FLI arranged a training workshop for its facilitators to provide them with more opportunities of learning and enhancement of their facilitation skills. The three days long workshop concluded on 12 Apr 2017 which was attended by 15 people who have been facilitating various training sessions at the platforms provided by FLI.

The main goal of this workshop was to improve the facilitation skills and standards of those who facilitate FLI trainings, while also introducing them to and receiving their feedback regarding the new Facilitators’ Guidelines and Training Policy that FLI is developing. This was accomplished through a 3-day workshop held at local hotel in Islamabad.

The methods and processes of achieving this goal included both explanations of good facilitating practices as well as a lot of practical activities and practice using those methods. The objectives established towards achieving the goal of this workshop were:

• Introduce, discuss, and potentially revise FLI’s drafted Guidelines for Facilitators
• Improve facilitators’ understanding of adult learning principles and different learning styles
• Improve the lesson planning and preparation skills of FLI’s facilitators
• Improve the quality and effectiveness of FLI’s facilitators’ teaching sessions
• Provide opportunity for facilitators to practice good lesson planning and delivery
• Introduce facilitators to FLI’s upcoming training policy, and the parameters they will need to meet to continue facilitating trainings with FLI

A five day workshop on Child Rights Protection was held in last week in the FLI. Seven people from three language communities attended the workshop. Language communities from Northern-Pakistan included Hindko, Palula and Indus Kohistani.

In line with the objectives of the workshop the participants have agreed to allow a child to grow strong and healthy. They had discussion on CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child) and identified the main issues in their communities. They also generated ideas to disseminate information in that regard. Building the capacity of participants who were teachers, supervisors and coordinators in the protection of child rights was the main purpose of the workshop; getting deeper understanding of concepts of abuse, causes and consequences. Identification of signs of abuse, and learning of key techniques to protect their rights were imparted. How to empower children and how to advocate for their rights were what the discussion covered.

The workshop was facilitated by Literacy Officer, Naseem Haidar, Training Coordinator, Amir Haidar and Monitoring and Evaluation Officer Ms. Bushra Malik.

Executive Director of FLI Mr. Fakhruddin giving his input in one of the sessions during Child Rights Protection workshop

A week long Lexicography (Dictionary Development) Workshop concluded in FLI office Islamabad last week. Six language researchers from 06 language communities participated in the activity. The language communities, represented in this workshop were Yidgha (spoken in Chitral), Ushojo (Swat), Gawarbati (Chitral), Hindko (Hazara Division), Dameli (Chitral) and Gawri (Kalam-Swat).

The participants learned how to develop the theories of dictionary components, collecting, compiling and organizing lexical data to start basic lexicography projects in their mother-tongue. Develop the skill of processing and organizing different kinds of lexical data by using WeSay, starting a new project, editing inside a field, inserting and deleting field, sorting in browse, and Filtering, work together to provide a supportive learning environment for a group of lexicographers. Also inserting new words in your dictionary, increase data by using semantic domain were what the participants have been imparted.

A series of training courses titled as Identity Based Community Development (IBCD) concluded at FLI office in Islamabad last month. The main outcome of the IBCD certificate program was that “Community-based organizations in northern Pakistan have the capacity to effectively implement and manage their own identity-based community development strategies.” The primary goals of the first part of this course were that the participants had the introduction to the interplay of interpersonal skills and diversity in an organizational setting. Secondly they identified the benefits and challenges of a diverse work environment along with getting the understanding of unifying and motivating effects that influence the core values in an organization. They became aware of the system of how to think and identify the strength and weaknesses in the organizational system and also the learning loops.

They knew that how to become leaders and the challenges they will face after they hold the leading position.

Twelve participants from nine different language communities of northern and southern Pakistan took part in the sessions. All the participants of the event were directors, finance officers, coordinators, and supervisors of respective community-based organizations.

The sessions were facilitated by Muhammad Zaman, Naseem Haider, Shams Ali, Ms. Bushra Malik, Fazal Hadi and Ms. Amy.