The Need:           

-   every serious social entrepreneur agrees lack of activists as the major set-back to the positive process of social change.

-   education is not responding to our realities - there is a need for re-education for making it function worthy for social change.

-   there is a need and opportunity for channelising the learning of individuals with some intrinsic urge for change who are rejected by mainstream education into a creative social process - these people already are or hold potential to lead local civil societies.

A long term course on Transformational Activism is designed on the following  broad themes with individual inspiration at the centre with focus on social responsibility.

Objective/Outcome: 

Kanchuli  is a Nepali word for snake shedding its skin.  The course intends to imply it in the context of course participants. At the end of two years, the participants will:

a) be socially responsible in solidarity with the marginalised and deprived - demonstrated by actions and expressions

b)  capable to understand the socio-economic-ecological needs and opportunity of the society - indicated by analysis  and initiatives

c)  be able to materialise concepts into actions and demonstrate innovations by beginning  from his/her own family - demonstrated by sense of optimism.

Modality:

It is conceived that the course should last over three months in a span of two years spread 1 to 2 weeks in every quarter.  It begins with an intensive residential interaction revolving around the whole individual covering the domains of being knowing and doing of the individual. After the first orientation they pick up the topic to furthen their work and guru activists support them to initiate an applied task or strengthening existing action in the community.  They come to centre in every quarters with written case updates - problems and successes.  Students discuss it in groups and input provided for further action and innovation. Part of the course involves a two week study tour in Nepal and India.

 Participants start learning from where they stand starting from self and gradually spiraling out to family, community, district, nation and so on at the preset of a run down from the beginning of the universe to present post-modern world.  Trans-generational, intercultural and perhaps interclass perspective can be built in the selection of participants.  Participants then engage themselves in the areas of thematic interest and will be orientated by  the theme activists  in the country. Participants will be informally evaluated from three equally weighed aspects: a) knowledge and thinking maturity as demonstrated in writing/speaking (an assignment of 2500-3500 words in each quarter followed by a  seminar ) evaluated by course supervisors b) application of knowledge in the life (based on the realisation of action plans, socialisation and initiatives taken as indicated by the local leadership or company manager) and c) overall performance evaluated mutually by participants themselves and individual assessment based on the sense of achievement and transformation.  The following is the outline of the content:

Contents

Year I

Module I

Introduction

Biological and Social Evolution

Development and Nepal's Efforts

Module II

State Market and Civil Society

Poverty and Development

Fitting Theory with Individual Cases

Module III

Societal Analysis of Development

Development Concepts, Strategies and Approaches

The Need for Rights-based Approach

Module IV

Study Tour in Nepal

Year II

Module I

Dealing with Major Themes/issues/Sectors

·        Politics of Knowledge

·        Access and Control over  Resources

·        Forms and Bases of Social    Discrimination

Tools and Techniques Used in Development: PRA/AI etc

Module II

India Tour (15 days)

Module III

Vehicles to Rights-based Approach: Advocacy and Organisation

Module IV

RBAD – Cases, Consequences and hands-on support

Conclusion

 Each module except tours has a technological component:
§        Food Processing – the basics and post harvest preservation
§        Drinking Water – rain to the drop in your mouth
§        Communication – Wireless to Internet: scope and utility
§        Electricity – Application and Practical up to setting up of Peltric sets
§        Basics of Healing – Basic and run through Shamanism to Laser Therapy
§        Legal Mechanism – Theory and Basic Laws affecting your life

Participants

Participants come with wide range of categories.  People involved in applied work for 3-5 years with -+ SLC would be taken. They be teachers, development workers of different fields and Bachelors  from any discipline if they are not working ( a disciplinary quota can be set later).  Efforts will be made to bring the intercultural, trans-generational and balanced gender perspective in the participation. In academic comparison it should be equivalent to a good professional diploma. 

Management/Supervision

The course conducted in Nepali will be supervised/coordinated by two course supervisors who have worked in the various aspects of social processes for over 15 years with some exposure to western university education.  Each quarter will be featured by a leading activist of the related discipline of the country.   

The course takes place in residential setting in the training premises of Bikalpa in Thimura, Chitwan where modest facilities on self-help basis are available.  Separate rooms will be available for men and women.

The course will be undertaken within the broad conceptual framework of Bikalpa – the Community for Development Studies.

About Bikalpa

Bikalpa - the Community for Development Studies was established for supporting peoples initiatives to claim rights for livelihood as a collective initiative by 9 NGOs working in different areas of the kingdom.  Common understanding  is the realisation of  human potential for self-liberation based on their engagement in the development work. Ultimately securing fundamental human needs means control over the means of production and  claim for democratic space for making informed decisions.  Bikalpa seeks to support actions where people are involved in claiming their rights and create enabling environment by informative training activities by consolidating the existing experiences.  It also conducts action researches pertaining to the livelihood rights of the people so that process of claiming rights can be shared in the wider forums in building public opinion in favour of the marginalised.  It has organised a number of trainings for its members as well as other development agencies.

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