Development workers from across the country say they are now better equipped to deal with many of the social problems affecting society after completing a 10-day “animation” training course conducted by Caritas Nepal.

The course, which ended on November 19, was conducted in Chitwan district, 150km south of Kathmandu, with 21 mostly Hindu and Buddhist participants representing various local community groups and organizations taking part.

The training included talks and brainstorming sessions on Catholic social teachings, agricultural development, suicide prevention, HIV/AIDS awareness, anti abortion issues, and many other social topics.

It also included many activities in the form of games and field visits.

“Animation training from Caritas is simple, but the best training I have ever participated in” said Karna Bahadur Batala, the chairman of the Youth Awareness Raising Centre Nepal.

“This training has made me realize I should first start something from within myself. This  animation is such a powerful tool and takes us to the deeper root causes of social problems,” said Batala, who is also a university lecturer  and runs a peace project in the remote western Jajarkot district.

Other development workers from a previous course were also there to monitor, evaluate and exchange ideas and experiences.

Dakendra Kuwar is working as an animator for the promotion of social equality through his organization Youth in Empowerment Sector Nepal in Aachham district.

He said what Caritas taught him has been invaluable in his work.

“We recognized the poorest of the poor and the concepts of Catholic social teaching during our training, which has helped me a lot,” he said.