SKiLD can run courses in
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) for development workers
supporting frontline, third sector groups.
When we ran PLA for development workers before, some of the issues
covered included:
- different approaches to working with groups
- creative techniques for development work
- working well as a team
For more information please contact
Dave
Carr
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) is an action learning
approach that starts from individual experience, but uses creative
techniques like drawing, mapping, flow charts and timelines
to
- build trust and spark discussion
- find group issues
- create new insights into these issues
- help people to take action together to do things
differently
PLA spread rapidly around the world during the 1990s, mainly in
international development work. In this country, Rural Community
Councils have used it to make Parish Plans that involve community
groups. CVS have used it to help groups get their key purposes
clear.
What's different about PLA?
- It can be fun and non-threatening
- It's a process, not a one-off event
- No on is the expert. Each person has their expetise. The
process aims to put people's insights together to make new
knowledge.
- You don't know the answer before you start. PLA helps you get
to the root of problems, see familiar things afresh and find new
responses.
- It's active - with support, people are encouraged to run the
process themselves from early on.
- Everyone has a say. Making this a reality can be a
facilitator's biggest challenge.
- You'r allowed to make mistakes. They are really useful - you
can't learn without making them.
Background reading