networks, projects
and programs in order to maximize effort and commitment. As a multiplier, you are
invited to work on one of these priorities with the organisation , which has nominated
you and you are invited to nominate others.

Networking with Multipliers: The project is based on an interactive, participative

learning process. In Sofia, participants listened to descriptions of the project and
reflections on the outcomes and worked on setting priorities. If you participate as a
multiplier, you will have access to innovative tools for training and learning and
participation in future networking events.
Please let us know urgently if you need material in your own language.
Priority Theme Suggested Action
Develop shared tools for Exchange and use existing tools through the
learning network of multipliers and their websites as
presented in the marketplace. For example
GRUNDTVIG-G1 Project “Curriculum for Adult
Education in Rural Areas – CAERA in Romania.
Develop connections between centers of learning
e.g. Garaget in Malmo,Sweden, Sprengelhaus in
Berlin, Germany, Civil College in Kunbabony,
Hungary
Maintain Use the blog and other interactive, electronic
Communication
Values, principles,
standards
Fund-raising, structure
and organisation
means. Use e-mail groups actively. Tell other
multipliers what I am doing locally or
nationally.
Do a local or national workshop on the values,
principles and standards shared by participants
in the project on Training and Learning for
Community Development (See Sofia booklet
and notes below.)
Develop peer exchanges and share the results.
Keep up peer pressure! Work towards
adaptable European standards but avoid
standardisation!
Work with existing networks under the
leadership of partner organizations, CEBSD
and CEECN to identify potential funds and set
up structures to support networking. Get funds
for an event in 2010

CRITERIA for Multipliers

As a multiplier, you fit somewhere into the following criteria. Please let us know
which criteria relate to you. We would like to put you on the multiplier list on the blog
at www.tl4cd.wordpress.com. Could you send a photo so that we recognise you when
we meet. Please let us know if you need material in your first language.

Multipliers should fulfill at least two of the following categories and be willing to
take part in the process of dissemination of findings from the project on
Training and Learning over a 2-year period.

Categories of multiplier:

 Partners in a European Project for Training and Learning

 Active in formulation of policy on training for regional or national

government, European network or organisation.

 Active in formulation of policy for community participation and development

of civic skills for regional or national government
  Manager of Social/Community Services for district, regional or national
government

 Active in training professionals

 Voluntary Activist in the field of civic skills and community participation

 Active in training volunteers in the field of civic skills and community

participation

 Active in organization or network related to training and learning

opportunities for civic skills and community participation.

 Representative of a related European/International network or European /

International institution.

What is the role of a multiplier?

The idea of multipliers is based on an interactive approach to learning where you

assess the relevance to you of how others in your field of action work and give critical
feedback to them. You need to participate in opportunities offered and create
opportunities. You need to adapt the material to your situation and cultural context.
You want to raise the level of citizen awareness and increase opportunities for adults
to learn. Within the 150 multipliers, you should find some people who can assist the
future development of your organization and the citizens that you work with.

What to multiply from the project on Training and Learning for Community
Development?

There is material from the project on the blog created in the course of the project.
Multipliers are asked to reflect on the material generated and discuss it with others
within their organizations or in open workshops. Here are some questions to get you
started.

 How much do I agree or disagree with the values, principles, guidelines or

standards that have been suggested? (See notes below) Are they relevant to my
daily work?

 How does my work contribute to increased citizen awareness and

empowerment? What can I share with others?

 Is the Do-it-yourself Relay method, a method I could use in a local, national or

European exchange? (See printed booklet for Sofia Seminar or pdf format on
blog)
  Would my colleagues be interested in a workshop towards developing shared
guidelines or standards (See “Towards standards for quality Community
Work” www.cwc.ie or TLCD Guidelines in Booklet and www.cebsd.org and

 Have I something to share in different forms of electronic dialogue? Use

www.tl4cd.wordpress.com

 Do I know civil servants who may be interested in the connections between

citizen participation and adult education who would be interested the project
and in opportunities for future exchange of informal learning under the
Lifelong Learning Programme?

What can I expect from my role as multiplier?

 Consciousness of what others are doing in this field in East and West Europe

 Access to ideas and materials that can help me in my work.

 Awareness of opportunities to participate in exchanges, which explore the

findings in more depth

 Inspiration, reflection, challenges…and renewal of energy and commitment.

TLCD GUIDELINES
Notes on project starting point for values, principles, standards and
guidelines: Participants in Sofia want to start an interactive dialogue.
As a multiplier, the following are offered as a starting point are are open
to you to agree, disagree and change through dialogue on the blog.

1. Definition of Community Development: The broad definition of Community

Development that underpins the project on Training and Learning for
Community Development is taken from the Budapest Declaration.

