Social-ecological systems of traditional pastoralists are adapted to deal with shocks and stresses such as droughts and livestock disease that characterize their environment. However, inappropriate policies have undermined the resilience of pastoralist social-ecological systems at a time when stresses from new challenges, such as growth in the human population and global climate change are increasing. Many pastoralist groups such as the Gabra of north-central Kenya now regularly require emergency relief. There is an urgent need to take deliberate steps to rebuild the resilience of pastoralist social-ecological systems. One lever that external actors such as NGOs and government agencies have that could help them to do so relates to structures and processes of participation and decision-making. The purpose of this research, therefore, was to examine ways in which the approaches to public participation used by agencies involved in water resources management can affect the collective capacity of pastoralist institutions and communities to influence social-ecological resilience. The research revolved around a single case study: the Kenyan NGO Pastoralist Integrated Support Programme (PISP) together with the Gabra communities where PISP works. The research found that the capacity to influence resilience resides in the network of vertical and horizontal institutional linkages as much as it does in any particular organization or institution. This implies the need for a radical paradigm shift in the way that NGOs and other formal sector actors think of participation and of their role. An examination of the Gabra approach to decision-making and PISP's approach to participation point to an alternative way of thinking about participation. This alternative rationale for participation would call on formal sector actors to promote participation and inclusivity of decision-making at multiple levels of social organization through an array of interconnected processes and institutions, to foster deliberation processes that are nested across levels, and to help create and strengthen vertical institutional linkages for their beneficiary communities. These proposed strategies relate to a key contribution of this research, which is to suggest building a resilience-based theory of participation and to provide a glimpse of what such a theory might entail.

Benskörhet (osteoporos) och frakturer orsakade av osteoporos är ett stort globalt problem. Syftet med det tioåriga projektet ”Vadstena en benhård kommun” var att utvärdera om man med en befolkningsinriktad interventionsstrategi kunde minska osteoporos och osteoporosrelaterade frakturer i en kommun. Ett representativt urval av befolkningen i åldern 20-79 år, 15% av en population på 7800 personer, blev tillfrågade om att delta vid fyra undersökningstillfällen som innebar att fylla i en enkät och att bentäthetsmätas. Vid första tillfället deltog 70%, första uppföljningen 69%, andra uppföljningen 79% och vid den tredje uppföljningen 65%.Syftet med denna MPH-uppsats är att beskriva det praktiska interventionsarbetet utifrån dagboksanteckningar och att presentera befolkningens upplevelser av interventionsarbetet.Vi nådde uppskattningsvis 5000 personer (65%) av befolkningen med direkt information.De personer som fick individuella riskprofiler baserade på angivna svar i frågeformulär och bentäthetsvärden var de som gav mest positiv respons och kan tillskrivas en lyckad individuell intervention.Den grupp som varit med en eller flera gånger tidigare (interventionsgruppen) var de som vid sista undersökningen 1999, hade fått ökad kunskap om osteoporos (P&lt;0,001). Den gruppen kände även bäst till projektet (P&lt;0, 001), men även den nya gruppen (befolkningsgruppen) kände i hög grad till projektet (75 %). På frågan om deltagarna ville förändra sina vanor var båda grupperna lika villiga (65 % respektive 64 %), vilken kan tillskrivas en lyckad generell intervention.Sjukdomen osteoporos och dess följder tar lång tid att utveckla. Det tar därför även lång tid att mäta effekt av att projekt som detta, som dessutom innefattar en hel befolkning. Nu, 18 år efter projektets start görs en uppföljning av projektet där delar av de mål som sattes upp i början av projektet mäts, bland annat frakturincidens och kunskap om osteoporos hos befolkningen.Nyckelord / Osteoporosis and fractures due to osteoporosis are an increasing global health problem. The aim ofthe ten-years Vadstena Osteoporosis Prevention Project (VOPP) was to evaluate if it was possible toreduce osteoporosis and osteoporotic-related fractures with a community-based prevention programA representative sample aged 20-79 years (Vadstena population of 7800) was invited to participatein the study comprising four measurements including questionnaire and bone mineral densitymeasurement. At baseline 70% participated, at first follow-up 69%, second follow-up 70% and at thethird follow-up 65 %.The aim with this MPH- essay is to describe the intervention from a diary and to present thepopulations experience of the VOPP.We met approximately 5000 persons (65%) of the citizens directly with our intervention. Theparticipators who received individual feedback letters on their answers in the questionnaire and theresults from the bone measurement gave us the best response.The group that participated once or more had the best knowledge about osteoporosis (p&lt; 0.001)and were to an high extent familiar with the project (p&lt;0.001). Even the single participating grouphad god knowledge about the project (75 %). Both groups stated that they wanted to change lifestyle(65 % vs. 64 %) showing a successful general intervention.Osteoporosis is a disease that is present for a long period without signs, before resulting in theclinical sign, fractures. Therefore results of a preventive program towards a whole population isexpected to be found not until after several years. Now eighteen years later a follow up is planned inorder to measure the incidence of osteoporotic fractures and the knowledge about osteoporosis in thepopulation. / <p>ISBN 978-91-85721-45-0</p>

