My abiding concern with human and planetary wellbeing and an emerging interest in the potential of Participatory Action Research as a method of engaging with restorative, life-enhancing ways of being are central to the research reported here. Chomsky (2003), Kelsey (2002), Roddick (2001), and Stiglitz (2003) are amongst many authors who argue that the way in which we shape and are shaped by our relationships with one another has contributed to an intolerable, inhumane and unsustainable compromise of human and planetary wellbeing. Through a Participatory Action Research (PAR) project with staff from Te Ra, a community based on the holistic ideals of Rudolf Steiner, and thus an organisation explicitly committed to holistic wellbeing of people and planet, we sought to explore the challenges to such wellbeing. While our mutual attention was focused on enhancing staff wellbeing at their place of employment, my wider attention was also given to an investigation of the value of a critical analysis to the wider political and economic context in which this organisation works to meet the aspirations of this community. My deep attention has also focused on the potential for PAR to make a contribution to the transformational aspirations of critical theorists who are concerned to uncover and transform aspects of society that inhibit justice and wellbeing of people and planet. My metaphor of choice, to allow me the engagement in all three spheres simultaneously, is the metaphor of Dance. In my work with the staff of Te Ra, our intent was to 'dance with the Shadows', alluding to Jungian references to hidden aspects of ourselves and this community, to discover if un-wellness and disconnection from self and others could be transformed into flourishing relationships and wellbeing in the organisation. McNiff (2000) proposes that PAR has the potential to generate living theories that redefine the main purpose of organisation theory in terms of human wellbeing. Throughout this research project, principles of PAR are woven in with work of critical organisational theorists, psychologists and anthropologists. The already established ideas of reflection, observation, reflexivity, and action are choreographed with the less often considered ideas of those aspects of the research relationship that may inhibit mutuality. While this organisation is explicitly and deeply committed to underpinning all that is aspired to with a relational ethic, the impact that instrumental practices associated with an intensifying neo-liberal economic external environment have not left this organisation untouched. It took commitment, courage and resources to identify and engage with the Shadows masked by intrinsic and extrinsic pressures and processes that these research participants were experiencing. Engaging in PAR processes allowed us dance 'up close and personal' with their aspirations to begin transforming what was not well, while recognising and reinforcing the organisation's existing strong philosophical and spiritual foundations that emphasized individual freedom and collective responsibility for wellbeing of all. Based on the significant transformations achieved during this project we posit that PAR provides a collaborative opportunity for academics and practitioners to 'dance with the Shadows' of individuals and communities to make a significant contribution to the development of sustainable relationships in workplaces where human and planetary wellbeing is the priority.

This is the story of a project to connect the resources of a university to the struggles of a group of Congolese asylum seekers in the city of Derby. It represents a case study of a whole process: this includes a specific project established to explore how a university might fulfil its stated goals of being closely anchored in the local and regional community; and how it might engage and marshal its resources to provide educational and maybe research opportunities, while giving priority to community-based projects that tackle social disadvantage. The thesis is made up of a number of overlapping elements: there is the story of the project itself, of why the University became involved, and the nature of the interaction with a particular community, as seen through the eyes of some of the Congolese and me the project coordinator/researcher. It includes my struggles to establish a steering committee with the Congolese and the creation of a range of educational/recreational resources to help members of a community manage the difficult, stressful and even traumatic processes of asylum. The project led to the establishment of a community association and various initiatives to dialogically engage with the community and gather diverse narratives. Finally it led to various outcomes leading to what might be a ‘Reconnecting the hearts and minds’ project, that created spaces for story telling for a number of women and men migrants. The project also included an evaluation, which developed at its core, into a collection of narratives chronicling the difficult processes of forced migration, where people experience the pain of family separation, the dislocation of landing in a foreign country. A country whose language was different, whose customs were strange and where the processes of claiming asylum could be alienating, and where racism is experienced. We can call this project and its evaluation a piece of action research with a series of narratives at its heart. The project and evaluation together raise questions about the role of creative activity and narrative in managing painful transitions. There is another story within the bigger one, however, a story of a project coordinator and his relationship with the community and the University of Derby ... of initial enthusiasm followed by marginalisation and the closure of a supportive community development unit in the University; and of the placement of this role, for want of a better home, in the marketing department. This is also a narrative of registering for a doctorate, of being rejected, and of seeking to think through, with the help of others, what a good enough doctorate might entail. The end product has become a process of auto/biographical narrative reflexive research in which the narratives of the migrants intertwine with the researcher’s own; around the themes of dislocation, and of the struggles for voice and agency. The basic threads of the study are of a dislocating experience, and of how resources of hope can be found in creative activity – whether a sewing class, telling stories, fashion shows or engaging in auto/biographical narrative reflexivity. The basic argument has to do with tokenism and the disrespect that can surround university civic engagement as well as how asylum seekers are treated callously more generally; but also how resources of hope can make a difference. There is also the troubling issue of voice in research and whose story really counts; of a white, middle class male engaging with distressed women migrants, and of what might have been a silencing of the women concerned. But through values of commitment, and of learning to listen, the project became more dialogical, as evidenced in the women’s stories.

