Getting Started Preparing the Community for Action by Phil Bartle, PhD Module Introduction. Documents Included in this Getting Started Module: . The Mobilization Cycle, the process of strengthening a community . Clearing the Pathway, getting clearance from the authorities . Raising Awareness, without raising expectations . Unity Organizing, bringing the whole community together . Public Dialogue, how to conduct a public meeting . Challenging the Community, resistance produces strength . Community Chooses Action, community choice means community participation . Organizing for Strength, better organization means more strength. Your first actions before the community goes into action In the previous module you saw some of the things you need (as a mobilizer) to do and learn in order to get prepared. In this module you will read about getting started, yourself. You do not get the community into action until you take action to prepare it for action. Your getting started phase is the community's getting prepared phase. For some mobilizers, the authorities are seen as the "enemy" or "opposition" and see their task as organizing the poor communities to oppose those "oppressors." That may be an appropriate approach in some situations, and is often seen as "civic engagement" rather than as "community participation." The methodology in these modules (developed mainly in Africa) sees the bringing of those authorities on side is more likely to lead to sustainability and a consistent national policy and programme of poverty elimination. After raising awareness among the authorities, and getting any necessary permissions for you to do your work, your next task is to raise awareness among the target community or communities that you want to mobilize and strengthen. Raising awareness among the authorities mainly means (1) explaining your goals and (2) methods, and (3) convincing them that they can benefit from your success. Remember that you will find resistance to social change, and often those with the most vested interests are among this target group. After you get any needed clearance to do your work, the community must be prepared (awareness raised, unity improved, information accurate, priority action chosen), Raising awareness among the target communities means explaining your goals and methods, and also means taking positive steps to prevent the raising of unrealistic expectations. Ensuring accurate information and interpretation will be your biggest concern here. This module shows you how to get started. --» «-- If you copy any text from this site, please link it back to http://www.scn.org/cmp/ Updated: 2003 March 30