What the heck is PEC? (continued)

"So, did you manage to have a look at the manual I passed on to you a week ago?"

"You mean Our People, Our Resources?"

"Yes, what do you think?"

"Well… there is lots of wishful thinking in the early chapters, but some of the exercises sound possible, and I found a few examples worth reading. If you want my dispassionate judgment, however, a process such as the one the manual is describing is more difficult to get going than the authors seem to suggest. But it may be worth trying."

"So, are we going to try it? If you say yes, we may join forces and set up a small PAR support team together. You have been working for a while on environment matters, I was just contracted for two years to support the district health system on primary health care, and the other day I met a new member of the district development committee. She is a very energetic woman and her job mandate is to motivate women's groups in the district. She mentioned that she would like to collaborate with the health support project. The three of us together have a good basic knowledge of several topics, some understanding of participatory methods (you remember I worked with NGOs in other districts carrying out participatory assessment exercises) and lots of contacts in the villages, among the district authorities and in the capital. If we prepare ourselves well, we could help start a PAR process!"

"Hey, hey… slow down! All this will require a mountain of time and resources. Who is going to pay? And are you sure that the people in the villages will be willing to participate? What would they get out of it?"

"Someone has to start, do you not agree? You and I and the district lady have a salary, and if we get our superiors to see the advantages of working with the local residents, they may let us take the time. Later on, when we have some plans, we will find some appropriate financial backing. But let us not worry too much beforehand. There are plenty of resources in the district. Regarding the local residents, we will first talk with them, and they will decide. I know the people in your village are fed up with the devastation of the pasture, and I know the kids in many places I visit are not happy about moving to the capital in search of jobs. We should be careful not to make promises we cannot maintain or raise grandiose expectations, but we can work on the basis of their own willingness to get together and discuss. Some of them will not see any benefit from this, but others will, I am convinced."

"Well, first of all I need to meet the woman you mentioned, and discuss with her whether this has any chance of really happening. Then, I want to discuss the idea with the forestry officers. I am supposed to visit them tomorrow, and will mention your suggestion. Then, I will have to talk with our donor representative in the capital, and get permission to spend more time in the communities. (In fact, now that I recall, she had asked me to do exactly that the last time we met.) If all seems fine, we can go together to discuss with the village people. But not before! Let us try not to put the cart in front of the oxen, for a time!"

"Okay, okay. I just thought that the people in the villages where I am working would be happy to hear about this, and that you would be convinced if you would meet them…"

"You know that there is no easy way to convince me. Only some hard facts would do. And, since we are talking about this, you'll never convince me to use those acronyms PAR, PEC or whatever else you call these matters. As far as I am concerned, acronyms stink."

"I don't care about what we call it. Let the people find a name, whatever they like. For me, I would be satisfied by going ahead with some concrete initiative, no matter the name."

"I take your point. Let us forget about action research and primary environmental care, and let us get working."