Grassroots Initiatives Research Articles

Envisioning Ecofeminism and Youth Activism in Saving Sorya and Saving H'Non

Abstract Girl activism takes center stage in Trang Nguyễn and Jeet Zdung's comics Saving Sorya: Chang and the Sun Bear and Saving H'Non: Chang and the Elephant. The narratives follow Chang, a young conservationist, as she rehabilitates an orphaned sun bear and an abused elephant. The series diverts from conventional depictions of exceptional girl eco-heroes by emphasizing the importance of collaboration, grassroots initiatives, and environmental education. Moreover, the comics promote ecofeminist perspectives by highlighting the connections between environmental degradation, gendered violence, and social inequities. I explore how Nguyễn and Zdung use the multimodal comics form to promote ecofeminist values and educate young readers about global environmental issues. I also analyze how the comics invite readers to engage in transnational advocacy by modeling youth activism and providing resources.

Open Research at Edinburgh

Open research practices, which seek to foster research collaboration, transparency, and accessibility, are an integral part of research culture change. Policies are being introduced, particularly at the level of research funding and publishing, to make open research the ‘new normal’. However, the support currently available to help researchers adopt open research practices varies by institution; college, school, or department; and research discipline and methods. Our primary aim in this report was to identify the open research support available to University of Edinburgh research students and staff at various levels including central, local, and grassroots initiatives. As a secondary aim, we sought to understand post graduate researchers’ (PGRs) experiences with open research, including PGRs own personal knowledge and adoption of open research, their experiences accessing support, and what kinds of support they think would benefit them most. This report presents a summary of open research support available at the University of Edinburgh between October 2023 and February 2024, alongside key findings and action items related to open research support for PGRs from semi-structured discussions with seven researchers across the University’s three colleges.

Breaking new grounds or business as usual? Urban village redevelopment under China’s new normal

This special issue explores the redevelopment of urban villages in China. Drawing on top-down and bottom-up approaches, this article interrogates the work of six articles within it examining the diverse strategies employed in urban village redevelopment. The top-down approach highlights the state’s central role in managing large-scale transformations and the collaboration between government, developers, and village collectives – the bottom-up strategies reveal the potential for local actors to shape the redevelopment through grassroots initiatives. The convergence of the two approaches demonstrates how top-down and bottom-up methods can complement each other, creating inclusive and sustained transformations. Above all, we articulate the importance of integrated governance models in ensuring that urban village redevelopment enhances economic growth and promotes social equity.

SEM approach to assess self-efficacy and social capital of producer’s organizations in Chhattisgarh

Farmer-producer organizations are typified by farmer groupings that are structured with the intention of turning a profit by leveraging economies of scale and functioning similarly to corporate entities. The creation and advancement of farmer collectivization can offer farmers a forum for obtaining essential information, exchanging knowledge, sharing production and marketing risks, and embracing market-driven agricultural product production. Compared to the individual method, grassroots initiatives on the collectivization of marginalized rural communities can enhance their support for livelihood in terms of income, self-respect, negotiating power, etc. The current study was carried out in the state of Chhattisgarh in order to propose a model by combining two schools of thought; the function of social capital, and self-efficacy that influence the perceived performance among the members of farmer producer organizations (FPOs). This study was set out to determine and investigate the fundamental causes of the farmers' groups' performance in producer businesses that are operating quite successfully on the ground. Findings reveal that self-efficacy was a key player as a partial mediator in the social capital formation that affected FPO performance. The size of mediating effect was analysed and observed highly significant with 45.77% effect size.

Grassroots Initiative for Religious Moderation: Overcoming Radicalism in Rural

This research analyzes grassroots initiatives for religious moderation in overcoming radicalism in rural areas. This research uses a qualitative case study approach. Data collection techniques use interview observation and documentation. Data analysis techniques use data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion. The research results show that grassroots initiatives through moderate religious education, strengthening local wisdom, cooperation and collaboration, and cultural and social approaches have successfully built collective awareness about the importance of religious moderation. These programs encourage active community involvement in maintaining harmony and preventing the spread of radical ideology. The success of this initiative was also marked by increased tolerance and solidarity among village residents, as well as a significant reduction in incidents of religious-based violence. This research confirms that a bottom-up approach to religious moderation has great potential in building community resilience against radicalism, especially in rural areas, vulnerable to external influences.

