Tag Archives: impact
Legacy Builders: Peter Adewale Jegede
Peter Adewale Jegede | Consultant Curator and Heritage Researcher, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Nigeria & 4th Cohort of Case Study Researcher, Open Restitution Africa
Which workshop(s) did you attend?
I have participated in several HERITΛGE programmes, including Engaging Communities in Cultural Heritage, Temporary Exhibition and Touring Strategies, Conservation I, Conservation II, and I will complete Conservation III in November.
Was the training an opportunity to enhance your connection with your peers?
Yes. The workshops created a space where practitioners across Africa and beyond could exchange ideas and challenges. These connections have proved valuable in my ongoing work with communities affected by restitution.
Has the training contributed towards the improvement of your career?
Absolutely.The courses strengthened my curatorial and research practice, especially in community engagement, preventive conservation, and exhibition development. They also expanded my professional visibility in discussions around restitution in Nigeria.
Do you feel that your ability to perform relevant tasks has improved?
Yes. I now approach community-focused heritage work with clearer methods and greater confidence. The HERITΛGE training refined my skills in co-creation, documentation, and culturally sensitive interpretation, all of which I apply directly in my restitution engagements.
Following the completion of the training, has your project benefited? How?
My work at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Open Restitution Africa and my broader engagements in Nigeria and beyond have benefited significantly. The training has helped me design community-centred dialogues following restitution, such as the Restitution 101 Screening and Case Study Discussions that attracted about ninety participants. It shaped the way I facilitated conversations with descendant communities, allowing them to reflect on memory, trauma, and healing from their own perspective.
It has also strengthened my collaboration with communities in Ile-Ife, who are now exploring opportunities for a similar programme. The knowledge gained from HERITΛGE directly informed how I approached these discussions, ensuring that community voices remain central in post-restitution interpretation and planning.
Would you recommend this training to others?
Yes, without hesitation. The workshops are practical, engaging, and transformative. Anyone working in heritage, particularly those involved in archaeological work, preservation of heritage sites, collection management, exhibition, restitution or community engagement, will find them invaluable.
Legacy Builders: Srishti Jauhri
Srishti Jauhri | Heritage Expert, Development and Research Organisation for Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), India
Which workshop(s) did you attend?
I attended the Interpretive Writing for Natural and Cultural Heritage online workshop in November 2024. Over the course of the workshop, we explored the foundations of interpretive writing and practiced crafting compelling narratives that can help visitors connect more deeply with heritage.
Was the training an opportunity to enhance your connection with your peers?
Absolutely. The workshop fostered a highly interactive environment through breakout discussions and collaborative exercises. I had the opportunity to work and exchange ideas with peers from across the world – including heritage practitioners from Africa, Europe, and Asia.
This was especially enriching because it highlighted how people interpret heritage differently based on their backgrounds. Understanding these varied perspectives helped me deepen my own interpretive approach and build a small but meaningful global network of colleagues.
Has the training contributed towards the improvement of your career?
Yes, very much so. Interpretation is central to my work and this training significantly strengthened my expertise in this domain. It boosted my confidence in writing for diverse audiences and helped me refine a skill set that is now directly supporting projects related to heritage interpretation and audio-visual storytelling.
The experience also added credibility to my professional profile, as interpretive writing is a critical yet specialized role in the heritage sector.
Do you feel that your ability to perform relevant tasks has improved?
Yes — in several practical ways. The training helped me:
• Learn how to develop clear interpretive themes
• Transform plain descriptive information into engaging narratives
• Structure text differently depending on the medium (panels, scripts, audio guides, etc.)
• Create catchy titles and key messages that hold attention
• Critically assess readability and engagement in interpretive writing
This shift in mindset — from “informing audiences” to “connecting with audiences” — has now become core to my interpretive writing approach.
Following the completion of the training, has your project benefited? How? (please briefly explain what your project/ organization is about and how it benefited from your training.
