Testimonial1
by Gillian Barth, President and CEO, CARE Canada
and participant in CARE International’s Emergency Leadership & Management Program (ELMP)
aleadership training program for senior staff of CARE International,
designed & facilitated by Jeff Klenk
2009-2013
I had the benefit of attending the Emergency Leadership and Management Programme training course held each year by the CARE Emergency Group this past March in Thailand. In my close to 20 years working with CARE it was, bar none, probably the best CARE International-sponsored event that I have ever attended. It goes without saying that the overall subject matter (emergency training) was one of the most relevant and important topics with which to equip CARE managers today. However, the primary focus and aim of the course was building personal and professional leadership and management capacities in emergencies which, of course, would be applicable both within and outside of emergency work. As a method for increasing the effectiveness of CARE’s work for the sake of its beneficiary population and as a means of demonstrating to CARE’s donors the value of their investments in CARE’s work (through good management practices), the course far exceeded my expectations.
The week’s agenda consisted of a series of highly participatory modules which was a well-orchestrated mix of academic, practical training, group simulations and individual and group activities (usually in teams of 6) all of which sought as much as possible to draw out and complement the depth of experience of the participants. Adequate time was devoted to interactive discussions which made for a rich environment of group learning and experiential reflection but the moderators were also mindful of honouring schedules and allowing for those needed breaks during the agenda-packed 5 days.
The course consultant, Jeff Klenk, is fast becoming a highly-respected CARE facilitator for this and other events.A consummate professional, his skills in course methodologies, facilitating groups through a wide variety of varied and complementary activities, adjusting both schedules and pace on-the-fly in response to his audience, and his seemingly endless levels of energy, all point to the excellence of his skills as an adult learning specialist backed by solid background and senior expertise in the NGO environment. Jeff was well complemented by the course coordinator, Meghan Chisholm as well as the CEG team from Geneva as a whole (Megan, John, Holly and Pascal) who led key sessions. Together they offered one of the highest quality of training activities that I have experienced within CARE.
The pre-workshop study requirement of all participants… ensured that all participants came to the course with suitable baseline knowledge of the emergency mechanisms, protocols and resources that have been integrated into CARE over the past few years. This then allowed the actual in-class program to quickly and easily tackle a deeper and more beneficial level of understanding of the subject matter. It also resulted in a better investment of workshop resources by ensuring a greater extent of overall commitment to learning before, during and after the workshop.
Perhaps one of the most beneficial outcomes of the course was, in my view, its ability to bring together such a wide variety of participants from every corner of the CARE world and establish an environment where the normal day-to-day artificial divides between national members, country offices and operating sectors seemed to vanish. All participants were there with the same objectives: to listen, to learn and to improve their personal and professional leadership and management capabilities such that CARE’s work and impact as an organization would be enhanced. Without a doubt, the relationships established will serve CARE well in future years.
Best regards,
Gillian Barth
President and CEO
CARE Canada
Testimonial 3
by Barry Steyn, Director: CARE International Safety and Security Unit
and participant in CARE International’s Emergency Leadership & Management Program (ELMP)
a leadership training program for senior staff of CARE International,
designed & facilitated by Jeff Klenk
2009-2013
“I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you for the Emergency Leadership and Management Programme. I’ve been around the block once or twice in the NGO world and have attended a fair number of training sessions, courses and the like.
I can honestly say that I have never attended anything to the standard of what I encountered at the ELMP…The pre-course work, layout, design, facilitation, location…everything. I thought it was superb.
Congratulations!!!
Thank you for the opportunity and all the very best”
Barry Steyn
CARE International
Director: CARE International Safety and Security Unit
Testimonial 2
by Kamlesh Giri, MBBS, MPH, participant in CARE International’s
CARE Humanitarian Emergency Operations” Learning Program(CHEOPS)
an Emergency Operations training program for CARE International staff,
designed & facilitated by Jeff Klenk
2011 - 2013
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be part of this training on humanitarian and emergency operations. This was the first training I have attended in a very long time, and it was excellent. I especially liked the training design with the afternoons packed with hands-on activities. Needless to say the content was well-thought through to help us get a better understanding of what actually happens in a real-life emergency response situation.
The pace was fast and interesting and every exercise helped us get a better understanding of the topic discussed. The group provided a rich environment for learning from each other and hearing firsthand from so many of our field colleagues was an added bonus. I have returned better informed about CARE’s emergency response and look forward to applying my knowledge in real-life situations.
Thank you.
Kamlesh Giri, MBBS, MPH
Senior Advisor, Clinical Training
CARE USA