This manual is intended for grassroots facilitators working in civic education and community mobilization. The manual is based on participatory, problem-posing methods whereby participants are encouraged to analyze 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. The theme of chapter three is ‘community mobilization’. This chapter assists facilitators to: understand what community mobilizing means; grasp important elements of community mobilization; know and apply skills and techniques for organizing in a community; understand challenges in community mobilization, 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).
