On 2-4th of December in Gelvonys village (Širvintos area) was the last initiative group training for the project "I live in the village-I know its value”. More about these trainings and their goal you can find in section 3.1, Interaction Seminars-training for ROI representatives. In trainings participated representatives from three communities: Gelvonai, Bagaslaviškiai and Sargeliai.
These five implemented seminars-trainings for ROI representatives’ goal was to provide knowledge to the group members on how to work with community members, to identify human rights violations, discrimination, to represent interests and exercise of human rights advocacy. Each training seminar was attended by no less than 15 ROI group representatives.
Seminar-training quality was ensured by the fact that experts were hired to participate and together with the BCF staff conducted trainings. A one-day training seminar on gender equality and discrimination was led the expert Aivaras Žilvinskas along with one BCF worker. The next day with other topics (Citizenship and Human Rights Advocacy) seminar-training was led by one of the BCF staff with the expert in the field - Gintare Gedrimaitė. In this way, the ROI members have received comprehensive knowledge, while at the same time, the BCF staff working with the experts had the opportunity to further deepen their knowledge of human rights, gender equality, discrimination and other areas, gain experience conducting seminars-trainings on these topics.
In the meetings it was effectively taught to protect their violated rights, to fight against discrimination, there was an introduction to the institutions which work in these areas, and also developing a common understanding of human rights.
Using gained experience during these activities and the methodology created in the beginning of the project, ROI representatives, with the help of experts, can lead training sessions in their own communities. Some communities are already conducting trainings, other are still planning to do so. Trainings in communities, which will be conducted by community leaders with the help of experts is scheduled to be completed by February 2016 (more about these trainings and their goal you can find in section 4.1 of the project "Livein Village – be Aware of your Worth").