Education

An important part of the participative process is that of education. This should not be thought of as restricted to that that we are taught in schools or by other formal means. One of Tikambilanie's four interest areas is entitled 'Informal / Formal Education'. The point here is that the majority of our basic life skills our learnt through life experience, out with syllabuses and institutions.

One of the strengths of participative approaches is that by its very nature each side is educated about the other simply through participating. Further more the expression that is created can then be presented to any number of stakeholders there after, communicating the situations as experienced by those involved. Feedback from which can then be used to educate the original participants as to the views of those stakeholders and potentially reasons for any external restrictions which had been the cause of some resentment.

Another version of the same process can be the creation of a message specifically to educate a target audience about a particular subject. It might be drugs, for instance. Tikambilanie partners might work with drug users, drug workers, the families of those affected, victims of drug related crime, the police and social services developing a picture of the harsh realities that surround a Crack, Heroine or Ketamine culture. This could be then formulated into a concise drama (or any other medium) and used to educate potentially vulnerable sections of the community as to the less glamorous realities that lie waiting further down the road if a path of drug user-ship is embarked upon.

Another highly topical issue is the environment and sustainability. Tikambilanie could work with energy companies, leading experts, industry and the community to explore the simplest ways of implementing behaviour that reduces our energy demand, the quick wins. Once again this could be communicated through a scripted drama, in an amusing way, and presented to schools, families and the wider public. The entertaining element would ensure far more of the information is registered and retained by the audience and thus the battle is already half won.