Participatory Techniques Research Articles

Use of participatory forum theatre to explore HIV/AIDS issues in the workplace

The continued success of entertainment education programmes around the world has seen anincrease in the use of theatre for HIV/AIDS interventions. Both UNAIDS and UNESCO recommendthe use of such cultural strategies for HIV/AIDS awareness. A brief survey of current evaluationsin this field reveals such projects in Kenya, Angola, Mozambique, the Netherlands and Honduras,amongst other countries. Forum theatre is reported as being used as a technique to deepenunderstanding of HIV/AIDS issues in programmes in Georgia, Tanzania, Burkina Faso and SouthAfrica (The Communication Initiative, 2007).This paper explores the application of participatory theatre techniques in a South African factoryenvironment in 2003. It investigates the conditions and context for the project, some of the theoreticalunderpinnings of the forum theatre concept, and the reception of the project by the factory audience.Essentially, the paper seeks to determine whether forum theatre is an appropriate strategy to usefor HIV/AIDS awareness in this environment.

STUDI BUDAYA BATAK (Studi Kasus Budaya Batak Melalui Wisata di Tugu Siraja Nabarat, Tugu Manurung, Tugu Siagian, Tugu Sonakmalela, Makam Dr. IL. Nomensen dan Sisimangaradja XII)

This study reveals how the relationship between the establishment of the monument and the traditional belief system of the Toba Batak people who still believe in the existence of the spirits of their ancestors. The actualization of this belief is manifested in the construction of an ancestral monument which is considered an embodiment of respect for the descendants of the clan that founded it. To reveal these data, in this study the authors used qualitative research. The data in the field were obtained through participatory observation techniques, interviews, and literature studies. The purpose of this study was to reveal the background of the establishment of monuments in clan groups in Balige District, Toba Samosir Regency which represents the function and meaning of the erection of clan monuments in Balige District. Toba Samosir Regency also describes the organization and implementation of the case for the establishment of the Siraja Nababat, Manurung, Nommensen, Siagian, Sonakmalela and Sisimangaraja XII monuments in and analyzes the conception of the construction of the monument in the Toba Batak community. based on the conception of traditional beliefs that believe in the existence of their ancestral spirits in people's lives. The worship of ancestral spirits is manifested in the construction of monuments. This research was conducted in the Tourism Area in the City of Balige and Porsea – North Sumatra. The aims of this study include: (1) As a deeper learning material about the reasons why Batak Culture built the Tugu, and (2) To explore and promote the richness of culture, tradition, history in the Batak tribe. The results showed that (1) all visitors who came were very enthusiastic about the history of the construction of each existing monument, (2) the role of both local and foreign tourists had a positive impact on the community, namely the development of local community knowledge systems, the emergence of new livelihoods, getting to know language diversity, technological progress, the formation of social organizations, the emergence of the commercialization of hospitality, the shift in the value of solidarity in agriculture. Cultural tourism is a travel activity carried out by certain parties (a person or group of people) by visiting certain places with the aim of learning about cultural attractions or taking advantage of the cultural potential of the places visited.

A tyranny trap in community territorial planning: The case of three ejidos in Southeastern Mexico.

Community land use planning must integrate plural and active participation, especially of those who live there. However, this is difficult to achieve, mainly due to the heterogeneity of interests and levels of power. In this paper, we studied the design and implementation of a Community-based Land Management governmental program in three communities in Calakmul, Campeche, to critically assess and learn in retrospect about the participatory methods and techniques, the social inclusion degree, and the decision-making procedures throughout the process. We interviewed participants who attended workshops, including local representatives and authorities, as well as the facilitators of this participatory process. Our findings indicate that participation was promoted under a tyranny of method, a tyranny of the group, and a tyranny of decision making. Through this case study, we reflect on strategies to avoid tyrannical participatory processes that include questioning the need, timing, and strategy to promote participation, as well as adaptively designing and implementing mechanisms that foster meaningful participatory territorial planning.

