Development Education

The two project partners – GIP and GPF, organized and held the first three trainings for 32 journalists from Blagoevgrad (November 16-17, 2010), Stara Zagora (November 23-24, 2010) and Sofia (November 29-30, 2010). The aim was: to enhance awareness and popularize the concept of Development Education (DE) among a core group of journalists, who will work with the project team during the entire project “Getting to Know!”. The Trainers were Elitza Petrova from GIP - Blagoevgrad office and Stanimira Hadjimitova from GPF.

The content of the Module included: an overall presentation of the Development Education (DE) concept; the Official Development Aid policy of the European Union with a focus on the Bulgarian commitments, achievements and challenges; the eight Millennium Development Goals review and the MDG 3 in particular, as this issue is connected to and influences all other 7 MDGs. The Trainers considered important that the journalists should first be acquainted more deeply with the gender equality concept itself. The results of the Media Clipping, already executed under the project, were also valuable for the presentation to this target group and the project itself.

The methodology used was one and the same for the three cities/towns. The training was organized in 6 Sessions, based on power point presentations on the main topics combined with interactive activities and discussions.

The trainings were covered by the TV news in Blagoevgrad and Sandanski, Novinata newspaper in Stara Zagora, Novinar national newspaper, 2 radio interviews with the Trainer Hadjimitova – one at Radio Blagoevgrad and one at the National Radio.

One of the Blagoevgrad journalists – Elizabet Aleksandrova made a blitz inquiry in the town of Sandanski asking 11 citizens “What do you know about Millennium Development Goals? “. The responses: 5 men and 1 woman said they do not know anything; 2 women – “it’s something connected with poverty”; a woman – “I do not have time to answer. Sorry.”; a woman – “peace, moral goals”; a man – “yes, there was something on TV, but I can not remember what…”

The overall evaluation of the two trainers is that the trainings were successfully held. The idea to involve journalists in the project is excellent and in order for this opportunity to be explored effectively, the project partners should constantly provide all journalists with information on the activities that are organized in the schools and universities. The next training Modules should start with recap and up-date of the information on the project activities and the MDG 3.