On November 7-8, 2019 two-day ToT on “Planning and organization of educational programs in journalism” was organized within the UzWaterAware project in the Tashkent region for journalists, representatives of press services of state organizations, and NGOs of Uzbekistan.
The welcoming speech was given by Ms. Shakhnoza Umarova, Director of CAREC Branch Office in Uzbekistan and UzWaterAware Project Manager, funded by the European Union. Training content was prepared and held by professional trainers of the Modern Journalism Development Centre Ms. Saida Sulaymanova and Ms. Darya Osmanova.
During two-day ToT, the participants learned new various opportunities for cooperation, how and why it is important to cover the issues of sustainable management of water resources. They were also given the techniques for assessing the effectiveness of the results of learning, as well as found out about the work experience of journalists and NGOs in national and international partnerships.
“This training became a good platform for meeting the mass media and NGO representatives, which contribute a lot in solving environmental issues in the regions of Uzbekistan. ToT content allowed looking at teamwork from another point of view. We all contribute in one thing, and it is important to move in one direction,” noted Ms. Irina Mirzaeva, the Head of press service of the State Committee of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Environmental Protection.
It was a good opportunity for mass media representatives to meet with the NGO sector of Uzbekistan. Despite their activities in the regions, the population stays almost unaware of the results. The journalists talked to the heads and representatives of water and environmental NGOs, learned more about implemented projects and activities.
“I liked participating in this event. The coaches were very devoted and gave us good new knowledge. Such events should take place more often! I am grateful to the organizers for this ToT, and to the trainers for everything they did,” shared Mr. Vladislav Fazilov, a journalist from “News of Uzbekistan”.
Also, after the training, an annual meeting of CAREC Branch Office in Uzbekistan with NGO representatives took place there. Together they discussed such issues as current activities, achieved results for this year, further plans of cooperation, as well as the obstacles NGOs face in implementing their initiatives.
“It should be noted that the result of such meetings of CAREC Branch Office in Uzbekistan and regional NGOs is the strengthened cooperation between us all and the start of new joint environmental projects,” stated Ms. Liliana Sinn, head of NGO KRASS. “For example, within UzWaterAware project, funded by the EU, CAREC invited one of the members to participate in study-tour to Germany, where everyone had good opportunity to widen their cooperation with governmental and non-governmental organizations in the sphere of ecology, to get new knowledge during interesting meetings and visits to various sight objects.”
The UzWaterAware project is implemented by CAREC with the financial support of the European Union during the period 2016-2019. The overall objective of the project is to sensitise and generate a greater degree of awareness on the strategic importance of water saving, water conservation and environmental protection under the conditions of climate change.
