This development organisation uses participatory processes involving village and women's organisations to try and alleviate poverty and improve the living conditions of the population in mountain regions. As was the case with the other participants a six-month stay and a language course in Germany enabled Mussarat Parveen to acquire a sufficient level of proficiency in German for a six-week practical course with CIPRA International in Schaan (the first of two such courses on the further education syllabus).
"As part of the programme, which focused on change management, I was able to learn about communication skills and methods of conflict management," says Mussarat. During my practical course with CIPRA I found out about methods of know-how transfer from the Future in the Alps Project and observed at first hand the dynamics of CIPRA's network activities. Taking part in the anniversary celebrations for the network of municipalities in Schruns/A and the subsequent workshop on governance capacity was also very interesting. Over the past few months I have been able to visit many interesting projects in the areas of energy, tourism and social capital. I was able to get lots of new ideas, ideas which could also be put to good use in Pakistan. In tourism for example, farmhouse holidays is a fascinating concept and could offer new prospects for tourism in northern Pakistan, which has declined sharply since 9/11.
The InWent programme continues, and in January 2008 participants will have a second opportunity to attend a practical course on the environment and sustainable development with organisations and institutions in the Alps. By transferring know-how from the Alps to other mountain regions of the world, Future in the Alps is contributing to the global transfer of know-how. For the staff at CIPRA, working together with Mussarat was also an interesting opportunity to get to know the culture of Pakistan and find out about a different reality.