Yes — I applied my learnings directly to our project on the development of an interpretation centre for a monument of national importance in the south of India – the Kailasanathar Temple in Kanchipuram. After completing the workshop, I applied the methods learnt to draft audio guide scripts, write narrative content for the website, design the structure for an audiovisual presentation in the centre, and begin shaping the text and key messaging for physical interpretive panels. The training helped me establish strong interpretive themes and translate complex architectural and religious concepts into accessible, engaging storytelling that invites curiosity and emotional connection. These skills have strengthened the foundation for creating a visitor experience that is both informative and meaningfully immersive. The centre is still under development, and I am excited to see how our interpretive content shapes visitor experiences on the site!
Would you recommend this training to others?
Absolutely. I would highly recommend this workshop to heritage interpreters, museum professionals, and anyone engaged in public-facing heritage communication. It offers practical tools and thoughtful guidance that greatly enhance one’s ability to communicate heritage values in compelling, visitor-focused ways!
Legacy Builders: Khaulah Abdulkadir
Khaulah Abdulkadir | Project Coordinator: The Urban Heritage Regeneration Accelerator, Kenya
Which workshop(s) did you attend?
Conservation Workshop I & II, and Digital Tools for Heritage Management.
Was the training an opportunity to enhance your connection with your peers?
Yes. I met inspiring professionals who not only guided me throughout the course discussions but also introduced me to membership in key heritage organizations I hadn’t known about before. I also built lasting bonds, a professional with restoration experience will visit Lamu [island in Kenya]soon to support my project. He has been instrumental in amplifying my work and helping me refine my research writing.
Has the training contributed towards the improvement of your career?
The conservation training taught me to frame a clear restoration mission, highlight Lamu Old Town’s significance, and communicate its conservation infrastructure effectively. With the guidance and trust of my team, I successfully applied to and was selected for the Urban Heritage Regeneration Accelerator initiative, which I now coordinate. I am also honored to be selected for support from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarship Program for Heritage Managers in Africa, through which I hope to continue learning and achieve even greater impact in heritage conservation.
Do you feel that your ability to perform relevant tasks has improved?
Yes. I gained skills in assessing and articulating heritage values & significance, addressing authenticity issues, aligning with international charters, and developing a documentation strategy for Lamu’s buildings. Presenting my project during the workshops, and receiving strong peer support and selection as a case study, greatly boosted my confidence. This encouragement motivated me to explore the historic urban landscape approach further, which strengthened my case study presentation at the UNESCO Headquarters and enabled meaningful engagement in the forum.
Following the completion of the training, has your project benefited?
Absolutely yes. The final assignment of Conservation I provided the framework to clearly communicate the project’s mission, global significance and the urgent need to conserve the Lamu Old Town, which I believe contributed to its selection into the Accelerator initiative. Furthermore, it has helped me and my team in identifying the necessary kind of resources for its success and is now seeking support for that. It also helped me identify the most suitable communication strategies and the right organizations to partner with, strengthening support.
Would you recommend this training to others?
Definitely! The trainings are ideal for emerging professionals seeking foundational knowledge and opportunities to grow in the heritage field. Engaging sessions and supportive lecturers and organizers further fuel passion, build expertise, and deepen understanding of heritage conservation practices.
Legacy Builders: Vitalice Ochieng
Vitalice Ochieng | Senior Programme Manager -TICAH (Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health), Kenya
Which workshop did you attend?
I have attended the following courses:
1. Successful Fundraising for Heritage Managers: Strategies and Best Practices
2. Communication Strategy and Strategic Marketing for Cultural Organizations
3. Interpretive Writing for Natural and Cultural Heritage
4. Project Management for Heritage Managers
5. Engaging Communities in Cultural Heritage
6. Community and Economic Development
7. Impact Assessment
Was the training an opportunity to enhance your connection with your peers?
Yes, the courses have been a wonderful opportunity to meet peers and make friends across borders. I have many friends from other countries with whom I can discuss my projects and even personal issues. Every course connected me with at least one new friend.
Has the training contributed towards the improvement of your career?
A lot. Even though I am still at TICAH, it has reinforced my leadership and the standing of my programme. The training has also enabled me to learn from other projects in different contexts, giving me valuable insights and different strategies for approaching my own projects. The opportunity to share my projects with peers during the training has also strengthened my belief in my own strategies and initiatives. Receiving feedback and appreciation when I share makes me more confident in my approaches.