Development and application of environmental education program for in-service geography teachers using community mapping and photovoice

This study designed an environmental education program for in-service geography teachers using community mapping and photovoice methodology and applied it to in-service geography teachers to derive results. In addition, the study explored the possibilities and implications of these two participatory research techniques as pedagogical tools for geographical and environmental education. In-service geography teachers confirmed that community mapping activities combined with the photovoice methodology can support the development of the geographical skills and spatial thinking about the environment of students. Moreover, they recognized that the program is a useful pedagogical tool for connecting learners with geographical communities to actively explore various geographical and environmental issues in the region, connecting them inside and outside the classroom and reaching an in-depth understanding of geographical and environmental issues through the production of knowledge that expresses their perspectives and experiences. Furthermore, the program, which combines community mapping and photovoice, can be an effective pedagogical tool for fostering community competence and active citizenship in that participants actively participate in the community to create better community change.

Participatory approaches for raising awareness among subsistence farmers in Tanzania about the spread of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors and the possible link to improper agricultural pesticide use

BackgroundInsecticide resistance is a key barrier to long-term malaria control, and it may be exacerbated by poor agricultural pesticide use. Current practices, however, do not link public health and agricultural pesticide use. This study investigated the perspectives of farmers and other stakeholders regarding the integration of agricultural and public health measures to address resistance. Additionally, the feasibility of participatory workshops to increase the farmers’ understanding and participation in pesticide stewardship was assessed.MethodsFour themes were investigated: pesticide awareness, practices, and opinions of; insecticide resistance in malaria vectors; the effectiveness of current malaria prevention tools; and the links between agricultural and public health pesticide usage. Participatory workshops and field training were held with entomologists, farmers, and agricultural specialists, focusing on agro-ecosystem practices related to pest control; and local farmers were involved in live-testing for insecticides resistance of local Anopheles mosquitoes.ResultsMost farmers (94%) considered pesticides effective, and nearly half of them (n = 198, 46.4%) could identify and name crop pests and diseases, mostly using local names. Three quarters were unaware of mosquito larvae in their fields, and only 7% considered their fields as potential sources of mosquitoes. Two thirds were uninformed of any effects that agricultural pesticides may have on mosquitoes, and three quarters had never heard of resistance in malaria mosquitoes. Experts from various sectors acknowledged that agricultural pesticides might impact malaria control through increasing resistance. They did, however, emphasize the importance of crop protection and advocated for the use of pesticides sparingly and non-chemical approaches. Farmers learnt how to discriminate between malaria vectors and non-vectors, identify agricultural pests and diseases, choose and use pesticides effectively, and conduct resistance tests during the participatory workshops.ConclusionThis study emphasizes the significance of enhancing subsistence farmers’ awareness of mosquito ecology as well as merging public health and agricultural pest management measures. Participatory techniques have the potential to raise stakeholder awareness and engagement, resulting in more effective resistance management.

Work Commitment and Organizational Culture

Humans are resources that are assets in the organization. Humans have roles and functions that cannot be replaced by other resources even in technological improvements in science. Humans are an important factor in the development and progress of an organization. Because only humans have the ability to think critically (critical thinking), communicate (communication), collaborate (collaboration) and be creative (creativity). These human capabilities are needed by the organization in analyzing positions, analyzing organizational needs, managing existing resources (Man, Money and Material), making plans and other functions. In addition to this, organizations also need people who are dedicated, have good performance and are able to bind themselves to the vision and mission of the organization for the achievement of the goals of the organization. Therefore, in realizing a quality organization, people who are also qualified and have a high work commitment are needed. The purpose of this study was to find out how the competence and commitment to work in the organization at the Regional VIII Education Office Branch Office, Mentawai Islands Regency. This research is a qualitative research in the form of a case study. Data collection in this study was carried out using participatory observation techniques, interviews and documentation. The data is processed by using source triangulation technique. The findings of this study state 1) Low work commitment due to low competence. 2) Work commitment results in low performance. 3) Low work commitment causes the organizational culture to become less good.

