Participatory Action Research Retreat

This five-day course introduces international and local development practitioners to participatory action research (PAR) techniques.  PAR processes are place or case-specific, emphasise local ways of knowing, and gauge research success regarding what partner communities do with the co-produced knowledge. PAR aims to generate ideas, information, and understandings to inform efforts to promote community rejuvenation and social change. By focusing on ways of co-producing knowledge using various forms of (fun) participatory data collection and analysis, you will learn some participatory activities based on the project cycle to facilitate alongside people and communities and then support them to address the challenges they confront in their communities.

When: Monday 11th November to Friday 15th November 2024 

Time: 9 am to 5 pm daily. 

Where: Ceres Environmental Park in Melbourne, Australia. Corner Roberts & Stewart Streets Brunswick East, VIC 3057 Van Raay Meeting Room 4. 

Accessibility Guide for Ceres: https://communitypoweredrespon...

You will receive:   Five fun, fabulous, engaging, and informative days of learning, theorising, practising, and facilitating Participatory Action Research activities. You will receive a workbook jam-packed with activities and facilitation guides, inclusion tips and tricks, and space for reflexive practice notes. We will provide tea/coffee/water and vegetarian/gluten-free and healthy snacks.

Please bring: Wear comfortable clothes, have a curious mind and open heart, and a sense of adventure.
To keep the costs down, you will provide your lunch. Please bring your lunch or buy it at the Ceres Cafe. 

Cost: The total price is $1200.00. The early bird special is $1020.00 until 21st August 2024. 

For more information about Participatory Action Research: https://communitypoweredrespon...

Weeks agenda and activities. 

Day 1: Introduction to Participatory Action Research
Morning	Activity 1: Creating accountable and safer spaces. Theory: Integrating ‘Participatory’ & ‘Action’ & ‘Research’ together  Activity 2: Who has the power?
Afternoon	Theory: Process Design  Activity 3: Disaster Relief and Risk Reduction scenario  Activity 4: Problem-solving
Day 2: Exploring the Issues
Morning	Theory: Theory of Change Activity 5: Problem tree and solution tree
Afternoon	Activity 6: Ranking project priorities  Activity 7: Your choice of creative activities (e.g., photo voice, community mapping, story circle)
Day 3: Knowing the Stakeholders
Morning	Theory: Stakeholder Identification  Activity 8: Roles, skills and values  Activity 9: Levels of Participation
Afternoon	Activity 1o: Spectrum of Allies  Activity 11: Rainbow Stakeholder
Day 4: The importance of Action and Reflection
Morning	Theory: Reflexive Practice  Activity 12: What If  Activity 13: Risk Assessments
Afternoon	Activity 14: Reflective activity based on day two creative choice.
Day 5: Evaluating in Participatory Action Research
Morning	Theory: Participatory Evaluations  Activity 15: Skills in Means  Activity 16: Results and Risks
Afternoon	Theory: Check-In and Check-Out