Between 15 and 19 April 2024, the HLA, in partnership with Save the Children Türkiye, UNICEF Türkiye, the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (ACPHA) and the Child Protection Areas of Responsibility (AoRs) for Türkiye and North West Syria, jointly delivered the CPHA Training of Trainers (ToT) for child protection practitioners, mainly from local and national organisations working in earthquake-affected areas of Türkiye and North-West Syria.
The training was delivered in English, Arabic and Turkish through simultaneous translation and breakout groups to 34 participants.
We tailored this Training of Trainers to support the effective blending and delivery of Child Protection in Humanitarian Action training packages based on the needs of the local actors. The learning objectives of the ToT were that by the end of the learning journey participants would be able to describe the objectives and audience of at least 3 Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (CPHA) learning packages, demonstrate how to effectively facilitate a participatory learning exercise, identify strengths as a facilitator and areas for improvement, know how to adapt and plan a training in own context, and be able to effectively use Alliance learning resources and support.
During the first two days, participants were familiarised with the training cycle, adult learning principles and the four main CPHA Learning Packages – the Frontliners, CPHA CPMS (Minimum Standards), Prevention and Child Labour. Days 3 and 4 were dedicated to assessing training needs and training practice through simulated scenarios. On the final day, the focus was on adaptation, contextualisation and planning the next steps, in which participants design and deliver Child Protection training to an audience in their context, supported by the initiative. Each participant had a chance to receive constructive feedback and address any outstanding questions or concerns emerging during the training.
This comprehensive ToT program was systematically formulated to enhance our capacity to adapt and deliver key inter-agency training packages effectively within our unique context and for our target audience. I gained insights into the processes of adapting and contextualizing training materials and assessing training needs, crucial for tailoring interventions to specific contexts. One highlight was the opportunity to facilitate a participatory learning activity in front of esteemed colleagues and trainers, which further enriched my learning experience.
A final session provided an opportunity to reflect on the entire training experience and consolidate key learnings. Lastly, during the evaluation session, the participants provided their feedback on the training content, delivery, and overall experience. The ToT will be followed up with the offer of technical and financial support to graduates and their organisations to contextualise and deliver trainings in their contexts.
Seven facilitators contributed to the training’s success, including core facilitators Elena Giannini (Learning and Development Working Group Focal Point at ACPHA), Katie Robertson (Learning and Development Working Group Consultant at ACPHA), Zahir Ozcan (North-West Syria AoR Coordinator, World Vision International), Suheda Kipri Omarshah (Türkiye Child Protection sub-Sector Coordinator, UNICEF), Abed Dbas (Save the Children International), Habip Kazan (Hayatadestek) and Khaled Fattal (ATAA Relief).
The initiative is funded by DEC Türkiye-Syria earthquake response funding.
Visit the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action’s learning and development hub on Kaya.
