3rd Training of Trainer in Hanoi: Community Communication about Sustainable Energy

From 23rd to 24th, Febuary, 2019 in Hanoi, the 3rd training of trainers: community communication on sustainable energy was held following the 2nd training in Cu Pui, Krong Bong, Dak Lak in Octorber, 2018. The aim of this training are advancing both knowledge about sustainable energy models and training organizating skills for trainers. Thereby, we can achieve the goal training civil local social, professional organisations and promoting local initiatives about sustainable energy in 2019.

This program within the framework of the project “Civil society meets RE&EE - trainings, seminars and communication skills to boost RE&EE as a key tool for sustainable development and green growth strategy in Vietnam”, is initiated by Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) with financial support of the European Union.

The training was taken place in two weekends with 9 trainers selected from the previous two training sessions and communication training experts as Mr.Tran Tien Duc - Program Manager, Ms. Vo Thi Xuan Quyen - Project Coordination, Ms. Nguy Thi Giang - Financial Manager and Nguyen Thi Trang Nguyen - Knowledge Manager in GreenID… This is a training course outside the training plan, but has been designed to complete information, knowledge and skills to help trainers more confident in the local communication path ahead.

About knowledge, 100% community trainers after the first morning understand deeply about 5 models of sustainable energy in household level and 2 models in community level: Improved stoves, led light, biogas, solar rooftop, portable lights solar, Intergrated drinking water and solar power supply. While the trainers played local people’s role and gave questions for experts of GreenID to answer. They can know how to install, maintain 7 models. We can see there is no gap between theory and practice anymore. To provide better information for local people promoting application of these models, each trainers must become energy experts. Therefore, in this training, knowledge about models is the first thing we chose to review with the trainers together.

About skills, training community process (before, during and after training) is also emphasized in the training to ensure that the trainings of local trainers will comply with regulations. “Understanding deeply about the portrait of the local people is an important step before training”. “Identify the demand of local people and the specific benefits of energy models which we can bring to them will help trainers to select  training contents and methods”. “Mastering 4 principles working with local people will help teachers ensure the maximum support of local authorities in the future”. The note on 1 hour before training, 20 minutes before training and after training skills were given...GreenID hope that all experience with 7 years working with community will be useful for trainers.

To become community trainers, they not only need to master the training process, expertise but also need to apply strictly financial regulations, have ability to report activity, and implement communication activities on social networks to spread successes in applying models to more people. This 3rd training course provided sufficient information and cultivated that skills to each trainer. Opening space to practice writing and photography news media event, inquiry financial processes is the final knot helping trainers more willing in upcoming journey.

30 medias raising awareness about sustainable energy models for 750 local people in off-grid areas in 7 provinces stretching from north to south (Lao Cai, Quang Nam, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, An Giang, Hau Giang) is the following step. Accordingly, trainers are divided into 4 groups according to geographic location to jointly deploy in the next communication trainings. GreenID understands that: When we share the same concern, we will meet and work together to find the answer. Increasing energy access to all parts of the country is a not easy work, but we can do it because of our unity. The next stage with the trainers will have  more difficult than before because they have to direct to actively design lesson plans, choose location, communication objects, survey the organization area, work with the locality, implement communication and monitor and evaluate performance... But with knowledge and skills they were trained during the last period, actual practising experiences in Dak Lak, with the follow-up from community experts in GreenID, the future with millions of green houses in Vietnam will be completed soon.

With GreenID, successes we have are not only the number of community trainings, local people approaching and applying sustainable energy models. Opening space to converge pioneering seeds of green energy, creating good conditions for seeds from the community to germinate is what GreenID appreciates. Building and promoting resources from the community to handle energy demand is the sustainable value that we pursue!