Training Trainers, Strengthening Communities: A 10-Week DPRP Training in Tanzania
From intensive classroom sessions to hands-on field practice in rural communities, the recent 10-week Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Programme (DPRP) Training of Trainers marked an important milestone in strengthening Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) across different countries Africa.
Hosted by CBIDO in Karagwe, Tanzania, and technically led by COMBRA from Uganda, the training brought together staff from African DPRP implementing organisations including ADED, The Action Foundation (TAF), CBIDO, and AJEPAD, as well as representatives from 11 organisations across Africa interested in adopting the DPRP approach.
A True Training of Trainers
The goal was clear: equip participants not only with technical knowledge, but with the skills and confidence to become trainers themselves. By strengthening national trainers, we strengthen the quality of Community Based Rehabilitation Facilitators (CBRFs) in every village and district where DPRP is implemented.
Over the course of ten weeks, participants engaged in a rigorous program that combined theory, practical exercises, and field immersion. Topics ranged from child growth and development, disability identification and assessment, accessibility audits, and psychosocial support, to inclusive education, human rights, social determinants of disability, and sustainability of CBR programmes.
A strong emphasis was placed on:
- Developing standardized assessment tools and documentation
- Producing and adapting low-cost assistive devices
- Designing implementation plans and budgets
- Building Monitoring & Evaluation systems
- Developing and finalising comprehensive Training of Trainers manuals
Participants worked in multi-country teams to harmonise tools and approaches, ensuring that documents were both standardised and adaptable to local contexts. Field days in surrounding villages allowed participants to apply their learning in real-life settings — conducting assessments, supporting families, engaging with local leaders, and practicing home-based care models.
Learning Across Borders
One of the most powerful aspects of the training was the cross-country collaboration. Professionals from different backgrounds — physiotherapy, occupational therapy, education, counselling, community development — learned from one another daily.
The environment was marked by openness, determination, and a genuine willingness to share experience. The connections built during these ten weeks go beyond professional exchange; they form the foundation of a growing African network committed to disability inclusion and community-based solutions.
Organisations not yet implementing DPRP left the training highly motivated, already preparing their own DPRP plans. The ripple effect of this training will extend far beyond those present in Karagwe — potentially improving services for hundreds of Community Based Rehabilitation Facilitators and thousands of children and youngsters with disabilities in the years to come.
A Personal Reflection
Although I personally joined only during the final week, the impact was immediately visible. The level of commitment, the energy in discussions, and the positive atmosphere among participants were striking. During the final sessions — where participantsworked on finalizing documents and on different elements for monitoring & evaluation— it was clear that this was not simply a training completed, but a capacity built.
The graduation ceremony was an absolute highlight and marked not an end, but a beginning: trainers returning home equipped to multiply knowledge, raise standards, and strengthen community-based systems.
Moving Forward Together
This 10-week training represents an important step toward a broader and more connected network of DPRP implementing organisations across Africa and beyond. Knowledge sharing and peer-to-peer support are at the heart of our way of working.
