One of the main functions of the Community Learning Centres (CLCs) is the operation of its resource center for information dissemination and continuous learning. So, to strengthen the resource center, they were equipped with different resource materials relevant to the local context and situation.

ESD-related materials like PLANET series on water, forest and waste management, posters, booklets and other materials on alternative energy, eco-san toilets, bio-gas, compost manure, community forest, saving & credit scheme, vocational literacy materials etc, were provided to the CLC Resource Centers. The CLCs are organizing discussion and talk programs mobilizing locally available resource persons/ experts to discuss ESD related issues in the community.

An agriculture expert explaining about organic vegetable farming

The CLCs had organized different programs like book exhibition, rally, interaction & discussion programs on the occasion of the 41st International Literacy Day on 8 September 2007. The programs were organized with the objectives of information dissemination to make the community people aware about the importance of education & environment for sustainable development and to discuss different environmental issues in the community. For the discussion and talk programs, environment experts in the community were mobilized by the CLCs. According to the reports from the CLCs, there was active participation of the community
people including learners, group members and students of the schools.

Those programs of the CLCs through resource centers had helped to bring awareness among the community people about the importance of education and environment improvement for sustainable community development and also to develop the habit of visiting CLC for information sharing and learning.

CLC is not only the information/ resource center; it is also a service provider. The CLCs are organizing health camps once a month to provide health service to the community people especially children, girls & women and poor people to improve their health situation. Required medicines & nutritious food were distributed to the needy people free of cost. Besides, the CLCs are providing daily first aid services in the CLC building. This has made easy access to the villagers for health service facility.

In order to strengthen the resource center of the CLCs, NRC-NFE provided the basic computer
knowledge & skill to the CLC personnel and facilitators of different CLCs through 10 day training program to enhance their capacity on utilizing computer technology for education, information dissemination and awareness raising among the community people. The trained participants had utilized their knowledge and skills on imparting literacy skills and functional knowledge to the learners in the literacy classes by using different informative VCDs and they also transferred their skills to other CLC personnel, group members and learners in the community. This way, the facilitators have become the important means for information dissemination through resource centers.

Materials for the CLC resource centers