manual: women workers' rights and gender equality - International ...

Chapter 2
Tips for Trainers
2.1 Introduction
The role of the trainer is very important. The success of awareness raising and training largely
depends on you. In adult education a trainer should not give lectures. Presentations -introductions,
explanations and conclusions - should be kept short and last for 15 minutes at the maximum. If you
can give the main messages in 5 to 10 minutes, it is even better.
Trainers should facilitate the learning process of younger and older adults. For this reason, this
manual will refer to facilitators and trainers interchangeably.
One of the most important tasks is to create solidarity within the group and to build up confidence
among the members. Only then can difficult topics be discussed in an effective way. Therefore, the
facilitator should stress that being a member of a group makes you strong and the group members
are there to support you.
Furthermore, you have to take care of the contents of the programme, the training process and
dynamics. This chapter provides guidelines for trainers on adult learning, on working with people
with little education, on the role of trainers when using participatory approaches, and on how to
conduct relevant and effective training on gender equality and rights. Checklists are given for both
designing and executing a training programme.
2.2 About training on gender equality and rights
What
Gender equality training aims to change awareness, behaviour, knowledge and day-to-day
practices with a view to create more equality between men and women. Equality includes:
• the same human and workers’ rights
• equal value and fair distribution of:
- responsibilities and opportunities
- workload, decision making and income.
The topic is often an eye-opener to women, and may be sensitive for men: changing existing
roles, patterns and power relations between men and women that are determined by traditional
values and attitudes.
Why
Gender equality training is necessary because the basic fundamental right: equality for everyone
can not be put into practice without changing personal attitudes and practices, values and norms in
society.
Until recently the contribution of women to the well-being and development of families and
societies has been overlooked. Women often face a double or triple burden, taking care of the
family and the home, earning income and contributing to community welfare. They have limited
access to resources and do not participate equally in decision-making. To make policies and
regulations in which such problems of inequality are properly addressed, gender equality training is
needed at all levels.
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