In the framework of Lao Cai Happiness Program to implement the contract between Office of Lao Cai Happiness Program and Centre for Agricultural Policies, from 18/07 to 28/07/2016, Centre for Agricultural Policies, Consulting & Managing Office of Lao Cai Happiness Program and New Rural Development Coordinating Office of Lao Cai coordinated to organize the training course “Capacity improvement for commune level Steering Committee based on Saemaul Undong spirit of South Korea” for steering committees’ staffs of 28 communes of 4 districts Muong Khuong, Si Ma Cai, Sapa and Bac Ha.

All participants, lecturers and trainees take souvenir photos

Lao Cai Happiness Program was funded by Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), with the goal of supporting poverty reduction and livelihood improvement with people's self-help and participation with Vietnam's National Targeted Program on the New Rural Development, contributing to economic – society development in Lao Cai.

The training course was attend by Dr. Dang Kim Son - Senior Specialist on Agriculture and Rural Policy, former Director of the Institute of Policy and Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development; Mr. Kim Sun Ho - Director of Lao Cai Happiness Program; Mr. Bui Cong Khanh - Deputy Chief of NRD Coordination Office of Lao Cai province; MSc. Nguyen Ngoc Luan - Deputy Director of Centre for Agricultural Policy; MSc. Le Truong Giang – NRD training expert; MSc. Thai Van Tinh – training expert, Centre for Agricultural Policy; Representative of Lao Cai Happiness Program, Representative of NRD Coordination Office of Lao Cai province, and the trainees who are from staffs of New Rural Development steering and managing committees at local level.

Dr. Dang Kim Son taught lessons learned from the New Village Movement in Korea

The training course was divided into 4 classes, with duration of 2 days/class with 210 trainees. Through the training courses, trainees received training and discusses on 7 contents, including: experience from New Village Movement of South Korea applied to New Rural Development in Vietnam; Roles, responsibilities of commune level steering committee; Propaganda and mobilization skills; Organizing and managing meeting skill; Planning with participation skill; Monitoring and Evaluation with participation skill; Community conflict resolution skills. Trainees also watch documentaries of success of South Korea’s Saemaul Undong model, lessons on striving to get rich of a South Korean family.

The content of the training course is developed by experienced community development experts of CAP based on assessing local demand. Through these classes, the trainees were provided adequate skills necessary for the implementation of New Rural Development. Along with that, the trainees improved awareness of New Rural Development as well as lessons learned in developing the new village of Korea (Saemaul Undong) to be able to apply suitablity for New Rural Development of the province and in the framework of Lao Cai Hapiness Program. At the end of training, participants appreciated the content, methods and practicality of the taught skills, the ability to apply in community development and promote the power of the people.

Within the framework of this cooperation, in the coming time, Centre for Agricultural Policy will continue to implement the follow-up activities include training courses for community leaders of 8 pilot villages; 8 New Rural Development Forum for 8 villages; complete training materials for New Rural Development at village level; attend and comment at workshops, conferences summarizing the project ...

Some photos of the training course:

Kim Sun Ho - Director of Lao Cai Happiness Program spoke at the training course

Bui Cong Khanh - Deputy Chief of NRD Coordination Office of Lao Cai province spoke at the training course

Trainees did group exercises under the guidance of lecturer

Trainees presented exercises in the classroom

Trainees evaluated and discussed group exercises

Giving gifts to excellence team in the training course