This paper presents knowledge/lessons gained from a Participatory Research, |
Training/Community Education, BCC, Advocacy, Networking, and Monitoring and |
Evaluation activities towards the implementation of a Community-Based Reproductive |
Health (RH), Gender, Population Development Program in the Cordilleras, Northern |
Philippines. It highlights the RH trail taken by the different workers: UNFPA, the LGU, |
NGOs and the communities. Document review and interviews of program staff were |
utilized to draw the stories of learning from the field derived from participatory me- |
thods such as Group and Team Dynamic Methods, Interviewing and Dialogue Methods, |
Sampling Methods, and Visualization and Diagramming Methods. The findings reveal |
that the Community Needs Assessment (CNA) as baseline for integrated planning |
of programme partners laid the PAR framework for the entire development process. |
Guided by the integrated RH framework, the CNA ensured the relevance of data |
collected, correct interpretation and analysis of data. This paved way for relevant |
and meaningful plans, actions, interventions and partnerships that were truly |
participatory, having gained the recognition and acceptance of communities. Commu- |
nity structures-People's Organizations with Health Committees that oversee income |
generating projects and RH education activities in the barangays (villages), were |
formed/strengthened. Partnerships with the Barangay Councils and Barangay Health |
Stations were continually enhanced to make policy formulation and service delivery |
more responsive to the identified RH needs. The CNA activities and deepening RH |
education built a certain level of community awareness of RH needs and rights that |
spurned the project barangays to articulate and take on initiatives to address the gaps |
in resources, information and services for RH. The operation of Community Based Ini- |
tiatives provided community members with opportunities to access livelihood, re- |
sources and services for health/RH. Sustaining their growing RH consciousness and |
strengthened capacity to access health/RH resources and services enabled them to |
increasingly demand for comprehensive health service delivery, quality RH information |
and services included. The strengthening of RH support network in the communities |
and upgrading of local health system provided the impetus and basis to set-up mecha- |
nisms for increased access to comprehensive high quality RH information and services. |
This PAR illustrated several lessons/insights: that empowerment can be attained |
through the development of common knowledge and crucial awareness; it can bring |
isolated people together around common problems and experiences as they collec- |
tively validate their experiences; it can strengthen and valorize muted voices and de- |
valued experiences as the foundation for understanding and critical reflection; and it |
can facilitate negotiated knowledge and solutions to problems. To researchers, it is an |
inspiring and empowering experience to grow and learn with the people. |