Participatory Activities
January 6, 2008 – 1:54 pmWhat do people do in Health Clubs?
Health Sessions are very participatory, giving members a chance to participate in activities that entail interaction and engage them physically.
Role Play and drama are very effective means of stimulating discussion and are immensely popular. Health Club members participate in role play scenarios about diagnosing a variety of common illnesses and develop dramas about various topics like HIV/AIDS and water, sanitation and hygiene.
Drama About Personal Hygiene
Mapping is another very useful activity, which enables health clubs to demonstrate their assets and present visitors with visual information about their area: typically this includes information about the sanitation coverage and water facilities. Most health clubs make a banner showing their area which is beautifully embroidered on a large piece of cotton material.
Pairwise and Priority Ranking are participatory activity that enables members to prioritise which of the many issues are the most important to them. for Pairwise Ranking, a large matrix is drawn on the ground and the ten or more topics of comparison are put along the x and y axis of the matrix. Each topic is compared to the other, and the choice represented in the square with a symbol (e.g. a stone = the need for an access road). When each has been compared with the other, a final total is made of each topic, and the score ranked according to which received the most votes. Similar to Pairwise Ranking is the Priority Ranking exercise whereby small groups free list the priorities or needs in their community. After listing their needs, each group then ranks the needs according to their own subjective criteria. Each group presents their final list as well as their criteria, whereby the entire group then needs to develop one list of priorities. This activity encourages active participation as well as compromise.
Results of a Priority Ranking Exercise in South Africa
‘Three Pile Sorting’ is an easy game to play if there is a well prepared selection of illustrated cards showing good, bad and medium hygiene practices found in a particular community. The cards are handed out and each person comes up and explains what they have on their card. The audience then discuss whether the card should join the good or bad pile. If they cannot decide the card may be assigned to the medium pile. This exercise promotes lots of discussion and often strong debate as people sort out in their own minds and as a group decide which hygiene practices are really safe. At the end the good practices are ranked and the audience is asked to undertake at least one of the good hygiene ways before the following meeting a week later. This is the type of group consensus that enables the community to change together.
Setting up the Three Pile Sort
Blocking the Routeis a popular way to explain the transmission of disease. Below, the transmission of malaria is being discussed and cards show the main routes by which mosquitoes can transmit malaria. Other pictures are given out which show ways to block this transmission route based upon mosquito breeding sites and behavior. Those who have the appropriate card are asked to come up and explain how their picture shows a means of blocking malaria and then to stand behind the picture they block. The interventions are then discussed at length and consensus is reached on how they will be able to take steps as a community to reduce malaria. This may entail an effort to use bed nets or to remove standing water.
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