GOOD FINANCE GOVERNANCE MSMES THROUGH FINANCIAL PORTFOLIO METHOD AS BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY EFFORT DURING THE COVID19 PANDEMIC

Good financial governance is one of the keys for a business to survive and continue to thrive in any situation and condition. MSMEs are one of the largest contributors to national income and are able to increase economic growth in Indonesia, but many are still unaware of the importance of business financial governance. This is due to a lack of understanding related to financial governance as well as the difficulty of the financial governance process and the high costs that must be incurred if you use the services of a financial consultant. So that not a few SMEs who have difficulty maintaining their business. For this reason, a financial management method is needed that can help or facilitate MSME actors in managing their business finances so that they are able to continue to survive and be able to develop their businesses. The purpose of this research is to find outproblems faced by MSMEs related to business financial governance by utilizing the financial portfolio method so as to provide convenience for MSME actors in managing their finances so that they are able to provide quality financial information that is useful for MSMEs in managing their business..The research method used is the research method used in this study is a qualitative analysis with exploratory steps with participatory observation techniques. The data sources used are primary data in the form of observations and secondary data in the form of data collected, processed and presented by other parties in the form of books and the results of previous research related to MSME financial governance. Informants in this study are infinite. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the informants in financial management in general have been managed very well, this is evidenced by the recording of every financial transaction of the business being carried out. The management carried out by MSMEs is to make notes in the form of a financial portfolio

Round Robin: A New Qualitative Methodology for Identifying Drivers of Violence Against Children

Violence affecting children (VAC) is a significant global health and human rights issue. This article highlights a new qualitative methodology, the Round Robin, for understanding the drivers of violence against children. Traditionally, qualitative research exploring VAC has focused on identifying the risk and protective factors which affect the likelihood a child will experience or witness violence. In recent years, scholars have recognised the need to situate children in their socio-cultural context and consider what causes risk and protective factors; that is, what drives violence at the structural and institutional levels of society. The Round Robin methodology sits within the participatory paradigm and contributes not only to the field of violence research, but to qualitative research more broadly, as it can be adapted to fit diverse social issues and contexts. The Round Robin combines focus groups and participatory techniques in an intensive three-day workshop model inspired by the World Café. In this paper, we firstly introduce the Round Robin methodology and situate it in relation to other approaches. We then describe and critique how the Round Robin methodology was piloted with 136 young people in Zimbabwe to identify drivers of violence affecting children. We then justify the methods used to collect data, and the strategy for data recording and analysis. We conclude by identifying the strengths and weaknesses we uncovered piloting this new methodology in Zimbabwe.

A Conceptual Framework of Public Participation Utilization for Sustainable Urban Planning in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

There is a growing concern for people to contribute to future developments in shaping their surroundings (town, community, and region) and, thus, their quality of life. Therefore, the study aims to propose a framework of public-participation exploitation for sustainable urban planning in Saudi Arabia. The framework proposed was developed based on analyzing the literature review and experts’ opinions through the Delphi technique. The framework covers planning levels and stages, participation methods, sustainability pillars, and the use of information communication technology (ICT). A proposed PP framework is produced, which is comprehensive, yet tailored for the urban-planning context of Saudi Arabia. The framework assists the management of PP properly. It addresses several practical elements that involve the citizens’ awareness regarding PP in the planning process, along with the accessibility of the populace to urban-planning issues. The framework shows that there is no single participatory technique that can satisfy all planning processes. The framework recognizes the importance of integrating sustainability into urban plans. It is concluded that the current framework helps to manage public participation properly and introduces the participants in the planning process, which eventually affects the urban planning of cities in Saudi Arabia.

Adaptation of drama to storytelling for classroom teaching: the modern training institute, Uyo experiment

The need to reduce the complex plot of a drama into a simple, uncomplicated, and enjoyable form through the adaptation of a drama to a story for classroom teaching is the pivot of this work. In traditional African societies, our forefathers used storytelling to teach children the norms and values of society. At the night, during moonlight, the storytelling mode was used, as children gathered under trees to hear stories from elders. Storytelling in the classroom will not only entertain children by making the class work lively and attractive but will also enable the teacher to inculcate all the intended lessons in his set objectives as well as help to mould the child’s character. This work is on the adaptation of Sons and Daughters (drama) by J C De-Graft to a story for classroom teaching. It is a qualitative study and is hinged on Dorothy Heathcote’s postulation that the content of dramatic experience is far more important than literary assumptions. Heathcote views dramatic content as the pivot on which the child’s learning experience revolves because, it will help the child to grow intuitively, and creatively and build confidence which enables him to take decisions. The study concludes that the techniques of adapting drama to story with emphasis on the thematic and dramatic contents as well as the dramatic methods used during the experiments: adaptations, storytelling, role-play, improvisation, reflection, and evaluation, helped the students in the textual interpretation and understanding of the lesson. The study recommends the adoption of participatory techniques to make classroom teaching an enjoyable experience for the teacher and the student.

Assistance of MSMEs in the Practical Method of Preparing Financial Statements in the Joint Business Group (KUB) Berkah Pemalang

The purpose of this community service activity is to help MSMEs of the Joint Business Group (KUB) Blessings of Karangasem Pemalang Village compile their financial reports simply, encourage orderly bookkeeping of transactions that occur daily, and motivate MSME participants to be able to record books so that expenses can be measured. Revenue and profits earned and knowing how your business is doing. For mentoring, using participatory techniques, participants participate in group discussions, share positive and negative experiences, and explore new lessons together. And after mentoring is carried out, participants are asked to implement what has been learned accompanied by the servicer. In conclusion, the activity went smoothly. All participants enthusiastically participated in the event until it was over and were optimistic that they would feel the benefits of mentoring for the progress of their business.

Integrated Crop Management Practices in Ridge Gourd Hybrid COH 1 for Increasing Yield and Income under Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu, India

Front line demonstration on integrated crop management practice in ridge gourd (Luffa acutangula Roxb.) hybrid COH – 1was conducted at Cuddalore District of Tamil Nadu during 2021-2022 to increase the yield and income of the farming community. Totally ten progressive farmers were selected at Vridhachalam, Kammapuram and Panruti blocks of Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu with an acreage of one acre per farmer. Bottlenecks of ridge gourd cultivation were identified through participatory approach preferential ranking techniques. The selected farmers were trained through skill development programme and the beneficiaries were taught with improved scientific production techniques of ridge gourd hybrid COH -1, seed treatment, plant growth regulators, integrated nutrient management, integrated pest and disease management. Results of the present study revealed that demonstrated plot recorded higher number of fruits per plant, fruit length, fruit girth, fruit weight, yield per plant and yield per hectare as compared to farmers practice. The demonstrated plot also recorded high gross income, net income and benefit cost ratio than farmers practice. Low technology gap and technology index observed in the present study revealed the effectiveness of technical interventions.

Mapping the unsafe school journey: Rural primary school children’s perspectives on dangerous social geographies in South Africa

This paper describes a study conducted with 20 primary school children from a resource-poor rural community in South Africa. Using participatory mapping, the school children were asked to draw the paths they walked to school (referred to as child maps), and identify unsafe areas on this journey. The data were analyzed using participatory visual analysis techniques by focusing on the children’s representations of their school journeys and their perspectives on their vulnerability on these paths. The analysis revealed a plethora of areas that posed a threat to children as they walked to school. Moreover, the findings suggest that children experienced heteropatriarchal violence on their school journeys, which evoked fear and anxiety since they associated this walk with risk. Using participatory mapping offered a unique opportunity to see how school children constructed and navigated the routes they walked to school, and how on these paths, different forms of violence occurred. The children’s maps offered an important tool for understanding the significance of space and place on routes to school in rural communities.

Enhancing referral processes within an integrated fall prevention pathway for older people: a mixed-methods study

ObjectivesMultifactorial interventions, which involve assessing an individual’s risk of falling and providing treatment or onward referral, require coordination across settings. Using a mixed-methods design, we aimed to develop a process...

