Strengthening Capacity through Training and Responsibility
Many communities in our part of the island do not have the capacity (social, financial, educational, technical) to implement activities that will help them improve their livelihoods in a sustainable manner that will also support National Park management; nor to fully participate in Park management. Therefore, the National Park seeks to build local capacity through awareness raising, knowledge building, skills training and project implementation. We conduct presentations in local schools and teacher training workshops as well as community meetings and skills training workshops whether in sustainable tourism and/or sustainable agriculture. We also seek the funds or help groups seek the funds to implement what they have learned or made plans for in workshops. We try to ensure that the community implements activities with minimal assistance, or at least with reducing assistance over time.
Capacity building must be practical and meet the participants at their level and build up from there. There must be benefits to community members from participation in capacity building e.g. knowledge, skills, experience.
Building capacity is a long-term process – usually taking place over several years Persons within communities may leave to take advantage of new opportunities once their knowledge, skills and experience have been improved – but this can also be good for the community as they see additional benefits to participation in training and also, these people are likely to continue to support their community further.