Community learning programmes Commonwealth of Learning Healthy Communities Initiative

COL 3-year plan: July 2009 – June 2012 Livelihoods and Health Sector Healthy Communities initiative – local groups “doing” ODL 20+ countries 4 Commonwealth regions – new health-related ODL programmes operational 4 regions of the Commonwealth – reaching 20+ districts, 100+ learning agents and 200,000 people Health is the product of many different, but interrelated factors – biological, social, environmental, cultural and economic. Other factors are where a person lives, their level of income and what they eat. Equally important is that people have a say in the decision that affect their well- being. Canadian Nurses’ Association

Context Massive learning needs: MDGs, Education for All, Commonwealth values, etc. Conventional approaches not up to the task Knowledge-based groups lacking communication opportunities Underutilised media & ICT – Technology rather than content focus – Growing numbers of stations & centres Isolated efforts, disconnected resources, e.g. training

Our challenge Non-formal ODL: learning for development – Health and livelihoods Marginalised areas and groups – Rural, resource-poor – Women, youth, PWAs Craft and scale-up community ODL models – Programme approach – Training curricula Malawi statistics 5% access to electricity 2 internet users per 100; 12 mobiles per 100 people; 40 radio sets per 100; 80 per 100 in Mchinji 12% HIV infection 14% low birthweight children ; 21% <fives underweight 65% adult literacy

Our approach Appropriate technology – Social applications – Available, suitable, scalable – Radio remains the most accessible learning technology in rural, resource poor areas Community-based media: equal parts opportunity and challenge – Participatory, appropriate: the voice from next door – Lacking capacity – Integrate computers, internet, mobiles

Community learning programmes Community / citizens Learners Kith & kin Groups Facilitators Knowledge agents Extension offices NGOs, CBOs, etc Education organisations Local media RadioTVTelecentresMobiles

Community learning programmes Community Groups, individuals Local knowledge, resources Knowledge groups Local health NGO, CBO, extension, hospital National counterparts Knowledge, expertise, networks Policy feedback Local media Radio, TV, telecentres Networks, associations Mass communication channel, media expertise Policy feedback Public administration District health or development office National counterparts Credibility Funds Community learning programme

Community learning programmes Remote, resource-poor communities Problems – HIV/AIDS, malaria, TB – Maternal & child mortality – Nutrition: diabetes, obesity – Environmental health – Parenting, conflict resolution Problem solvers – Community members – Local media-ICT – Knowledge intermediaries: extension, NGOs, etc. – Education groups

Components Programme team – Translation of the ODL course team – Combines stakeholders, knowledge, media, education Learning objectives – Matrix Learning content – Radio programming – Field recordings and interviews – Stories & local case studies Learner support – Community listening-learning groups – Training in content, facilitation, listening

Components Local resources – Voluntary inputs – Listener support – Public funds Structure – Registration – Assessment Integrate mobiles, video/TV, new media

Success factors

From here Advocacy – Research & publication How-to tools Scale-up, take-up: in-country, in-region, internationally Community media groups in the Commonwealth – 500+ at present and growing Inspire 50 new programmes by 2012 Countries in : Jamaica (rural & urban) Sierra Leone South Africa Tanzania Zambia Bangladesh India Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands