The Effectiveness of a Community Empowerment Training for Facilitators

Abstract

This was an evaluation research to find out changes in trainees' knowledge and attitude towards community empowerment for healthy city development and to measure level of satisfaction upon the 3-day training process using participatory learning technique. The methodology was one group pre and post test design. The sample size was 123 local authorities' and other related sectors' personnel in region 4 who were trained during June - July 2005. The data was collected by pre and post test and self-evaluation questionnaires and was analyzed by descriptive statistic and paired t-test.

The study found that the trainees had statistically significant increasing in knowledge and attitude towards community empowerment at p-value < 0.001 and 0.002 respectively. By self evaluation, they highly participated in all steps of the training. Also, they rated satisfaction towards the curriculum, contents, trainers and training management highly. Finally, they gained high and moderate confidence on planning and being facilitators of community empowerment respectively.

In conclusion, it should be widely utilized or adapted to build up facilitators' capability in other issues in community development. In addition, post training follow up, supervision, motivation andevaluation must be performed to ensure the highest effectiveness.