From 4 to 8 March 2023, representatives of the DVV International country office in Armenia, the Dilijan Community Centre and the Sisian Adult Education Centre visited 6 of the 14 Adult Education Centres (AEC) in Georgia to exchange experiences: Bolnisi, Shaumiani, Koda, Leliani, Akhalkalaki and Akhaltsikhe.
The purpose of the visit was to learn the experience of the AECs in Georgia and access potential for applying these approaches at the centres in Armenia, and to use this experience to design an updated concept of AEC in Armenia.
The visit provided a new opportunity to make comparisons between the activities and working approached of the AECs, to analyse strengths and weaknesses, and to consider new approaches to involving beneficiaries in training programmes. One takeaway from the programme was the establishment of social enterprises to ensure financial sustainability of AECs activities. For example, the AEC in Akhaltskhe runs a café, the AEC in Koda - a window assembling workshop and the apiary in Leliani provides financial support to the training activities implemented at this Adult Education Centre. Networking activities with local administrations, international organisations and within programmes funded by donors, was another important lesson within the visit. The organisation and implementation of events involving young people in the life of communities and bringing young people together is also a very valuable experience. It is also worth mentioning the practice of using short-term courses, which helps to make the courses more flexible and accessible.
The experiences and information gained during this visits were later shared with other colleagues in Armenia at a network meeting organised by DVV International. Such exchanges give AEC managers the opportunity to discuss opportunities and challenges AEC face during while implementing their activities.
The exchange between these Adult Learning and Education Centres will continue as Georgian counterparts were invited to participate at the Arts and Crafts Platform, which will be organised at the Dilijan Community Centre, Armenia.
The Peer-to-Peer exchange programme is an initiative established within the DVV International Continental Exchange project and it is set to support needs-based capacity building of the manager staff of ALE-Centres in the region through mutual exchange on topics related to Centres' operation and development.
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