2. Community engagement, learning and training

The KORU project has designed and implemented a comprehensive training programme for the multitude of stakeholders involved in the heritage restoration and conservation process. We have organised 18 training sessions over the course of the project with a total of 259 attendees. They include: practical training on maintenance for stone masons at St. Mary’s Cathedral Workshop, carpenters and historic property owners; conservation management and awareness training for heritage professionals and teachers in the public and private sector; and best practice guidance for professional tourist guides and journalists who report on conservation and culture. Some of the trainers included Edinburgh-based experts and professionals who worked alongside local specialists. This approach added another layer of effective capacity building through learning and exchange of expertise between both sides of the project.

3. Implementing a sustainability program for historic sites

In recent years, the historic centre of Mardin has witnessed depopulation as people move to newly-built apartment blocks that offer a more contemporary lifestyle. This is not too dissimilar to problems Edinburgh was facing in the Old Town in the 1960s and 70s. In order to help stem this trend the KORU project took on the restoration of a traditional house.

4. Safety – recognising that the work takes place in an area of conflict

The final focus of the project was to address the issues that arise from being in proximity to conflict. This included the safety of any staff and partners involved in the delivery of the project. As well as developing thorough security policies we also delivered two security related trainings: one on personal safety and threat awareness for tour guides, and one on the principle of ‘secure by design’, a method used in Scotland that emphasises security in the design stage of buildings or public realm.