WORKING STRATEGIES

Integration guarantees that a person’s commitment to change society is attuned to what the people want by way of change and not to some theoretical model or ideology or religion.

Uncovering and understanding such mechanisms and outlining the pressing problems people face is an important process for people to experience because helps people develop a critical awareness of their environment. The goal is to encourage people to become resourceful, to see that in working together they have a tremendous strength and power to overcome the problems they face.

Studying the problems and settling on one issue. Action on the issue should interest other people who will join in as allies are needed at every stage of the development work.

Groundwork refers to the action of going around and motivating people on a one-to-one basis to do something regarding the chosen issue.

Collectively ratifying what has been decided upon already and giving a sense of collective power and confidence is imperative. It shows people they are not alone and encourages them to be inspired by one another’s conviction.

Training people to anticipate what may happen and to prepare themselves in advance.

The mobilization or action is the actual experience of the people in confronting the powerful and in understanding that very often people’s confidence and self-respect are buried beneath centuries of oppression.

After the project, people should sit down and review what happened. They should review what they learnt and evaluate how well they had planned and prepared.

Reflection is the time to look at the positive values we are trying to build in the organization. It deals with sacrifice, community building, the roles of leaders and authority, and the nature of freedom and democracy.

A group of people acting and coming together as an organization establishes an internal structure which helps people participate and deliberate, and maintains accountability through checks and balances.