A trainee speaks during the workshop.

UNESCO-accredited facilitator Naila Ceribasic and staff from the Secretariat of the 2003 Convention ran the classes and gave detailed interpretation on key concepts and basic knowledge about UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, pedagogy and role of facilitators, identification and inventorying, gender issues in training and intangible cultural heritage. Through case studies, group discussion, interviews, experience sharing, role-playing exercises and Q&As, trainees had an in-depth interactive communication with the facilitator and deepened their understanding on the Convention and ICH safeguarding.

The interview section during the workshop.

Trainees showed great enthusiasm during the workshop and actively participated in the case discussions. Some said that the workshop not only introduced them to basic knowledge, but gave them a clearer picture of the responsibilities and required skills as a capacity-building trainer for the Convention. As representatives from NGOs, government ICH and cultural sectors, the trainees promised to make full use of the knowledge gained in the training and to conduct capacity-building activities at a national level. They will further cooperate with other foreign relevant institutions in the field and explore setting up a mechanism of joint nomination of the area. They also plan to work together with UNESCO field offices to translate training materials on the Convention into common languages of the region.

CRIHAP also held discussions with workshop participants on capacity-building training on the Convention in central Asia, and was expected to provide future training services or support in the region.