This manual is intended for grassroots facilitators working in civic education and community mobilisation. The manual is based on participatory, problem posing methods whereby participants are encouraged to analyse problems and search for their own solutions. Ideas and information are only given after participants have had a chance to develop their own ideas. A number of methods/techniques and tips are provided in the first chapter. Chapters two focuses on ‘participation’: define/explain what participation in a democratic society means; explain why participation is important in government and governance; explain the role of the grassroots in governance; examine obstacles to participation; grasp the different levels of participation in terms of people’s degree of involvement; consider how participation can contribute to addressing poverty and other issues. Theme of chapter three is ‘community mobilisation’. This chapter assists facilitators to: understand what community mobilising means; grasp important elements of community mobilisation; know and apply skills and techniques for organizing in a community; understand challenges in community mobilisation, especially in terms of resources. The manual was developed by a coalition of human rights and community groups in southern Africa and facilitated by the Netherlands Institute for Southern Africa (NIZA).