Many immigrant (minority language) parents send their children to heritage language programs in hopes of helping their children maintain connections to their mother cultures and languages. This case study aims to explore the challenges minority language parents may encounter with decisions related to heritage language retention through community-based heritage language programs in a Canadian Chinese diaspora community. Five parent participants were recruited based on their diverse geographical and linguistic backgrounds. From interviews with these parents five themes emerged. These are 1) the nature of parental expectations regarding the function of heritage education, 2) the differences between heritage education and mainstream education, 3) varying perceptions of being part of a cultural minority, 4) manners of negotiating ethnic identity, and 5) the issue of diaspora values. The findings may shed light on how heritage education may be further developed, and also provide educators and policy makers with a better understanding of the importance of heritage education from the parents’ perspective.

Community arts are potentially valuable tools in building community and regenerating distressed neighbourhoods. Community-based art organizations exist in most major cities across North America and abroad. These groups are concerned with social and environmental community issues (e.g., youth poverty, sustainability, racism) and use art as a medium for social change through community empowerment and personal development. Many of these organizations operate on limited funding and are required to complete program evaluations to demonstrate the merit of their programs. While some program evaluation literature touches on the role of arts-based research methods, very little focuses specifically on using these methods with community-based art organizations—particularly organizations with programming intended for children and youth. This Major Degree Project seeks to address this gap and explore the role of creative, arts-based evaluation methods for community-based art organizations’ program evaluation.

Traditionally the approach to nature conservation in South Africa was a colonialist one, which centred on the notion that the exclusion of rural people from protected areas would result in the best possible protection of fauna and flora and their habitats. This protectionist approach resulted in the creation of ad hoc wildlife sanctuaries, mostly national parks and game reserves which excluded local communities. The notion of a more inclusive approach to communities surrounding conservation areas is a hallmark of modern conservationist thinking and has gained much favour in recent times. The involvement of communities in biodiversity conservation initiatives is especially important when considered within the context of effective environmental governance (EG). This coupled with South Africa's anthropocentric approach to environmental governance serves to lay the theoretical foundation for the proper involvement of communities in the conservation of biodiversity. Central to the notion of sustainability, is the preservation of the integrity of ecosystems, while simultaneously acknowledging the integral part that humans play in these ecosystems. This notion of sustainability, coupled with the much–favoured bottom–up approach to conservation, highlights the importance of community involvement in the formation of biodiversity conservation areas. In order to ensure effective community involvement in biodiversity conservation initiatives, it is imperative that a coherent policy and legal framework exists so as to properly facilitate community involvement in biodiversity conservation initiatives and in so doing to properly implement such projects. It is against this background that this study seeks to explore and analyse the relevant and applicable regional, sub–regional and national legal frameworks applicable to community involvement with regard to biodiversity conservation. / Thesis (LL.M. (Environmental Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

