Bernard Conyers Award

During his life, Bernard Conyers saw a great lack of opportunity for less advantaged people to publish or disseminate their original work and on his death his daughter donated a sum of money to the Arkleton Trust to create a fund specifically to encourage the dissemination of information, findings or new ideas related to rural development practice.

Early Bernard Conyers Awards gave priority to material relating to developing countries, the links between Europe and these countries or the lessons which Europe can learn from the experiences of these countries. In 2014, with the agreement of the Conyers family, the Bernard Conyers Funds were placed with the Arkleton Trust Awrad moneys and no further individual Bernard Conyers Awards will be made. However in light of the tremendous impact some of these awards have had we recognise and maintain the legacy of these awards here.

Background Information to the Bernard Conyers Awards

Developments in the European and International arenas have heightened the need for The Arkleton Trust to enhance its activities to assist rural development in the poorer countries of Eastern and Central Europe and in the developing world. In the last decade the Trust’s strategy was to focus on a selected number of key themes of international relevance and contemporary importance for rural peoples, especially the most vulnerable, and on specific niche areas within these themes. Each theme will have a minimum duration of two years in the first instance. The first theme which the Trust concentrated on was “Rural Community Strategies For Managing The Economic And Social Impacts Of Climate Change“. The second set of fellowships were on the theme “How Rural Communities Adapt to Climate Change“.  The third theme was “Doing Rural Development in the Economic Down Turn”.  From 2013 the Trust has focussed its Fellowships on promoting exchange of learning through study trips by groups of practitioners (although the group could also include academics and policy makers if relevant).  The topic or theme of the study trip exchanges is open.  Particular interest is placed on learning in and from African nations.

2013 – 2014

The Bernard Conyers Fund was used to fund the Arkelon Trust Fellowship Study Trips for exchange of knowledge

2012 Awards

The Bernard Conyers Fund was used to fund the Arkleton Trust fellowships on ‘Doing Rural Development in the Economic Downturn’

2008 and 2010 Awards

The Bernard Conyers Fund was used to fund the Arkleton Trust Fellowships on ‘Rural Community Adaptation to Climate Change’

2006 and 2007 Awards

The Bernard Conyers Fund was used to fund the Arkleton Trust Fellowships on ‘Rural Community Impacts of Climate Change and Associated Amelioration and Mitigation Measures’

2005 Awards

Previous winners of the Bernard Conyers Award were invited to participate in an International Rural Network conference in Abingdon, Virginia America, entitled: ‘The Power of Place: Rural Communities, Global Reach’.

2003 Awards

Previous winners of the Bernard Conyers Award were invited to participate in an International Rural Network conference in Aberdeen, Scotland, entitled: ‘Taking Charge: Rural Community Empowerment in Rural Development, Rural Health and Rural Education’.

2002 Awards

Kenya
To produce and disseminate a video in close collaboration with the community and project partners, showing the successes, challenges and lessons learnt by the Maasai Integrated Shelter Programme.
Sri Lanka
To develop an interactive CD ROM comprising of real life stories highlighting concerns, ideas, opinions and solutions by disadvantaged youth from seven countries of Asia and Africa.
Indonesia
To produce, film and distribute a 30 minute video entitled, Peasants’ Sovereignty on Water Resources. The object is to provide an alternative media for NGOs and grassroots personnel.
Armenia
To provide information on the environment, resources, native species etc. via the internet.

2001 Awards

Nepal
To publish a handbook written in Sanskrit text, entitled ‘Women’s Health and Medicinal Plants’. The book will be published by Jajarkot Permaculture Programme and will be used in workshops and as a handbook.
Kenya
To produce a video film to show the ramifications of poverty against a rich fishery resource base in Lake Victoria. In addition to publish a book from the proceedings of a workshop.
Indonesia
To make and publish comics by peasants entitled The Voice of Silence. The comics will document the peasant’s original experiences in their own words and will help to document their struggles for their rights and for empowerment in the rural areas.

2000 Awards

Three awards were made during 2000:
Bangladesh
Project: To publish a book on the NGOs in Bangladesh to attempt to make clear the understanding among donors, academics, state, civil society and the general public about their activities. The book has been published and there is a copy in the Trust office.
Tamil Nadu
Project: To produce / distribute a video entitled Innovative Backyard Mini Fish Farming.
Malawi
Project: To publish and promote a booklet on herbal medicines and treatments.

More

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