Master Bookkeepers Trained to Transform Communities

A three-day capacity-building program in Baripada, Odisha, successfully trained 30 Master Bookkeepers (MBKs) on Self, Gender, Climate, and Bamboo themes. The goal was to equip them to cascade learning to CRPs and farmers in their community and villages.

Highly participatory sessions through a mix of storytelling, role plays, group discussions, and hands-on activities in the local languages of Odia and Hindi with relevant examples made content accessible regardless of educational background.

Day 1 and 2 focused on building understanding across the four themes, helping participants reflect on their own lives, challenge existing norms, and explore new ideas. Day 3 shifted towards action—MBKs planned field trainings for the farmers, then practiced demo sessions to boost both confidence and communication skills.

By end of the training, participants showed increased confidence and were more expressive, demonstrated a deeper understanding of gender and climate issues, and showed strong interest in promoting bamboo as a livelihood option. Most importantly, they were ready to take on their role as trainers.