Do you feel that your ability to perform relevant tasks has improved?
Yes. My understanding of community engagement, fundraising for heritage, communication, and heritage management has grown significantly.
Following the completion of the training, has your project benefited?
Yes. One of my projects, which entails the promotion of the cultural heritage of the Mijikenda community in Kenya, has benefited greatly from this training. For instance, the idea to support the community in strengthening their cultural tourism was shaped by the training on Economic Development. We were able to support the community in producing cultural dresses and costumes to celebrate the Rabai Cultural Festival in 2024.
Would you recommend this training to others?
Yes, most definitely. There are not many opportunities available for people to learn heritage management. Apart from people like me with a background in Anthropology or Cultural Studies, there are also other professionals such as managers, architects, and scientists who are in charge of heritage but may not have a cultural understanding of its management. Likewise, there are people with a background in cultural studies who may lack skills such as fundraising, communication, or project management. This training is very important for anyone working in a field where heritage, both natural and cultural, is involved.
Legacy Builders: Dr Habab Idriss Ahmed
Dr Habab Idriss Ahmed | Senior Archaeologist Inspector, National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums, Sudan
What workshops did you attend?
The Successful Fundraising for Heritage Managers: Strategies and Best Practices workshop in 2023 and the Conservation I and II workshops in 2024 (Introduction to the General Principles of Cultural Heritage Conservation and First Aid for Finds)
Were the workshops an opportunity to connect with and learn from peers?
The workshops were great opportunities to meet colleagues from different backgrounds and share knowledge and experiences in cultural heritage. We discussed the topics and the issues that arose in the workshops from different perspectives which helped me to broaden my knowledge about cultural heritage in different countries and the perspectives others have when it comes to this heritage and its management.
“The training I received has improved my skills and knowledge in conservation and documentation and in exchanging ideas.”
What knowledge and abilities did you gain?
Having completed the fundraising workshop, I now know how to support my project financially but more than this, the training I received has improved my skills and knowledge in conservation and documentation and in exchanging ideas, all of which is being reflected in my work.
“My project has benefited from sharing ideas and details and even more so by being used as case study”
Following of your training, have your projects benefited?
No doubt my project has benefited: it has benefited from sharing ideas and details and even more so by being used as case study. Sharing my project with colleagues who were working on similar projects and exchanging ideas and practices has allowed me to add new ideas in its documentation and conservation phases. I have also improved the quality of my project overall by applying new ideas and discussing details of each step of the project with colleagues.
Legacy Builders: Simen André Singstad Knutssøn
Simen André Singstad Knutssøn | Advisor, Nordland County Council, Norway
Which workshop did you attend?
Successful Fundraising for Heritage Managers: Strategies and Best Practices.
Was the training an opportunity to enhance your connection with your peers?
Yes, the workshop gave me the opportunity to meet with others from my field across the world. I found it rewarding to learn from their perspectives.
Has the training contributed towards the improvement of your career?
Indeed it has. I received a slight pay raise, but the biggest benefit for me has been that I consider funding in a different way than I did before attending the course.
The biggest benefit for me has been that I consider funding in a different way.
Do you feel that your ability to perform relevant tasks has improved?
Yes. My job allows me to both ensure funding for external projects through grants and, more often, to evaluate incoming grant applications. I believe I can give better advice to applicants, and better evaluate applications than before.
I can give better advice to applicants, and better evaluate applications than before.
Following the completion of the training, has your project benefited?
No doubt my project has benefited from my participation in the HERITΛGE management training. The project I brought into the course was “Fotefar mot Nord” (Trails to the North) which is under revitalization. During the workshop, I learnt about different organizations that can give funding to such projects and this has given us new ideas and perspectives.
Would you recommend this training to others?
I would recommend the course to cultural heritage officers to increase their understanding of applying for grants. I believe the course might be more beneficial to NGO’s than to public sector workers, but it was well worth my time.
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