Training of Trainers on Design for Sustainable Settlement Bangladesh (DSSB, ToT), 2014

At Banishanta, Sutarkhali and Mongla, Bangladesh

9th to 20th October, 2014

Prepared by: Richard Gregory Gomes

M&E-Environment, BASD

The Ground-breaking and the Aim of DSSB, ToT Course of Building Capacity and Empowering Communities (BCEC) Project

Responding directly to the threat, Bangladesh is facing from climate change and adverse weather conditions. BCEC project has launched in 2013 and its aims to improve sustainable food security and livelihoods of vulnerable communities of Khulna and Bagerhat, Southern Bangladesh, through capacity building programmes and effective climate change adaptation strategies and interventions. The core capacity building activities and the aim of DSSB, ToT are, 140 community leaders of which 50% women from Khulna and Bagerhat are to train in community-led integrated sustainable strategies to improve the economic and social stability of the community while preparing for and coping with climate change through Permaculture Design Education (PDC), Design for Sustainable Settlements in Bangladesh (DSSB) and Design for Sustainable Settlements in Bangladesh Training of Trainers (DSSB, ToT) courses. Participants of these courses are drawn from some of the most vulnerable communities in this region and the most marginalised among those communities. They learn the practical and social

skills on the courses and return to their villages to practice them and share with their neighbors.

The Place

DSSB, ToT course originated in three different places along with 8 village communities. It has started at first at Proshanti Training Centre in Banishanta along with 3 village communities, and after that it continued at Forest Office Para in Sutarkhali with 3 village communities and at the end at Shelabuniya in Mongla with 2 village communities.

Participants

14 women and 7 men joined the course for all 12 days. The participants came from Banishanta, Sutarkhali and Mongla communities of Khulna and Bagerhat, Bangladesh. We had a good age range with a few in their early 20s, most in 30’s, 40’s, and few in 50’s.

All of the participants were mostly village community leaders and previously EDE/PDC/DSSB trained with keen environmental sensitivities wishing to apply their talents and practical knowledge to combat the challenge for climate change adaptation through the application of different climate change adaptation techniques among their village communities.

Core Faculty

Mr. Pradyut Nayek, who has more than 25-year’s field experience as a permaculture practitioner and a consultant of sustainability living and a resource person for Siddharth Village in India facilitated the whole DSSB, ToT course this time.

Course Rhythms

DSSB, ToT participants have started their 1st day training along with the facilitator and the trainer Mr. Pradyut Nayek, Executive Director of BASD Mr. Boniface S. Gomes and with BCEC project staffs after having the prayer expressing deep gratitude to our great Creator for everything. After that, a short pre survey of the trainee participants have been undertaken by BCEC, BASD staffs to measure the pre knowledge before DSSB, ToT training started. Every training day started with yoga/meditation conducted by the participants themselves; especially by Poly, Bishnu, Shipra and Salma. Every morning session started focused on the theory complimenting with engaging whole day field practical. As, DSSB, ToT course was designed with the maximum practical sessions along with local village community, so that the participants were engaged with full of practical activities all day long with one and a half hour lunch break at afternoon. Every late evening participants met together at the Proashanti Training Centre to attend in a sharing and discussion session where they have interacted their whole day practical experience and knowledge among other participants by the

presence of DSSB, ToT trainer, Mr. Pradyut Nayek.

Highlights and Challenges

During the DSSB, ToT training time the participants mainly practiced the following topics through participating with the local community by different practical sessions in three different places. The topics were:

Round Compost Vermi Compost Vermi Wash Fish Tonic Bed Raised Bed Diamond Bed Liquid Compost Nursery Bed Pitcher Bed Floating Vegetable Cultivation and Potato Cultivation

DSSB, ToT training continued five days at Banishanta, four days at Sutarkhali and three days at Mongla areas.

During the training time, the biggest challenge was rain and the muddy road, which was overcome wonderfully by the trainer and the trainee participants.

Key Trends

In Banishanta, most of the theoretical and practical sessions was lead by DSSB, ToT

trainer by himself whereas in Sutarkhali and Mongla, some theoretical and practical sessions were lead by the ToT participants by themselves along with the local community.

In Banishanta

Lessons Learnt:

Theory Introduction of Permaculture, difference

between modern agriculture and permaculture

People life and livelihood Soil development, composting, using

biological pesticides, nutrient cycle and Ecology

Discussing theory before and after conducting every practical sessions

Tips for being a good trainer

Boat rowing, a famous ancient Bengal culture demonstration at Mongla

Practical Round compost Vermi compost Vermi wash Fish tonic Preparation of vegetable bed (winter

season) Plant production using a leaf box Raised bed Diamond bed Liquid compost

What Could Be Improved Host community could be more directly

involved and present for more participants to engage with

Selection of participants so that learners are on same level of understanding

In Sutarkhali

Lessons Learnt:

Theory

Introduction of Permaculture, difference between modern agriculture and permaculture

People life and livelihood Soil development, composting,

preparation and application of biological insecticides

Uses of herbal medicine Discussing theory before and after

conducting every practical sessions

Practical (lead by the trainee participants through community participation)

Raised bed lead by ToT trainee, Govinda other trainee, and the local community

Liquid compost lead by ToT trainee, Poly other trainee, and the local community

Practical: Raised bed

Practical: Raised bed

Vermiculture Practical, with full of energy and enthusiasm

Round compost lead by ToT trainee, Anjoli, other trainee, and the local community

What Could Be Improved Host community could be more directly

involved and present for more participants to engage with

Considering climate when organizing next training as it was at times for rains and muddy roads alaround

In Mongla

Lessons Learnt:

Theory Introduction of Permaculture,

difference between modern agriculture and permaculture

Soil development, composting, using biological pesticides, nutrient cycle and Ecology

Discussing theory before and after conducting every practical sessions

Practical Preparation of Nursery bed Raised bed Diamond bed Pitcher bed by ToT trainee Prity,

other trainee and the local community

Liquid compost by ToT trainee, Shefali and the local community

Fish tonic Potato cultivation Floating Vegetable Gardening

Participants Feedback and Evaluation

“I am very much fortunate to participate into this ToT training. Now, I have learnt how to overcome my inertia and how to train my community people more effectively.” Poly-Mongla

“I am very much fortunate to participate into the ToT training. I am grateful to BASD to select me for this training.” Jhorna-Banishanta

“The twelve days designed program was well planned, organized and it delivered the requirements of the participants. It helped me to gain more knowledge on understanding the concept of permaculture

Discussing before a Practical Session

Practical: Floating Vegetable Gardening

and added to my understanding about how to cultivate saline prone vegetables thorough the application of raised bed, diamond bed and so on.” Bishnu-Sutarkhali

“ToT training provides me very much practical knowledge learning how to cultivate organic vegetables through the application of liquid compost, vermi compost, raised bed and diamond bed. It is very much effective for me indeed. I am going to teach all my learning to my Machmara village community that I have learnt through this ToT training.” Usha-Mongla

“I have learnt how to cultivate mixed fish cultivation through this ToT training. This training is very much needed for me and for my community.” Francis-Banishanta

“DSSB, ToT training gives me practical knowledge and wisdom. I am very much fortunate to participate into this training. The teaching of our trainer, Mr Pradyut Nayek was outstanding. He taught us how to conduct training, how to manage huge number of people, and how to train

community people effectively. I am very grateful to BASD to select me as a trainee of this valuable training.” Anjoli-Sutarkhali