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Hyderabad, Mar 16 – 18: Participants of the Participatory Action Research (PAR) project from the southern Salesian Provinces of India had a three day training programme at Don Bosco Navajeevan, Hyderabad. The PAR method seeks to empower the child and make the child an important stakeholder in all matters concerning its growth and welfare. The whole project is carried forward under the auspices of Don Bosco National Young at Risk (YaR) Forum. Besides the animating team of Prof. D. Manti and Fr T.D. John, and the three project coordinators, there were 35 participants in the programme.
During the three day interactive and demanding programme, the researchers were initiated into the skills of acquiring data by means of interviews, surveys, observation techniques, analytical study and the process of evaluation. The most important was the initiation session wherein the researchers were briefed about the very concept and rationale of PAR: seeking Action, through the Research and in a Participatory manner. Prof. Manti stated that the method was born in the field of rural development and is now being replicated in other fields too.
Besides this there was also discussion on the ethical practices involved, a sharing of experiences and information material. A very enriching mingling of Priests, Religious and lay people (Christian and non-Christian as well) as equals was another remarkable feature of the programme.
The strategy of PAR challenges the myth that the child is ignorant and thereby dependent, and incapable of making decisions for itself. The project at hand is to initiate PAR in at least ten of the Young at Risk (YaR) settings and then replicate it across India. Though it is the YaR settings that is the primary focus, there were also members of the Human Rights and the personnel formation sector too drawing lessons. The subsequent training programme is slated for the beginning of next academic year.
Fr. T.D John
