Cadre training

Common Difficulties in Leader Training

Leader training is the initial, basic introduction to community capacity-building methods. However, practical effectiveness evaluations have found that most leader training programs often face several challenges, including: trained leaders may not consistently serve in community organizations; a single or limited number of trained leaders may not develop influence or translate their knowledge into action within the community organization; knowledge may not be translated into practical skills or organizational wisdom; and fragmented or thematic training programs often fail to address the multifaceted challenges of community organization action.

Practical Design to Overcome Difficulties

Based on this understanding, Changhua County promotes practical community capacity-building-oriented leader training, adhering to three core principles to address common leader training challenges. These three core principles are: learner-centeredness, team-building approach, and pragmatism. Consequently, the training curriculum incorporates four key design elements, four incentives, and one commitment to participants.

The four key design elements of the curriculum are:

1. Leader training adopts an all-inclusive, comprehensive approach, taking into account the comprehensive and holistic aspects of community work or project implementation. 

The training curriculum covers three key areas: organizational matters (such as meetings and finances), personnel and volunteer leadership, and program design and implementation.

2. Practical themes designed to incorporate the characteristics of adult learning, reflecting the unique characteristics of community leaders. 

Given that community leaders and volunteers are adults, often older or less educated, the training curriculum focuses on practical application and concepts, avoiding excessive theoretical exposition and memorization.

3. Long-term learning and value change. 

To achieve value formation and perspective change among leaders and avoid becoming a performance-based program, cadre training is planned to last three months and incorporate ongoing support from members of the Empowerment team to achieve this value change.

4. Team leadership. In its efforts to shape community teams, cadre training itself fosters a sense of teamwork and allows participants to become accustomed to a team environment.

 This includes forming teams for assignments within the course, and Empowerment social workers also provide team leadership for participants.

Four Encouragements for Trainees

In addition to the curriculum design provided by the Center for Social Workers and the roles of Social Workers, trainees are also encouraged to work in four areas to build appropriate preparation for capacity building. These are:

1. Homework. 

Each training course includes homework, including a brief review of key concepts and practical or reflective assignments.

2. Teamwork. 

After completing training, trainees will return to their communities to provide public welfare services. A basic work team is essential, and group learning facilitates organizational consensus. Trainees are encouraged to participate in and learn as a team.

3. Perfect Attendance. 

As community service is a public commitment, trainees are encouraged to begin with a basic self-commitment and complete training with perfect attendance. Perfect attendees are highly valued.

4. Honor. 

Cultivate a sense of honor in community service, starting with participating in this training program and setting a goal of perfect attendance. Local leaders will personally attend the opening and closing of the training, presenting certificates and taking group photos, fostering a sense of honor.

Participants should demonstrate a basic commitment to learning

This training incorporates a unique self-commitment design: community leaders who register for the training must pay a NT$500 deposit. This not only encourages careful consideration but also strengthens participants' commitment to learning. If a participant's absence rate reaches 10% of class hours, the deposit will be forfeited. Instead, the organizer will donate the deposit to a welfare organization in the participant's name and provide a receipt for credit verification.

Specific Results and Evaluation

After over 10 years of practical community capacity-building leadership training in Changhua County, most completed community teams have been able to maintain their positions and continue to engage in public service. Follow-up surveys have confirmed positive results.