O presente trabalho vem contribuir com a abordagem acadêmica dos processos participativos para envolvimento de populações tradicionais no planejamento e gestão de áreas protegidas insulares, trabalhando com populações caiçaras que habitam ilhas e trazendo reflexões por experiências com pesquisa, educação popular e gestão participativa no Arquipélago de Ilhabela. São apresentados os referenciais teóricos no campo da geografia e antropologia marítima, a abordagem de planejamento e ordenamento territorial, e questões sobre áreas protegidas e políticas de inserção social. Buscou-se fazer uma construção da concepção de pesquisa-ação-participativa a partir da educação popular, apresentando formas de trabalho e abordagens do pesquisador em campo para trabalho com comunidades tradicionais e trazendo ferramentas de pesquisa e diagnóstico participativo para estudo das comunidades e levantamento de população. Por fim são apresentados dados e informações sobre as Comunidades Tradicionais Caiçaras do Arquipélago de Ilhabela, obtidos a partir da aplicação das ferramentas descritas e do conhecimento dos sujeitos trabalhados, demonstrando que informações necessárias para discutir as relações das comunidades com as unidades de conservação podem ser obtidas a partir de práticas de pesquisa de campo. Então são trazidos argumentos para subsidiar a reflexão e planejamento da gestão do Parque Estadual de Ilhabela, tendo como foco o reconhecimento da presença da população tradicional no interior e entorno da unidade e pensando a inserção dessa comunidade no manejo e gestão participativa da natureza protegida. Para concluir demonstra-se que, com este tipo de abordagem, é possível obter dados fundamentais para pensar o ordenamento ambiental e territorial; além deste se configurar como uma maneira de envolvimento, aproximação e troca de informação. Porém, o processo de apropriação e protagonismo de populações locais na gestão de seus lugares requerem um longo caminho, com trabalhos complementares que fomentem a participação. / The present dissertation contributes with the academic approaches to participative processes fostering the involvement of traditional populations in planning and managing insular protected areas, working with the local inhabitants of the islands and offering reflections based on experience with research, popular education and participative management in the archipelago of Ilhabela. Theoretical references in the field of geography and maritime anthropology will be presented along with an approach to territorial organization and spatial planning, followed by issues related to protected areas and policies of social inclusion. We aimed at building a concept of participativeaction- research based on popular education, presenting possible ways of working with traditional communities and of approaching them, using research and participative diagnosis techniques to study these communities and to conduct a population survey. Finally, we will present data and information about the Traditional Local Communities of the Ilhabela Archipelago based on our knowledge on the surveyed subjects and on the use of the techniques mentioned above, demonstrating that the information that is necessary to discuss the relation of the communities with the areas of protection can be collected while carrying out fieldwork activities. Furthermore, we will provide elements to support the reflection about the management of Ilhabela State Park and its planning, stressing the importance of recognizing the presence of the traditional populations in its interior and surroundings and focusing on the inclusion of these communities in the organization and participative management of protected areas. In conclusion, we will demonstrate that this type of approach enables the collection of data that is essential for reflecting about environmental and territory planning, besides, it configures itself as way of getting involved, bringing one another together and exchanging information. However, the process of appropriation and control of the management of the place where they live by local populations still has to face a long journey, with the aid of complimentary initiatives that foster participation.

