The idea of organizing of this training was developed during the workshop in 2007. Gary Martin, the Director of Global Diversity Foundation, who came to teach on the workshop, was the first who presented the basic principles of Participatory Video (PV) as empowering tool for communities to be heard and tell about their life and problems.

We realized that this could be used in our work with local communities in the future and decided to organize a training of trainers to prepare PV facilitators that will be able to promote PV techniques among groups of local communities, which can make video-films by themselves, reflect different aspects of their life and to be heard by wider community.

After communications with UK-France based company Insight, which thoroughly developed the PV methodology and provides trainings for different groups and communities around the world, we came to agreement and a professional trainer from the UK was provided by Insight to lead our training. During preparation works the posters were distributed, the advertisement was sent through different list-serves. As a result more than 100 applications were received, which indicated about a great interest to this initiative. Selection committee worked through applications; needed equipments were prepared with communications of the trainer Sara Asadullah, and her assistant Marat Ergeshev. The venue of the training was changed from initially planned Issyk-Kul hotel to the village guest-house. It would be difficult to work with local communities while staying in Issyk-Kul resort area. The organizing of the training in the village worked very well allowing direct connection and work with the groups of local people. The accommodation, meal, transportation, translations and all equipments worked well for achieving the goals of the training. All participants received copies of the hand-book on Participatory Video and CDs with films made during the training and all other materials of the training. 

In total 10 people were selected out of all applications, in addition an assistant trainer and two people from Taalim-Forum took active part in all sessions. Among participants there were university instructors, researchers, NGO members, and the graduate student. 5 participants were from NGOs - TCF grantees: Bashat (regional branches) and RDF from Kyrgyzstan, Zan va Zamin and Echo-center Pamir from Tajikistan. This allowed building stronger collaboration between TCF grantee organizations in Central Asian Region. All participants were extremely active and worked hard as one team in order to obtain all needed skills and to become facilitators.

Sara Asadullah, the experienced trainer who conducted similar trainings in the UK, Nigeria, Namibia and New York, arrived from London and brought additional needed equipments. She did a great job being able to complete the program and achieve all its objectives in 7-day training, which was twice shorter of the usual PV trainings organized by Insight Company. Moreover she was able to build a team spirit, create an atmosphere, where everyone was inspired and wanted to learn more. Her teaching was mostly interactive and explanations were clear and highly professional.

The Training included the theoretical part, practical/field works and editing/montage works. All theoretical and practical activities were fully implemented. The theoretical part took place in a conference hall and included learning about PV, rules for filming, interviewing and facilitation. The group learned how to become good facilitators and what makes a good film. They learned about equipments for filming and programs for editing. The group had practical exercises and mini-projects by working with local communities in three – four small groups. Field work included meeting key persons in the communities, filming and visiting local people. Final stage included work on footage and editing using computer programs. Finally the screening of the films made by participants together with the local communities was organized. Every evening the group had different activities such as discussions on presentations about their projects, watching PV films brought by Sara, and Kyrgyz film, and one evening was devoted to celebrating cultural diversity with presenting national costumes, songs, dances, and music.

As a result of the training 11 people were trained to be PV facilitators. The objective to prepare local trainers who will be able to promote PV techniques to local communities and use PV for future community-based projects was achieved. All participants shared their future plans where PV can be used and demonstrated their interest in participation in PV Festival.