“Community development is a way of strengthening civil society by

prioritising the actions of communities and their perspectives in the
development of social, economic and environmental policy. It seeks the
empowerment of local communities, taken to mean both geographical
communities, communities of interest or identity and communities
organising around specific themes or policy initiatives. It strengthens the
capacity of people as active citizens through their community groups,
organisations and networks; and the capacity of institutions and agencies
(public, private and non-governmental) to work in dialogue with citizens to
shape and determine change in their communities. It plays a crucial role
in supporting active democratic life by promoting the autonomous voice of
disadvantaged and vulnerable communities. It has a core set of values /
social principles covering human rights, social inclusion, equality and
respect for diversity; and a specific skills and knowledge base.”

2. Definition of ‘Community’: The summary of definitions of ‘community’

follows from this broad definition and they are also shared by members of the
Combined European Bureau for Social Development (CEBSD) and partners
in the Grundtvig Project 2005-2006. The summary is drawn mainly from the
CEBSD publication “Including the Excluded: From practice to policy in European
Community Development”, Policy Press, June 2005. www.policypress.org.uk, ISBN
1-86134-745-6. This definition of community “embraces locality, common
interests and shared identity.” (Page 14, including the Excluded”) A community
can be a cross-section of different communities and individuals are often
members of several ‘communities’. For example the ‘community’ of Rom in
Europe contains many different communities and has many diverse connections
to local communities across Europe. The refugee ‘community’ may have common
interests across local, regional and national boundaries. The CEBSD definition
recognises the distinctiveness of diverse communities, while recognising common
patterns across Europe. Connection to a number of ‘communities’ increases with
increased mobility across Europe. In community development terms a sense of
‘community’ implies a commitment to human rights, solidarity and equality and
engagement with the development of civil society. Members of CEBSD give
priority to different areas within community development for example
participative democracy; intercultural mediation; sustainable development; anti-
poverty and social exclusion.

3 Some of the terms used for Community Development in

Europe
dezvoltare comunitara

samhällsarbete och Mobilisering

desenvolupament comunitari

devéloppement solidaire/communitaire

komunitneho rozvoja

samenlevingsopbouw

desarrollo comunitario

sviluppo di comunità

områdesutveckling
samfunnsutvikling

gemeinwesenarbeit

közösségfejlesztés

community development

4 Some shared principles: The following principles have been identified as

core principles shared by members of the Combined European Bureau for
Social Development, See the publication “Including the Excluded” (Page
57-67) for a description of how they were identified and how they are
understood:

 Equality, Diversity, Tolerance

 Partnership, Solidarity and Co-operation

 Participation

 Creative and Innovative Organisation

5. Some shared concepts that define what we mean by
Community Development (taken from the Combined
European Bureau for Social Development, See the publication
“Including the Excluded”, Page 73)
 Delivers interdisciplinary, professional and independent support to
groups of people
 Identifies, together with local people, community problems
 Increases the empowerment of local people so that they can
organise themselves in order to solve problems
 Turns its attention primarily to people struggling with social
deprivation, poverty, inequality and exclusion
 Contributes to a sustainable community based on mutual respect
and social justice
 Challenges power structures which hinder people’s participation
 Contributes to the socio-cultural development of the neighbourhood
by local people.

Resources

The CEBSD website and publications plus www.tl4cd.wordpress.org and the linked
websites of partners contain more material on principles, concepts, terms
including terms such as ‘social capital’, empowerment, participation and how they
are drawn from practice and used to form policy.

For some suggested guidelines when creating training opportunities – see the
booklet for the Sofia seminar (also on blog www.tl4cd.wordpress.com and
www.cebsd.org)

For more information on participatory methods used in the project on

Training and Learning for Community Development contact:

Creating a blog: matev@kkapcsolat.hu

Relay and Laboratory: co-ordinator@cebsd.org
Network Circle: Kirsten@idebanken.no
Speed Dialogue: Kirsten@idebanken.no
OPERA Method: hans.andersson@cesam.se
Community Organising: chuck@cko.sk
Role play: magda@fundatiapact.ro
Using Excel for participative management: sarah.beal@cesie.it
For the publication “Towards Standards for Quality Community Work: An
All Ireland Statement of Values, Principles and Work Standards” see
www.cwc.ie or contact annirwin@cwc.ie

Margo Gorman and Anna Karailieva

June 2009
co-ordinator@cebsd.org
www.cebsd.org

Note: This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This paper reflects the views only of the Consortium, and the Commission cannot be
held responsible for any use, which may be made of the information contained
therein.
References: 135744-NL-KA4MP Life Long Learning Programme – Key Activity 4