A Stakeholders workshop for Capacity Building for Sustainable Development of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) is being organised by the National Rail Museum, India with UNESCO, with the involvement of cultural heritage professionals and supported by the Asia Pacific Organisation of the International Council of Museums (ASPAC-ICOM). It will be held at Darjeeling (State of West Bengal, India (26° 40' N, 88° 27' E -- 27° 02' N, 88° 15' E)) from 11th to 18th January, 2002 (Workshop sessions from 14th to 18th January. UNESCO inscribed DHR as a World Heritage Site on 2nd December 1999 based on a proposal of National Rail Museum (NRM). The Workshop will focus on skills development for the promotion of conservation values among stakeholder communities, capacity building for maximising on the potential of heritage tourism and community mobilization for the sustainable management of World Heritage Areas in non-western contexts. After the larger plenary session participants will break up into smaller working groups focussing on specific areas of sustainable development. Dr. Amareswar Galla, Chairperson, Asia Pacific Organisation of the International Council of Museums (ASPAC-ICOM) is the Principal Technical Advisor and international facilitator with experience of dealing with the respective issues in developing countries and with language competency. UNESCO, Heritage bodies and Professional Agencies from India & Abroad will participate. The participants will be employees and stakeholder community leaders of Darjeeling Himalayan Railways and delegates from other World Heritage Areas of South Asian countries. The theme is "Bring People and their Heritage and Environment Together" - The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR) (A non-western context). This will provide an excellent opportunity for interaction to benefit the DHR and the cause of World heritage as well as to deliberate on the perspectives of DHR for capacity building for sustainable development of a unique & outstanding example which is so dynamically linked with society & culture for over 100 years and what is appropriate to save for posterity. Key-Resource areas of the DHR are Architecture, Artifacts, Surroundings, Community & Intangibles. The Keynote Address -"People and their Darjeeling Himalayan Railway (DHR)" will be delivered by Dr. Robert Lee, Univ of Sydney, McArthur. We would welcome your expression of interest to: - * ATTENDING THE WORKSHOP * MAKING A PRESENTATION * CONTRIBUTING SPONSORSHIP A limited number of sponsorships are available for people from Asian countries who are managers or responsible authorities for World Heritage Areas or members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) or International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). The sponsorship includes local transportation once you arrive in India and all local accommodation, registration and hospitality at the Workshop venue. You must fund your own travel or find support to arrive at a port in India. This opportunity is available to delegates from Asian countries, but only on a first come first serve basis. So please contact us as soon as you can. Travel arrangements can be made by International Travel House Limited, T-2 Community Centre, Sheikh Sarai, Phase-1, New Delhi - 110017 INDIA (Kind Attention Mr Sudeep Sarcar, Sr Executive Conferences & Exhibitions) Tel: 91-11-6017808, 3052, 3053, 3054 ; Fax: 91-11-6011543, 5113 ; Mobile 91-9810157715) Please register your interest in participating in this workshop, and let us know what form your participation is likely to take. Note that innovative presentation techniques and sponsorship ideas are encouraged. To confirm your registration Please fill the following registration form and send this form as soon as possible (preferably by 15 December) by Fax or Email. Details are at http://www.geocities.com/dhrworkshop. I will be happy to provide all necessary assistance and clarifications. You can be in contact with me on Email or Fax. Regards and I look forward to your participation. Rajesh Agrawal Director