Polish midwives’ experiences of providing maternity care to Ukrainian women in Poland

Abstract Background Migrants’ health has attracted the attention of researchers for many years, particularly from the perspective of barriers in access to healthcare systems. Providing high quality care to migrants and refugees, especially in contexts of significant and sudden arrivals, may be particularly challenging. Aim The aim of our research was to learn about the experiences and strategies of midwives providing maternity care for Ukrainian migrant women in Poland after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine. Methods Five focus group interviews with 32 midwives providing maternity care in Poland were conducted. The interviews were thematically analysed. Results Healthcare personnel experiences a number of barriers to the provision of high-quality care to the migrant population. Polish midwives expressed mainly experience of two groups of barriers on: (1) individual and interpersonal, (2) management and organization levels. Firstly, at the individual and interpersonal level midwives experienced: fear for life and well-being related to the threat of war in a neighbouring country, depleting resources and post-pandemic fatigue, language barriers, lack of knowledge on caring for woman fleeing the war. Secondly, at the management and organizational level midwives experienced: lack of organizational support, interpreting services and documentation in any other language than Polish. In the first months after the outbreak of the full-scale war in Ukraine, most strategies to improve the provision of maternity care for women fleeing the war took the form of grassroots initiatives by the staff of individual care units. Conclusions The Polish health care services need systemic solutions prepared jointly by state and local authorities and considering the voices of midwives to support the provision of high-quality care to migrant population. Key messages • Midwives were left to their own devices. • Midwives need better preparation for providing high-quality care to migrant population.

Environmental and Humanitarian Law Violations in Bangladesh's Coastal Areas: A Survey Analysis

This study investigates the intersection of environmental and humanitarian law violations in the coastal areas of Bangladesh, focusing on the implications of climate change-induced disasters on vulnerable communities. A quantitative survey was conducted, with 150 respondents representing coastal regions, to gather data on the prevalence of environmental degradation, climate-induced displacement, and human rights violations. Findings reveal a significant correlation between environmental hazards, such as cyclones and sea-level rise, and the displacement of coastal populations, exacerbating socio-economic vulnerabilities and human rights abuses. The study employs a quantitative methods design, analyzing survey data of legal frameworks, policy documents, and scholarly literature. The data was analyzed through Smart PLS 4 for Structural Equational Model (SEM). The purpose of this research is to elucidate the complexities surrounding legal enforcement, policy implementation, and grassroots initiatives aimed at addressing environmental and humanitarian challenges in coastal areas. By providing empirical evidence and insights into the lived experiences of affected communities, this study aims to inform evidence-based policy interventions, legal reforms, and humanitarian strategies to enhance resilience and protect the rights of coastal populations facing the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation.

Buddy4Study: Technology-Driven CSR Initiative

Buddy4Study, under the leadership of Burnwal, aimed to extend its reach to thirty million students across India, mainly targeting those in remote and underserved regions. Recognizing the challenges of reaching such a vast and diverse population, Burnwal enlisted the expertise of Mr Gitesh Sharma to develop a strategic plan. Sharma’s approach involved leveraging traditional and digital media to maximize visibility, including newspapers, television, radio and internet marketing. He also proposed innovative grassroots initiatives, such as engaging MBA students in internship programmes to lead village educational awareness campaigns. Additionally, Sharma recommended forming partnerships with NGOs to further amplify these efforts in rural areas, where access to educational resources is often limited. Digital marketing was identified as a key tool, focusing on platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn and on mobile-based ads to reach a broader student audience. Sharma also emphasized the importance of meticulously planned digital platforms—such as mobile apps and websites—that offer clear, detailed guidance for scholarship applicants. Burnwal considered whether these strategies would effectively help Buddy4Study reach its ambitious target and impact the educational landscape in India.