Development of Increasing Business Competitiveness In Betoyoguci Village Gresik Regency

Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit Indonesia has not ended. The existence of the micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) sector which plays a very important role in economic development and growth is the most affected by this pandemic. Various problems experienced by MSMEs include decreased sales, capital, hampered distribution, difficulty in raw materials, decreased production and layoffs of workers which pose a threat to the national economy. In addition, MSMEs lack resilience and flexibility in dealing with this pandemic, due to several things such as the low level of digitalization, difficulties in accessing technology and a lack of understanding of strategies to survive in business (OECD, 2020). The purpose of the service activity is to develop the competitiveness of MSMEs through information technology and innovation in Betoyoguci Village, Gresik Regency. The method used is Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), namely approaches and techniques for involving the community in thought processes that take place during planning, implementing, as well as monitoring, and evaluating community development programs (Hamid, 2018). The activity was carried out in a hybrid manner, with 24 offline participants at the Betoyoguci Village meeting hall. To make it easier for coaching, in addition to explaining the forms of innovation that can be done during the COVID-19 pandemic, activities are supported by the practice of using information technology with the Shopee E-Commerce platform, starting from downloading in the appstore to uploading products, so that an increase in the ability of participants can be obtained. still survive during the pandemic that is still ongoing today.

Efforts to end a stalemate in landslide insurance availability through inclusive policymaking: A case study in Sitka, Alaska

Stalemates frequently obstruct disaster risk management related initiatives, including related to risk financing. They can arise from misaligned stakeholder objectives and a cognitive effort to avoid decision-making under uncertainty. Participatory action research techniques can be useful for overcoming stalemates but have not been examined in the context of disaster risk management. To fill this gap, we explored how participatory techniques could overcome one disaster risk financing related stalemate: the case of landslide insurance in a highly landslide-prone location, Sitka, Alaska. Landslide insurance in Sitka is a classic stalemate, as diverse stakeholders see the value of offering a landslide insurance policy, but their respective concerns and information gaps stymie their ability to feel confident in decision-making making landslide insurance generally unavailable. Utilizing a series of inclusive interviews and workshops as our participatory techniques, respondents describe how the workshop engendered confidence in the prospect of landslide insurance, specifically by brokering new relationships and serving as a catalyst for new public-private partnerships while effectively reframing the landslide risk financing conundrum. However, they also note that a new market for landslide insurance requires sufficient state or Federal funding support, improved probabilistic landslide models, and sustained consumer demand. This suggests that participatory techniques can play an enabling role in overcoming stalemates, but only if certain conditions are in place. These findings may have relevance to policymakers facing stalemate-related obstacles in disaster risk management.

Health impact assessment of local policies: methodology and tools.

The aim of this work was to design some tools and a procedure for performing the Health Impact Assessment of municipal policies. A working group made up of municipal and public health specialists from the Valencian Community (Spain) was set up. After reviewing the tools used in other contexts, the Fem Salut? questionnaire for the simplified Health Impact Assessment of regional policies was adapted for use at the local level. A pilot study was carried out in six municipalities and local initiatives promoted by different sectors were analysed. Two workshops were held per municipality (with specialists and with citizens) and participatory techniques were used to identify the possible impacts on the social determinants of health, the population groups more particularly affected and the proposals for improvement. The feasibility of the methodology and the difficulties involved in carrying it out were discussed. A procedure was defined for the Health Impact Assessment of local initiatives in six steps: Describe (the municipality and the project), Extract (screening phase), Co-produce (participatory workshops), Integrate (the scientific evidence with the qualitative information obtained), Disseminate (to politicians, specialists and community) and Evaluate (direct and indirect results) (DECIDE). A guide was developed to facilitate its application at the local level along with two complementary tools (a questionnaire and worksheets). The technical group rated the process as simple and flexible, as well as being easy to adapt to the characteristics of the municipality and project. In addition to the cross-sectoral approach, the incorporation of citizen participation in the process is an important added value.

How can forest fragments support protected areas connectivity in an urban landscape in Brazil?

