A training of VIPP facilitators course, Level-1, using the content of the new VIPP manual, was held in Chiang Mai, July 24 to 28, 2006, under the auspices of the IKAP-Network – a movement set up to strengthen indigenous knowledge and biodiversity in Southeast Asia. Eleven participants attended from Thailand, Cambodia, China, Malaysia, Kenya and Uganda. They came to learn how to apply VIPP to a variety of development efforts such as rural development, environmental action and water and sanitation programmes at the community level; gender development, child-to-child education, human rights analysis and programming, and HIV and AIDS prevention programmes.

Objectives: The objectives of the course were 1) to learn attitudes, skills, and practice methods and tools which will improve the atmosphere and outcome of almost any group planning, decision making, and training process, and 2) to offer an opportunity for participants to improve their communication and facilitation skills, to grow intellectually, and to discover and express their talents.

Contents:

Background and setting: The workshop was set within the philosophical perspective that human group behaviour, such as that involved in learning, planning, and making decisions involves the individual in a complex process with a multiplicity of factors that come into play. People who come together in group situations can synergize and mobilise their capabilities and achieve new and creative solutions to problems. However, modern communication systems seem to run counter to the above. Internet and text message communication systems have contributed to rapid links between large numbers of people in spite of space and time differences, but such methods are often comprised of a series of one way interchanges, often with the absence of or misinterpretation of emotion and context. This is contributing to the fragmentation of attention and to the misrepresentation of reality. The trend is to minimize face-to-face dialogue.

In addition, in congresses, meetings, training and other group events new electronic methods of presenting information are highlighted and often monopolize all of the time, leaving important face-to-face interactions to take place only during breaks or side discussions. Electronic communication systems have important roles to play in modern business culture and can be used in more participatory ways that enhance face-to-face interactions, but they should not be allowed to replace true dialogue in real time. Experience demonstrates that relevant debates, discussions or exchanges of opinion involve complex processes and require facilitation. Facilitation skills improve group dynamics and can help to improve the outcomes of group events.