Report

As of agreement between Hatemalo Sanchar and UNICEF Nepal, ToT on Forum Theatre was conducted as of planned activity in Saptari, Dhanusha, Achham, Bajura, Humla and Mugu District respectively. Master Trainers were given refreshment workshop before the TOT, after that they were ready for the Forum Theatre TOT. It became delayed to start the ToT because of constitutional assembly, busy schedule of WDOs & other technical reasons but also we finally conduct the ToT very successfully. There are many hands that play a vital role for this achievement. We first want to express our thanks to entire Hatemalo family, Master Trainers, entire UNICEF Nepal ADAP team and regional office team, WDOs and CROs of respective districts. The output of deliverable was achieved as of the evidence measured by pre and post test and changes seen in participants with their performance in micro teaching and forum theatre performance. Five days ToT was conceded along with the coordination of Women and Children Office (WCO) in district. The Objectives of training are given below.

Objectives:

• To Prepare Successful forum Theatre Trainer
• To facilitate to identify the root causes of various harmful issues affecting their lives.
• To enable participants to facilitate intergenerational dialogue through Forum Theatre between adolescents, youths and parents.
• To enhanced knowledge and technical skills on issue based theatre performance of adolescents and youths.

1. ToT at glance.

Forum Theatre ToT organized by Hatemalo Sanchar along with the coordination of WCO and supported by UNICEF.

2. Selection & Background of Participants

As of criteria developed by Hatemalo was sent to WCO and Participants were selected prior to the training participants were selected from UNICEF program implemented VDCs. Administration team of Hatemalo visited districts and shared the selection criteria of participants to WCO. Following the criteria, participants were selected accordingly by WCO. As of criteria some of the participants were not much matched.

Majority of the participants was experienced in training participation. In some districts female participants were social mobilizer working in community from WCOs. As per the WCOs the selected adolescents were already participate in various programmes related to adolescent and children in their districts.  Some of participants were not matched according to the criteria. Education background of participants was speckled with the majority of Bachelors and others were studying in S.L.C. to Intermediate level. Most of the participants from few districts were experienced in working in community as they representing different women, cooperative and others groups.

3. Preparation

Major focusing issues for contents were discussed by program team & script was developed in initial phase. Prior to training ToT Manual was developed conditionally with intense effort of Master trainer team in the coordination with Hatemalo entire team. Necessary arrangement for training was carried out by administration team of Hatemalo through prior visit to district for logistical preparation. Five days schedule was developed for ToT. Covering the adolescent issues script was prepared on child marriage and dowry for the performance in both districts. Pre & post test form was developed for measuring the understanding of knowledge and change of participants. Evaluation form was also developed for over all feedback and findings from participant's perspective.

4. Major contents

• Forum Theatre
• Acting, Drama, Power centre
• Intergenerational dialogue
• Child Rights
• Gender and Caste
• Adolescent issues identification & analysis
• Micro Teaching

5. Major Issues

Major issues focused for forum theatre performance.

• Child Marriage
• Dowry
• Gender
• Chaupadi

6. Synopsis of Observation

As of planned structure training was conducted accordingly. Contents & Session designed for ToT was applicable. As of our (trainers) discussion prior to ToT was useful as training was started nominally on arrival day in district to have more focus on practice & performance. Practical approach in activities and methodology was effective. Concentration and involvement of participants were appreciable due to their active involvement in activity resulting in their forum theatre performance & understanding of contents. Above major issues were find out through analytical approached activity and discussed specifically in relation to forum theatre intervening in intergenerational dialogue for change in belief, attitude, discussing undisguised issues, sensitizing & internalizing the major issues to eliminate the social disorders. Micro teaching was developed in last day jointly facilitated by trainer, WCOs and UNICEF representative.

Over all ToT was effective in result oriented achievements. As of observed participants performance in Forum Theatre was indicator to measure the changes and potentiality as trainer. Micro teaching was very effectual for ToT for internalizing the contents & implementing the activities in participatory approach. Comparing to other districts participant's selection was seriously well selected in Bajura District. That's why forum theatre was best with crowd of audience Bajura District and they told that they have never seen such a theatre in their history (As mentioned by the journalist and local FM).

 Mostly in all districts adolescent participants were deeply interested & confident, strong willingness for changing the society & raising the adolescent issues through Forum Theatre is possible as of enthusiastic performance showed by participants. Possibilities of some participants to become well renowned theatre artist were seen, if there is support and continuous hard work. WCOs and other staffs of Women and children Office supported and cooperated very well since from the very beginning to the end of ToT. Especially CROs were very helpful and dedicated in some districts. Logistical & residential arrangement was well accommodated.