O presente trabalho vem contribuir com a abordagem acadêmica dos processos participativos para envolvimento de populações tradicionais no planejamento e gestão de áreas protegidas insulares, trabalhando com populações caiçaras que habitam ilhas e trazendo reflexões por experiências com pesquisa, educação popular e gestão participativa no Arquipélago de Ilhabela. São apresentados os referenciais teóricos no campo da geografia e antropologia marítima, a abordagem de planejamento e ordenamento territorial, e questões sobre áreas protegidas e políticas de inserção social. Buscou-se fazer uma construção da concepção de pesquisa-ação-participativa a partir da educação popular, apresentando formas de trabalho e abordagens do pesquisador em campo para trabalho com comunidades tradicionais e trazendo ferramentas de pesquisa e diagnóstico participativo para estudo das comunidades e levantamento de população. Por fim são apresentados dados e informações sobre as Comunidades Tradicionais Caiçaras do Arquipélago de Ilhabela, obtidos a partir da aplicação das ferramentas descritas e do conhecimento dos sujeitos trabalhados, demonstrando que informações necessárias para discutir as relações das comunidades com as unidades de conservação podem ser obtidas a partir de práticas de pesquisa de campo. Então são trazidos argumentos para subsidiar a reflexão e planejamento da gestão do Parque Estadual de Ilhabela, tendo como foco o reconhecimento da presença da população tradicional no interior e entorno da unidade e pensando a inserção dessa comunidade no manejo e gestão participativa da natureza protegida. Para concluir demonstra-se que, com este tipo de abordagem, é possível obter dados fundamentais para pensar o ordenamento ambiental e territorial; além deste se configurar como uma maneira de envolvimento, aproximação e troca de informação. Porém, o processo de apropriação e protagonismo de populações locais na gestão de seus lugares requerem um longo caminho, com trabalhos complementares que fomentem a participação. / The present dissertation contributes with the academic approaches to participative processes fostering the involvement of traditional populations in planning and managing insular protected areas, working with the local inhabitants of the islands and offering reflections based on experience with research, popular education and participative management in the archipelago of Ilhabela. Theoretical references in the field of geography and maritime anthropology will be presented along with an approach to territorial organization and spatial planning, followed by issues related to protected areas and policies of social inclusion. We aimed at building a concept of participativeaction- research based on popular education, presenting possible ways of working with traditional communities and of approaching them, using research and participative diagnosis techniques to study these communities and to conduct a population survey. Finally, we will present data and information about the Traditional Local Communities of the Ilhabela Archipelago based on our knowledge on the surveyed subjects and on the use of the techniques mentioned above, demonstrating that the information that is necessary to discuss the relation of the communities with the areas of protection can be collected while carrying out fieldwork activities. Furthermore, we will provide elements to support the reflection about the management of Ilhabela State Park and its planning, stressing the importance of recognizing the presence of the traditional populations in its interior and surroundings and focusing on the inclusion of these communities in the organization and participative management of protected areas. In conclusion, we will demonstrate that this type of approach enables the collection of data that is essential for reflecting about environmental and territory planning, besides, it configures itself as way of getting involved, bringing one another together and exchanging information. However, the process of appropriation and control of the management of the place where they live by local populations still has to face a long journey, with the aid of complimentary initiatives that foster participation.

As sometime course facilitator of the Marriage Preparation Course of my faith community, an Anglican Church of Southern Africa, I had become curious as to what meaning the couples had constructed of their participation in these courses, particularly relating to both the content and style of facilitating the Course. The research finding determined that the main value of the Course had been that the group discussions enabled couples to explore their personal positions on a number of issues related to marriage. The adoption of participative action research as a broad model for the Course is recommended to encourage the engagement between premarital couples and the course facilitator to create/find knowledges and practices that will prepare them for marriage. Furthermore, the course facilitator should adopt a not-knowing, curious stance toward the elements of marriage under discussion, employing the narrative tools of externalisation and deconstructive questioning to facilitate the couples' meaning-making. / Practical Theology / M.Th.(Specialization in Pastoral Therapy)

As sometime course facilitator of the Marriage Preparation Course of my faith community, an Anglican Church of Southern Africa, I had become curious as to what meaning the couples had constructed of their participation in these courses, particularly relating to both the content and style of facilitating the Course. The research finding determined that the main value of the Course had been that the group discussions enabled couples to explore their personal positions on a number of issues related to marriage. The adoption of participative action research as a broad model for the Course is recommended to encourage the engagement between premarital couples and the course facilitator to create/find knowledges and practices that will prepare them for marriage. Furthermore, the course facilitator should adopt a not-knowing, curious stance toward the elements of marriage under discussion, employing the narrative tools of externalisation and deconstructive questioning to facilitate the couples' meaning-making. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M.Th.(Specialization in Pastoral Therapy)