The Participatory Learning Process in the Community Leaders on Development of a Healthy City at Tambon Naimuang, Phichit Province

Abstract

   This research purposed to assess the participatory learning process  involve the healthy city by urban  community leaders. and also to measure the participatory learning achievement. The study had been  implemented between November 2004 –July 2005. Method  :  The study design was participatory action  research. Group' including 15 urban community leaders, instructors, healthy co - workers, the representative from  Muang sub-district municipality staff,  the facilitators and the researchers. 3 phases of community participatory  process, phases I concerned to the preparation  of  the master and operational plan, phase II concerned to project implementation and  team building and phase III concerned to the participatory monitoring and evaluation by community. In phase I many participatory learning technics  were used such as the Future Search Conference (FSC), the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), the Social Mapping, the Mind Mapping, The meta - Plan, Education Games and Role Plays . The data were collected before,during and after by each process utilized  learning evaluation forms, self evaluated form, including the observation and records by the researchers.

   Results  :  this study  found that community group could share idea knowledge and experiences by well designed participatory learning process. They could make  use of  own  resource  and wisdom to dealing with health  city development, had  26 projects and 10 activities  created and implemented  by Community themself . Most of people  jointed  the teams according to their interesting . The process  was to  strength among community working, they showed  team ability and self reliance, also learn owns experience through  periodic  participatory monitoring and evaluation process. Finally, the learning achievement was statistically significant increase(p-value < 0.05) with moderate to highest participation  all learning activities .

  So  the participatory learning process   is a key success to empower people in the development of a healthy city  responsc to national healthy Thailand policy.