Winds of change – Nomadic grassroots innovations in the maritime shipping sector

Grassroots innovations are seen as important contributors to sustainability transitions, however, given their dependence on place-specific conditions they face diffusion challenges. Responding to previously outlined gaps regarding conceptualisation and exploration of the spatiality of grassroots innovations, this paper introduces a conceptualisation of nomadic grassroots innovations. These are grassroots innovations that are mobile and perform activities in multiple places they continuously return to, conceptualised as host localities, while also being based in home localities containing for example offices and key infrastructure. Contributing to a more nuanced understanding of the geography of grassroots activities, the analysis explores the spatiality of socio-technical elements influencing three stages of development (initiation, operations, and upscaling and diffusion) of nine grassroots initiatives promoting a return to traditional sail cargo ships. Findings suggests that nomadic grassroots innovations are dependent on elements in home and host localities as well as from national and international contexts, indicating that the spatiality of nomadic grassroots innovations differs from place-based initiatives throughout all stages of development. Furthermore, analysis of challenges and opportunities for development of nomadic grassroots innovations reveals three key learnings for grassroots innovation diffusion: strategies for developing social cohesion through multi-scalar actor networks, utilising (costumer) demand for alternative solutions, and taking favourable sector conditions as a starting point when designing grassroots innovations. Combined, this could enable development of grassroots innovations that are less dependent on place-specific conditions and thereby easier to replicate, which could increase the capacity of grassroots innovations to tackle global challenges such as climate change.

Breaking the cycle: Presenting insights and strategies to overcome violent conflicts hindering social cohesion and progress in South African communities

ABSTRACT This study addresses the pervasive issue of violent conflicts that undermine social cohesion and hinder progress within South African communities. Thus, the study explores the root causes and contributing factors of these conflicts to provide a foundation for developing effective, evidence-based intervention strategies. The investigation revealed five critical themes: (1) community awareness and perceptions of safety, (2) communication and information to ensure safety, (3) causes of violent conflicts in South Africa, (4) community engagement and membership influence and (5) Five Year/third-quarter 2019/2023 Crime Statistics. These themes underscore the complexity of violent conflicts in post-apartheid South Africa, where the persistence of a violent culture, pervasive corruption, and connections between criminal syndicates and government officials exacerbate the situation. The methodology used is desktop research that combined critical review of literature, reports and discussions of identified themes. The study is centred around the concept of Conflict Transformation, which plays a crucial role in fostering relationships and facilitating reconciliation processes in society. This includes grassroots initiatives and the participation of leaders at different levels. The study concludes that that violent conflicts can be mitigated through informed actions and strategic interventions. With these insights, this study offers recommendations as a framework for policymakers and practitioners to develop targeted measures aimed at fostering a safer, more cohesive society. The goal is to break the cycle of violent conflicts to pave the way for sustainable social progress in South African communities.

The Rise of Indian Footballers: A Study of Key Players and their Impact on Indian Football

This research focuses at the success of Indian football players and the way they have helped the sport acquire popularity nationally as well as internationally. Here we studied at how football culture is changing, grassroots initiatives, and institutions work to develop potential. The research focuses on important players who have helped raise awareness of Indian football, such as Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia. It also covers the role that youth football programs and institutional frameworks like the Indian Super League (ISL) play in developing fresh talent. The study emphasizes the crucial players' impact on the growth of the game and the difficulties they encountered in forming the story of Indian football by examining their accomplishments

The grassroots and citymaking in the Middle East: The agency of tactical participation in Amman, Jordan

ABSTRACT In Middle Eastern contexts, like Jordan, the public participation spaces referred to as “invited spaces” for state-led participation are heavily controlled by the state and its representatives. This paper explores the various ways in which grassroots and civic organizations navigate and sometimes manipulate the state apparatus’ planning rules and grids to create alternative modes of meaningful participation in the production of the city. Following the Arab Spring in 2011, local grassroots organizations started adopting “new languages and taktikat” (تَكتِيكَات,’ tactics in English, words used by the grassroots to describe their practices) that allowed them to move beyond direct confrontation with the state in the so-called “invented” spaces of participation led by civil society. Building on de Certeau’s notion of “tactics,” this paper looks at these approaches as tactics used by grassroots to negotiate power and participation within neoliberal top-down authorities. Ultimately, it argues against viewing grassroots initiatives solely in terms of a binary lens of legality/informality or “invited”/“invented” dichotomies, as they neither function as insurgents nor remain passive.

