Resources

This collection of articles demonstrates some of the methodological problems which may be experienced in participatory research. This is followed by examples of participatory research, which illustrate general and methodological observations from different sectors and continents. Donors perspectives are the subject of a chapter and finally there is a listing of contacts in participatory research and networking.

This paper describes the work of YAKSHI, a small NGO in Andhra Pradesh, with an independant tribal peoples' mass organisation. REFLECT was only introduced after suport was given to reactivate a declining indigenous system of community interaction known as the 'Gotti'. The Gottis facilitated the introduction of participatory methodologies associated with REFLECT and ten REFLECT circles started focussing on two issues identified as local concerns : challenging the cash crop economy and looking holistically at health. In each community only a certain number of adults chose to learn literacy which in many other circumstances would have been seen as a failure. However, the article describes how participants perceived it differently, saying that it was only necessary for so many people in the community to be literate, just as it was only necessary for a few households to be able to climb palm trees to tap valuable oil. Promoting participation of women in the Gottis proved difficult initially and the paper outlines the way in which this was addressed.

Brief report on the methodology and findings of a research project carried out to examine the impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of children on a commercial farm. The coping mechanisms used by families and children of both AIDs and non-AIDs affected families were investigated and also the pathways of vulnerability to HIV/AIDs infection. The roles of eduation, the AIDS awareness campaigns and economic insecurity in increasing vulnerability were considered.

This document describes the methods participatory process used to assess community perceptions of the quality of health care services in East Hararghe and presents the findings of the study.

Stepping Stones is a training package which has been developed on HIV/AIDS, communication and relationshiop skills. This guide is based on the experience of a a number of organisations who have adapted Stepping Stones either during an initial workshop or after using it in the field. The guide includes different types of adaptation that can be made, how to go about the process of adapting Stepping Stones and some practical issues to consider in doing so.