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ORGANIZING STRATEGIES
Popular Education
The roots of popular education are in Brazil. In the '60s, Paulo Freire introduced a literacy training program based on this concept. Freire taught people to read and write by discussing with them the basic problems that they were experiencing, their social and economic issues, poverty, access to resources, etc. The students not only discussed the problems but began analyzing the causes and possible actions that they could take to change their situation. Freire was not only teaching how to read, but he was embarking his students on a process of consciousness raising.
"Consciousness raising" became a natural outcome of learning to read. Much of the popular movement in Latin America has used popular education as a tool for social change. In a region where social problems are critical and affect the poor majorities, popular education has become an important component of all community development initiatives. Popular education is a source of empowerment for people, it enables them to analyze their situation and devise possible solutions at the same time. As a result, the students begin to address their problems and to formulate actions which can change their situation.
The educational system has traditionally failed the majority of the poor as it teaches values often foreign to them brought over during colonial times. Popular education is education designed to help people, particularly those who have not traditionally have access to education or lack political power, to develop the skills needed to organize and take control over their own lives.
Popular education is a method that can prove useful to youth groups and other organizations. It is a way of learning from one's own experience and analysis, rather than having an " expert teach". Some characteristics of Popular Education are:
It is a collective process: everyone teaches; everyone learns.
It is based on respect for those who are learning
The learning begins with the experience of the learner.
People are actively involved in the learning process
Leads to action for change.
Stresses the creation and importance of new knowledge.
Allows people to gain experience and to organize themselves.
Links personal, local experiences to historical and global processes.
Popular Education can be a valuable tool for groups and communities working towards sustainability!
There is a great deal of material written on Popular Education. For more information, see the resources section.