The overall aim of this thesis was to study elderly persons’ everyday life and the benefits of community-based day care rehabilitation (DCR). Further aims were to describe everyday life as experienced by elderly persons eligible for DCR and what they expected to gain from attending DCR. Participants in  study I and II were 22 prospective elderly day-care patients with physical disabilities. Interviews about their experiences of everyday life (study I) and their expectations of DCR (study II) were conducted and analysed according to a qualitative research approach called phenomenography. In study III 15 elderly persons were interviewed about changes in everyday life after having been discharged from DCR. A narrative approach was used for analysing the interviews. In Study IV occupational therapy patients’ records from 59 patients that had been discharged from DCR were analysed using deductive content analysis for describing individual treatment goals and level of goal attainment. The findings in study I, showed that cessation of activities and social contacts resulted in feelings of resignation and dejection for some participants. Participants also described how activities and social contacts continued, albeit in a different way, and that being active resulted in feelings of pleasure. In study II the findings described expectations of participating in physical training and socialisation with others at the DCR. The findings in study III, in the form of four case-stories, described positive changes in the participants’ everyday life such as improved occupational performance and heightened sense of wellbeing. The findings indicate that it was a combination of several events that together contributed to the changes. The findings in study IV showed that “Walking” was the category that contained the highest proportion of treatment goals. A majority of the treatment goals were either completely achieved or partially achieved. DCR could have a significant impact on elderly persons’ everyday life.

With the rapid growth of the global ecotourism industry, the sector has had difficulty attaining its intended goals of environmental responsibility and local development. In recent years, there has been a recognized need for greater incorporation of local communities into tourism operations. This thesis explores the challenges facing ecotourism, while arguing for the potential found in ecotourism enterprises owned and operated by indigenous communities in Ecuador. An analysis of two distinct Ecuadorian cases demonstrates the potential for multi-faceted environmental and social impact in diverse contexts. Finally, by understanding the processes that build impact embedded in the business models, this study reveals key components and strategies applicable to community-based ecotourism around the world.

This research explores how Participatory Video (PV) can facilitate empowerment and strengthen dialogue and engagement for public policy with members of recycling cooperatives and government in the greater metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. The research project provided opportunities for catadores/as (‘recyclers’) to explore PV as a way to shed light on their livelihood challenges, but also as an approach to celebrate, demonstrate and legitimize the value and significance of their work to local government and community. Working through a participatory approach, twenty-two leaders from eleven cooperatives were involved in all aspects of the video-making process, from script writing to filming, group editing and knowledge mobilization. The research took place during nine months of fieldwork located in four municipalities in the greater metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil using multiple ethnographic and participatory methods. The methodology for this research is action-oriented, and applies a participatory community-based multi-methods approach. The purpose of the videos was to relay the message that catadores/as perform a valuable service to society, and through the organization of cooperatives have the capacity to be further supported and integrated into waste management programs. The videos were used as a tool for communication with government and for community outreach. This research is supported through the Participatory Sustainable Waste Management (PSWM) project, a six-year Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded University Partnership project (2005-2011). The overall purpose of the participatory-based PSWM project was to increase the effectiveness, safety, and income generation of organized waste recycling in originally four and later six Brazilian municipalities in the metropolitan region of São Paulo: Santo André, Diadema, Ribeirão Pires, São Bernardo do Campo, Mauá and some parts of the municipality of São Paulo. The capacity building activities and actions of the PSWM project have contributed to structure, organize and strengthen cooperative recycling enterprises and their members, for example, by setting up a pilot project on micro-credit and advancing the practice of solidarity economy through collective commercialization and networking of the recyclers in the region. In addition, the project has helped create a more inclusive culture amongst the local governments in this region, where many recyclers are now present in political meetings and decision making related to waste management. Unfortunately, this is not the case in all the municipalities and there are still barriers to participatory models in decision-making and a lack of political support. Findings support the conclusion that PV can be a powerful methodological tool contributing to the process of individual, community and organizational empowerment and is significant for democratic governance and the increasingly popular notion of the knowledge democracy. This research also has policy relevance and practical application. The findings have the capacity to inform models of participatory governance, and improved democratic processes in addressing complex urban development challenges, in addition to advancing practices in government accountability and transparency. / Graduate / 0344 / 0700 / 0999 / crystaltre@gmail.com

