Development Education
'Connecting Communities'
'Connecting Communities: A Practical Guide to using Development Education in Community Settings’ is a LYCS resource for facilitators or tutors working with groups in Community Education and Community Development contexts.
This handbook, written by Helena McNeill of LYCS, was launched in October 2005, and is unique in that it’s been designed specifically to introduce development education into community settings.
10 ready-to-go workshops
The book contains ten workshops on issues such as housing, work, migration, drugs, gender, debt, racism, health and people power, and has been specifically designed for use with groups seeking to explore both local and global aspects of these issues. These workshops are fully outlined, but of course, may need to be adapted to the needs and interests of the group.
It also contains background information and factsheets on the various topics touched on in the workshops, so a vast knowledge of global issues is not necessary. All that’s needed for facilitators/tutors and the groups they work with, is an interest and a willingness to engage with some of the big issues affecting communities here and around the world!
A taste of 'Connecting Communities'
Click here to see the contents page from the book. As you can see, the workshops are focused on a wide range of common issues, and these can be used as once-off workshops, or as a longer programme .
What people say about 'Connecting Communities'
"This guide is truly a tool for understanding our world as a first step towards changing it... [It] can be used to run once-off workshops or a full ten-week series. It can be used for introducing development education to groups and communities and as a source for managers and facilitators who want ideas for group work or education sessions... This is the kind of guide that I would not hesitate in recommending to groups and the Community Education Facilitators (CEFs). It is sensible, practical and authoritative." Maureen Kavanagh, National Co-ordinator of the Community Facilitators' Training and Support Programme, Aontas (Quote taken from full review in The Adult Learner 2007; The Irish Journal of Adult and Community Education. Please click here to access The Adult Learner 2007)
"I have found the workshops and exercises very useful in promoting classroom debate and stimulating learner reflection. ....Connecting Communities excels as a tool for development education in Ireland. All too often I have found development education publications overlook local poverty and the edge is lost for us to use development education as a vital tool for empowerment and transformation"
Anne Garvey, An Cosan Community Education Centre, Tallaght
"I have found the chapter on ‘Life and Debt’ beneficial for the community education workshops regarding money matters to Traveller women’s groups. In addition chapter 9 ‘One Race, the Human Race’ is also beneficial and all encompassing. I recommend this resource to Money Advisors who work in a community education context with the Traveller community." Hilary Ryan, National Traveller Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS)
Order the book!
To order a copy of 'Connecting Communities', please click on this link to print an order form, fill in all the details and post it to us with a cheque or postal order (made out to 'LYCS'). The book costs €10, and postage & packaging is €2.75 for the first copy. If you would like to order more than one book please contact us first to verify postage costs.
Ordering from the UK: Please forward a cheque or postal order made payable to 'LYCS' for £12 (£7 plus postage to U.K. @ £5) to the following address:
Lourdes Youth and Commmunity Services (LYCS)
Lower Sean Mac Dermott Street
Dublin 1
Ireland
Phone: 01- 8363416
Fax: 01-8556445
