Communication Skills for NGO Workers

Facilitators: Ms Amanda Watson & Ms Joys Eggins

Dates: May 28 – June 1, 2007 (7 hours per day)

Duration: 5 days

Who is it for? This course is designed for people working with NGOs in community development or those seeking to undertake development work that have limited experience in communication activities, working with the media, or publicity. Participants will develop basic skills and understanding that will prove useful in a range of roles, including communications officers for NGOs, community development workers, and community education officers.

Participants must be fluent in speaking and writing English.

Course Description: The practical orientation of the training uses participants’ own experiences and situations to assist them to develop skills in writing effectively, promoting an organisation, strategic planning, action planning, developing a financing strategy, writing a funding proposal, monitoring and evaluation, and writing a media release. To further strengthen their practical skills, participants will complete a communication project for their NGO or an organisation of their choice.

Topics to be covered include:
• Writing effectively and powerfully
• Promoting an organisation
• Strategic planning
• Action planning
• Developing a financing strategy
• Writing a funding proposal
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Writing a media release

Outcomes:

Course facilitators will use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to enable participants to achieve the following outcomes upon completion of the training.

1. Write effectively for the purposes of the work of an NGO
2. Promote an organisation
3. Assist with writing a project proposal
4. Write a report
5. Assist with the development of a strategic plan
6. Assist with the development of an action plan
7. Assist with the development of a financing strategy
8. Write a funding proposal
9. Conduct monitoring and evaluation
10. Develop communications suitable for a community awareness campaign
11. Develop a communication project for an NGO, which includes methods for involving the community
12. Write a media release

Assessment:

The following are components of Assessment:

• 30% Oral reflection on the participant's past experience in undertaking communication activities, and identification of ways that s/he can improve skills in this area
• 30% Written funding proposal
• 40% Communication project for a local NGO

Facilitator’s profile: Amanda Watson has a Masters of International Social Development from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communications), with Honours in Media and Cultural Studies, from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Amanda has worked in the media in Australia, and has taught at institutions in Australia, Micronesia and Papua New Guinea. Joys Eggins has practical media experience, having worked for the Religious Television Association. She also has a Bachelor of Communication Arts from Divine Word University.

Course Fees: K720
Course fees include course materials, lunch, tea and access to computer laboratories. All course fees are inclusive of GST. Limited accommodation is available on the DWU campus. Should a participant require accommodation and other meals (breakfast and dinner), these services would be in addition to the course fee.

Venue:
Divine Word University
Madang
Papua New Guinea

Registration:
Contact Diwai Pacific Limited to receive a registration form.

Diwai Pacific Ltd.
Box 59, DIWAI PO
Madang
Phone: 675 854 1807
Fax: 6758 852 3138
Email: smoriarty@dwu.ac.pg