Over the past three decades, there has been a global paradigm shift in biodiversity conservation approaches from exclusive protected areas (PAs) towards people-centred conservation. This has encouraged the development of community-based conservation across the world, promoting reconciliation between livelihood improvement and biodiversity conservation. However, there is a growing body of literature that demonstrates mixed outcomes of community-based conservation approaches in contributing to improved conservation and local livelihoods, especially to the communities neighbouring PAs in Africa. This dissertation examines the experience of implementing one community wildlife management area (WMA) in Tanzania, with a particular focus on the effectiveness of Ikona WMA in contributing to improved conservation and local livelihoods in Western Serengeti. Specifically, the study investigates livelihood benefits and conservation impacts attributed to Ikona WMA in the study area. It also explores the success and challenges of implementing Ikona WMA and suggests areas for improvement. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through field-based research in Nyichoka and Robanda villages, which participate in Ikona WMA, and Rwamchanga village, which does not. Research methods employed in this study include interviews, focus group discussions, and household surveys. With regard to livelihood benefits attributed to Ikona WMA, results show benefits to the communities participating in WMA at the community level, especially improvement of social infrastructure, while few or no benefits were realized at the household level. In addition, findings show variation in perceptions between and among the communities participating in Ikona WMA and the community not participating, and among conservation experts about community access to natural resources and benefits experienced at the household level in the study area. Findings show that the communities participating in the WMA had more positive perceptions of Ikona WMA, and perceived more conservation impact than did the community not participating in the WMA. Both community members and WMA administrators perceived a decline of illegal activities, improvement of habitat, increase of wild animals, and increase of wildlife protection as the major conservation impacts attributable to Ikona WMA. Ikona WMA demonstrates some success in contributing to improved conservation and local livelihoods at the community level. However, the study reveals a number of challenges hindering effective implementation of Ikona WMA, including insufficient power over crucial decision making and ownership of wildlife resources, insufficient involvement of community members, unequal distribution of benefits at the village level, and insufficient transparency, accountability, and monitoring of village development projects. In addition, respondents identified low levels of education among community members and WMA staff members, weak collaboration with other conservation actors, and increases in both livestock and human populations as challenges to the WMA in the study area. The study suggests that broad level participation of community members in decision making about wildlife conservation, empowerment of the local community, particularly with regard to financial resources, skills training, and true devolution of power over wildlife to the community, as well as fostering equity in benefit sharing at the village level, could help to cultivate community interest in wildlife conservation. / Graduate / 0768 / 0478 / 0368

The current study is part of a larger program evaluation of Caminar Latino, a community-based organization that works with Latino families affected by domestic violence. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects that community-based programs have on children. We wanted to investigate the relationship between children’s knowledge of violence and their attitude towards it. We hypothesized that children who have more educational awareness of violence can better recognize it when it happens, and therefore have better coping skills. Sixteen Latino children were interviewed and results showed that there was no significant relationship between violence knowledge and attitudes. This study found correlations between the number of siblings and attitudes towards violence: The more siblings a child had, the more he/she endorsed “if you are mad at someone you can just ignore them” and the less likely he/she endorsed “you try to talk out a problem instead of fighting”. Findings show that it is important to consider siblings when exploring attitudes towards violence. The biggest limitation of this study was that these preliminary data’s sample size may have been too small to show effects. The current study is part of a larger program evaluation of Caminar Latino, a community-based organization that works with Latino families affected by domestic violence. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects that community-based programs have on children. We wanted to investigate the relationship between children’s knowledge of violence and their attitude towards it. We hypothesized that children who have more educational awareness of violence can better recognize it when it happens, and therefore have better coping skills. Sixteen Latino children were interviewed and results showed that there was no significant relationship between violence knowledge and attitudes. This study found correlations between the number of siblings and attitudes towards violence: The more siblings a child had, the more he/she endorsed “if you are mad at someone you can just ignore them” and the less likely he/she endorsed “you try to talk out a problem instead of fighting”. Findings show that it is important to consider siblings when exploring attitudes towards violence. The biggest limitation of this study was that these preliminary data’s sample size may have been too small to show effects.