Understanding the diversity of private conservation in the Peruvian Amazon

AbstractGlobal awareness about the threats of ecosystem degradation in the Amazon is growing. While state‐managed protected areas remain key instruments for forest conservation, private actors are increasingly funding and implementing a broad range of conservation initiatives. Private actors are transforming the Amazonian conservation landscape and its governance, however, many aspects of private conservation, especially the diversity of local practitioners and the challenges they face, remain understudied. Drawing on a case study of Madre de Dios in the Peruvian Amazon, we aim to generate a better understanding of private conservation practitioners and their various approaches to conservation on private and public land. We used an extensive review of literature and databases, in addition to 13 semi‐structured interviews with various private conservation practitioners, to map privately conserved areas, and to gather perceptions about challenges, opportunities, and future pathways for private conservation. A total of 590 privately conserved areas, covering over one million hectares, were identified and mapped in Madre de Dios. We find that, while most initiatives are managed by individuals and families, for‐profit companies manage half of the total area privately protected. Furthermore, we find that private conservation initiatives face significant barriers and pressures. These barriers include complex bureaucratic processes, legal contradictions and incoherencies, corruption, weak law enforcement, and financial insecurity. Conservation policies largely favor national and international actors and less so local, grassroots initiatives run by individuals and communities. Finally, we highlight the need for more accessible and inclusive policies that recognize the contribution of less powerful actors, to foster more effective conservation efforts for the future of the Amazon.

“It takes a village”: An ecological analysis of social and emotional learning environments in Malawi

Socially and emotionally competent children thrive in school and life. Crucial to this success is integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) across their developmental ecology, from homes, schools, and communities to society. This case study draws on interviews with 21 parents, 42 teachers, and 12 professionals from diverse educational institutions in Malawi. It illuminates coordination strategies and enabling factors for system-wide support for SEL in and around Malawi's schools. Teachers deliver a compulsory SEL-infused curriculum, sometimes co-instructed with parents, and emphasize daily discipline and behavior modeling. Governmental and nongovernmental organizations collaborate with grassroots initiatives, such as Mothers’ Groups, to provide technical support, teacher training, financial aid, and community-wide discussions to acquaint parents with SEL. These efforts align through multiparty dialogues, aimed at bridging home–school disparities. The findings offer insights for establishing a coherent, system-wide support structure for SEL in Malawi and potentially other countries.

Perception of Public Relations Officers of Government Public Relations Approaches towards the Acceptability of COVID-19 Vaccination in Taraba State, Nigeria

This study on perception of public relations officers on government public relations approaches towards the acceptability of Covid 19 vaccination in Taraba State, Nigeria sought to identify the public relations approaches adopted by government in the campaign for COVID-19 vaccine, examine public relations experts perception of the impact of public relations approaches in the campaign for COVID-19 vaccine in Taraba State, Nigeria and to find out the specific challenges faced by the public relations experts in the campaign for COVID-19 vaccine in Taraba State, Nigeria. The study employed the survey method of research design with a population of 158 and a sample. Using purposive sampling method, questionnaires was administered on a sample size of 103 respondents within the study area to elicit primary data. Findings of the study revealed that the government in Taraba State has implemented a diverse range of public relations (PR) strategies to promote the Covid-19 vaccine campaign. The study also found that public relations experts generally perceive the government's PR approaches positively. Furthermore, the study revealed that despite the overall positive perception of the PR efforts, several challenges persist such as vaccine hesitancy, limited access to reliable information sources and insufficient resources and funding key hurdles faced. The study concluded that the government's adoption of diverse PR strategies, including communication campaigns, media relations efforts, and collaboration with healthcare providers, demonstrates a proactive effort to engage with the public and address concerns. Finally, the study among others recommended that community engagement through grassroots initiatives, involving local influencers, community leaders, and healthcare providers and advocate for increased resources and funding to support comprehensive PR campaigns should be enhanced.

A Multicultural Islamic Religious Education Curriculum Development

Curriculum development is often based on inappropriate strategies, due to a lack of comprehensive understanding of objectives, starting points, methods and functions. This study examines the development of multicultural Islamic Religious Education (PAI) curriculum in Da’wa Management Study Program (Prodi MD), Faculty of Da’wah and communication of Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University Yogyakarta. Type of qualitative research, with the method of Case Studies (case study). The approach used is Curriculum Development. The theory used as a framework for analysis is The Theory of Grass-Roots Initiative. Research findings show that the Da’wa Management Program the faculty of Da’wa Management and communication UIN (State Islamic University) Sunan Kalijaga developed a multicultural PAI curriculum in response to the development and needs of the community. Therefore, curriculum development is centered on the field experience of the academic community, both educators and learners. The paradigm used during the development process is naturalist-inclusive, where the material, learning process, and output are directed towards one goal, namely students who are tolerant, moderate, and able to bridge social gaps, both in the classroom and in society and industry. This article contributes to providing guidance for integrating multicultural values ​​into the Islamic Religious Education curriculum, in order to create inclusive and responsive learning towards diversity.