Cities continue to grow worldwide, and the highly modified urban landscape becomes an inhospitable environment for many species because the natural vegetation cover is commonly fragmented, and the remnants are often isolated. Protected Areas (PAs) located surrounding or within urban areas may not achieve their goal of protecting local or regional biodiversity. Thus, an urban ecological network is essential to support their PAs. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the PAs connectivity in an urban landscape in Brazil and understanding whether urban forest fragments can support an urban ecological network. Besides spatial models based on functional connectivity and graph theory, we used participatory techniques to design the resistance surface and the least-cost paths (LCPs) for Atlantic Forest birds. The results showed critical paths (LCPs), important areas for restoration programs for improving PAs connectivity, and essential forest fragments for conservation and restoration. Although the landscape has a forest structure with 1873 forest fragments and 516 links through which the LCPs were structured, most forest fragments and LCPs cannot provide the necessary support for the PAs connectivity. The current ecological network is dependent on forest fragments neighboring (outside PAs) and the flux dispersions occurred mainly in the peri-urban areas. Riparian zones and anthropic grasslands also showed importance for the PAs connectivity. We identified only 28 forest fragments spatially connected, presenting several sizes, and located near large forest areas, relevant PAs, and riparian zones. Six of these forest fragments, smaller than ten hectares and strategically located in the urban matrix, were indicated for restoration actions. The current low connectivity among PAs brings the importance of native vegetation restoration in the riparian zone and anthropic grassland and the importance of the periurban areas to promote biodiversity connectivity in the urban landscape.

Application of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) to Rural Communities in Kenya

There is growing evidence of the positive role ICTs can play in development, particularly in rural areas of developing countries using public services in the form of telecentres. Emphasizing proactive measures ensures ICTs serve as effective tools for social inclusion, social change, and widespread access, especially for the poor and disadvantaged communities. This research study explores the application of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) in a rural community in Kenya, by evaluating the Nguruman Community Knowledge Center (CKC), established in 2003 by a development organization. This study uses a participatory ethnographic research method that combines participatory techniques and ethnographic research, with the potential of feeding into action research. The research makes use of the communicative ecology approach in evaluating communication and ICTs for development. In this study, ICTs, particularly traditional ICTs (radio and television) significantly contribute to improving people’s living conditions by making information available that helps in solving real problems encountered. The expectations of community members who use these ICTs reflect their level of understanding of the relationship that exists between these tools and the improvement of their living conditions as well as enhancing development efforts. The study shows that the context and institutional framework for ICTs in Kenya are changing which reflects the government’s commitment to being part of the information society, especially in rural communities. Despite this, a gap exists between the aspirations of policymakers and the reality in rural areas owing to the poor state of ICT and general infrastructure.

ICT for Sustainable Development: Evidence from Nguruman Community Knowledge Centre, Kajiado County, Kenya

For over a decade, development partners have advocated the application of ICTs as tools for poverty alleviation especially targeting the agricultural sector. To provide an in-depth analysis of the impact of the CKC on the Nguruman community, the participatory ethnographic research methodology, combining participatory techniques and ethnographic approaches, was used. The use of this approach with the potential to feed into action research. I selected certain elements of the Ethnographic Action Research (EAR) developed by Tacchi and others. This research was undertaken in Nguruman, a rural Sub-location situated in arid and semi-arid land within the Olkiramatian Group ranch about 40 kilometers from Magadi town at the foot of the Nguruman escarpment in Kenya. The findings show a general view of Nguruman as being relatively developed. Participants originally from Nguruman compared its current state of development to earlier years and said it is developed. However, participants who are not originally from Nguruman say the area has considerable development when they compare it with other communities in Kenya. Like the participants from the focus groups, those from the interviews described development in terms of infrastructure such as roads, communication services, community institutions, and socio-economic conditions such as an increase in population, cultural issues, and education. Most of the participants, especially those originally from Nguruman, mentioned that the infrastructure of Nguruman has improved when compared to its former state some years back. For all the participants, the perceiving influencers of the development of Nguruman were commonalities in the emerging issues such as gender and cultural issues, illiteracy, and the value of education. A comparison of the participants’ communicative ecologies reveals different communication and information patterns and activities unique to each individual. Each individual uses different ICTs and links these ICTs to his/her social network to enhance communication and information patterns. Based on the findings, it is recommended that development communication that emerges from successful rural development calls for the conscious and active participation of the intended recipients at each phase of the development process. Rural development cannot occur without changes in the attitudes and behaviors of the people concerned. Emphasis should be on the planning of communication initiatives, focusing on dialogue rather than one-way communication as support to development initiatives.