7. Challenges

• Less time for ToT
• Future action point of trainees to roll the work

8. Achievements

• 80 adolescents and youths were capacitated & trained as a trainer for Forum Theatre.
• Deepen the capacity, knowledge & skills of 80 trainers by practice performance of drama through forum theatre resulting the knowledge and understanding on the root cause of harmful activities exiting in society.
• Sensitized the adolescent issues (child marriage & dowry) analytically resulting the identification of problems & practiced in forum theatre with the intervention of intergenerational dialogue.
• Formed trainers group & developed the action plan to roll out the work in concerned VDCs resulting comprehensive responsibilities undertaken by trainees to work further.
• Enable 80 participants to facilitate intergenerational dialogue through Forum Theatre between adolescents, youths and parents.
• Enhanced knowledge and technical skills on issue based theatre performance of 80 adolescents and youths.

9. Action Plan

Developing action plan was in dilemma as future action roll out for trainees was not clear in the means of support & coordination. Action plan session was jointly facilitated by Trainers, UNICEF representative, WCOs and CROs. We got to know that later on meeting will be held by UNICEF with the trainers for the detail roll out & participants were informed accordingly. Then session concluded to develop the action plan for immediate work for trainers group & action plan was developed on the basis of carrying out the work without support according to the VDCs and each VDC group made action plan.

10. Pre test and Post test

Pre test form of ToT was filled up by trainees on the first day in all the respective districts. To know the understanding & knowledge of contents pre test was developed,. Similarly post test form was filled up on the last day of training to measure the understanding & learning achievement & learning achievements of trainees.

Generally findings of pre test are as below:

• Mostly familiar with child rights, gender & its aspect
• Knowledge on forum theatre was trifling
• Not much well informed & aware on drama, acting & its aspects in some districts
• Well interpreted about intergenerational dialogue

Generally findings of post test:

• Well informed about forum theatre & its aspects
• Expressed confidence about forum theatre performance
• Deepen the understanding about major issues of adolescent
• Escalated the information level of contents

11. Training evaluation

Training evaluation form was developed to evaluate the training in overview & to get the feedback from participants. Evaluation form was filled up on last day. Following were the findings of evaluation.

• Methodology, activities & games was effective
• Time as not enough for training
• Contents was good focusing issues of adolescent
• Practice & performance part of training was very useful
• Facilitation was good
• Refresher training must be allocated
• Intergenerational dialogue practice was very useful & effective.

12. Voice of Participants

Participant representing from female and male were allowed to share their experiences in all the districts respectively. From Female and male one-one participant shared their experiences. Both male and female participants shared their view at closing ceremony. Following are the voice noted down by trainer.

• First of all thanks to Hatemalo Sanchar for organizing theatre ToT and grabbing adolescent of the respective district for this opportunity. This type of raining is first & felt very fortunate. Whatever we have learnt we will share knowledge & skills, This ToT capacitates us effectively with practice and performance. We will do best in community level and will raise the adolescent issues through forum theatre. Immediately when we are back to VDCs we will start our work as of plan. Forum theatre is new practice for us and we hope it will be very useful as it aimed to eliminate child marriage, chaupadi and dowry as well as other harmful issues of society which is very strongly practice in our community depriving children from their rights. We will prove best in our own district and we hope for continuous motivation & cooperation as well.

13. Closing & Forum theatre Performance

Closing ceremony was chaired by WCOs as chief guest in all respective districts and UNICEF representative were also participate in most of the districts. Forum theatre was performed by participants in closing ceremony of ToT. Chaupadi, Child marriage and dowry was the major issues reflected in forum theatre. Whole script, story and direction were done by participants as of learing from ToT. The performance was held in training hall in Saptari and Achham, but performance was held in the main city chowk in Bajura and Dhanusha respectively. Journalist, political leaders & local people were present in the performance.  Crowd was unexpectedly huge in Bajura district, journalist took their interview of audience also & they they were very impressed. Audiences expressed emotionally & shared their view regarding chaupadi as a harmgul culture. After the performance closing ceremony was held at training hall.

WCOs and CROs shared their views by congratulating the participants and highlighted the major issues of the respective districts and also shared their expectation from participants to best in future. Certificate was distributed to all participants by respective chief guest and guest and expressed thank fullness to Hatemalo Sanchar & UNICEF.

Few glimpse of Forum Theatre ToT:

Participants performing drama in Bajura                  Participants practicing drama at Accham

Participants performing dram in Achham           Participants taking group photo with trainers

Participants working in a group                                 Participants having rehearsal

Participants performing drama                                  Theoretical part of training