Training, Research and Alternative Communication (TRAC) perennially seeks new ways of exploring the interface between social enquiry and development, research and training, creativity and communication and scours the horizon for people, concepts and experiences that represent the ways in which ideas can be generated and communicated to empower even the most marginalized.

TRAC is an integral part of CCDT’s vision of a society where every child is ensured of her rights and lives in dignity. It seeks to contribute to the efforts at creating a far-reaching impact through research, training, and evaluation to lend social interventions a focus that is sharper, an effect that is sustainable.

TRAC formally began its journey in 2009. The rapid expansion of the organization required us to focus on various aspects of programming, project designing, monitoring and evaluation, with a view to understand the direction of the programs and projects and to provide inputs to optimize results.

TRAC has strengthened CCDT and its programs to make them more effective, sustainable and replicable by:

• undertaking well-defined baseline survey and needs assessment studies
• developing comprehensive design, process and understanding of projects based on ground level operation research
• developing and conducting trainings to enhance the conceptual, analytical and operational capacity of the staff
• establishing systems and processes for effective participatory monitoring and evaluation of the projects
• locating programs, research, and analysis on the matrix of the specific and conceptual, the micro and macro
• evolving successful experiences into replicable intervention models for a similar field and purpose

TRAC seeks to widely disseminate its work to like-minded organizations, individuals, and institutions (government and non-government) related to the development sector.TRAC supports advocacy for policy change through identifying gaps in existing policies and undertakes research and training to fill the gap.

Our training methods are specially crafted to support and promote social transformation through enhancing critical thinking and social education that: Probes layers of everyday socio-economic and political realities Connects the commonsensical with the philosophical and historical Is community-focused, family driven, and children and youth guided Promotes individual and collective conceptual and analytical facility to intervene and improvise Is rooted in evidence of effectiveness

TRAC aspires to communicate in a language that is engaging. Evolving innovative and creative methods to encourage inquisitiveness and participatory learning is our mandate. Stories, documentary and feature films, plays and games, are some of the tools we use to connect with people and unravel concepts. The training at TRAC employs alternative communication techniques so that plural and complex truths don’t get ‘simplified’ nor do they remain esoteric.

We practice Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation Process to realize: Shared learning Engagement of the stakeholders Co-ownership of process and outcome Empowerment

Our Operation Research methodologies include five basic steps: (1) Problem identification and diagnosis (2) Strategy selection (3) Strategy experimentation and evaluation (4) Information dissemination and (5) Information utilization. We also undertake Formative research to: Understand the community one works with Create programs that are specific to the needs of the community one engages with Ensure that programs are acceptable and feasible to community before launching Improve the relationship between community and the intervening organization

TRAC offers consultancy services on: Qualitative and quantitative, Operation and Formative research Training and capacity enhancing on Human Rights, Child Rights, Education, Health, Critical Thinking, Social Education, Gender, Caste, Systems & Structures, and Alternative Communication Strategy and Program Development Monitoring and Evaluation