The Role of Community-Based Programs in HIV/AIDS Management in Uganda: Challenges, Strategies, and Impact

Community-based programs had become a pivotal element in the management of HIV/AIDS in Uganda, addressing the unique needs of diverse communities and bridging gaps left by conventional healthcare systems. These programs, were driven by local organizations, volunteers, and grassroots initiatives, had significantly contributed to prevention, treatment, and support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This review examined the role of these programs, highlighting their impact on community mobilization, access to testing and counseling services, support systems, and the integration of traditional and modern healthcare practices. The review also explored youth-focused HIV prevention efforts and the challenges faced by community-based programs, such as limited resources, persistent stigma, and the need for better integration with national health systems. A comprehensive analysis of relevant literature and case studies was conducted to provide a detailed understanding of these initiatives. The findings emphasized the importance of sustained support, innovative strategies, and collaborative efforts to enhance the effectiveness of community-based programs in Uganda’s fight against HIV/AIDS. Addressing these challenges and leveraging the strengths of community-based initiatives will be crucial for achieving long-term success in managing the epidemic. Keywords: Community-Based Programs, HIV/AIDS Management, Uganda, Public Health, Stigma and Discrimination.

Resisting Post‐Political Adaptation to Climate Change: How a Small Community Stood Up to Big Development

AbstractRecent critical scholarship has brought attention to local resistance in the spaces of adaptation, with reported instances of local communities rejecting planned adaptation interventions around the world. As adaptation funding is only expected to grow, so should our understanding of this resistance. In this article, I investigate one such dispute where residents of a small village in São Tomé and Príncipe refused to participate in an adaptation project implemented by the national government and the United Nations Development Programme. I ground my analysis in the literature on post‐politics and discuss the community's resistance as a Rancièrian “political interruption” of the post‐political adaptation configuration in the country. I also investigate the factors that arguably led to local resistance, including the residents’ disillusion with what I term Big Development, and their political subjectivation through a local grassroots initiative. The paper concludes with reflections on countering the post‐politics of adaptation as a prerequisite for more democratic and equitable local climate governance.

Fighting Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya: A Case Study of ActionAid

This paper examines ActionAid’s effort to get rid of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya, whereby it focuses on the grassroot initiatives at eradicating the practice. Female Genital Mutilation is a violation of human rights, and a severe form of gender Based violence which is deeply rooted in certain cultural and social norms across various communities. The study highlights ActionAid’s multifaceted approach, including advocacy, community mobilization, and legal support, as well as the provision of direct services to women and girls at risk of FGM. Key strategies such as Women’s Watch groups, legal education, and alternative livelihoods for surgeons are discussed, emphasizing the role of local communities in effecting lasting change. The paper also addresses the importance of engaging men, local leaders, and youth in the fight against FGM, with specific reference to ActionAid’s initiatives in Kenya, where FGM remains prevalent in certain ethnic groups. Through these efforts, ActionAid has made significant strides in reducing the practice and shifting cultural perceptions surrounding FGM. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of continued education, legal reform, and community-led action in the long-term goal of eliminating FGM and promoting gender equality.

Evaluation study of the urban governance of the COVID-19 crisis in the city of Antwerp

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has demanded crisis management at all governance levels. While most research has focused on responses of national governments, city-level governance had significant potential to develop tailored approaches. This study explored how the local COVID-19 response was organised and adapted to the specific city population and context in the City of Antwerp, Belgium.MethodsA case study using semi-structured interviews was set up with 20 key informants with a central role in the coordination and implementation of the city-level COVID-19 response in Antwerp. Thematic analysis of transcripts was guided by an adapted version of the OECD risk management cycle.ResultsRespondents’ accounts provide a granular understanding of pandemic preparedness, crisis management, and response and adaptation to the COVID-19 crisis in a mid-size European city. Its size was large enough to have a strong capacity within its government bodies, to utilise the expertise of strong partners in the area and to mobilise a critical mass for action, yet small enough to quickly establish connections and trust. In addition to a universal approach, they developed tailored responses to specific neighbourhoods and groups. Well-established community and organisational ties enhanced the effectiveness of grassroots initiatives. The perceived feeling of joint action contributed to a strong collective agency, but respondents noted the need for a system for monitoring and learning.ConclusionsLocal governments are important to develop tailored strategies and organise a locally relevant crisis response in cities. They need expertise and agency, with enough flexibility to experiment. To harness promising practices and avoid repeating errors in future crises, it is crucial to develop a system that better evaluates and monitors local responses, before, during and after crises.