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THE PROBLEM TREE (click here for an example of a Problem Tree)
Objective:
This exercise involves some manual work as well as deep discussion. Participants are being asked to talk for some time about the
wide You may need to lead a general brainstorming discussion about the main power blocks in your society. Write these up on flip chart for the benefit of the smaller sub-groups as they work their way through the subject. You can help the group by having them reflect on how sometimes
they can spend a lot of time and energy devising long-term strategies
and more immediate plans, only to find them frustrated at every
turn. Maybe in planning, we are dealing with the superficial aspects of the situation. Paulo Freire a Brazilian educator devised a learning methodology
that can help us to deal with this situation. It may not, immediately
provide
This methodology offers a three-step approach; to see, to judge and to act. The problems facing your community radio station are the generative themes. And the methods used to illustrate them are referred to as the codes. In this case we will use the code of a 'Problem Tree' to identify the 'root Causes', the 'Immediate Causes' and the manifest 'Problems' and see what perceptions emerge for the group. Each group should agree who will write up and explain their 'Tree' to the larger group.
They should identify the root causes of identified problems and also look at how these root causes impact on the day to day running of the project and identify some of the more obvious problems generated by these structural dynamics.
They don't need to offer solutions; this is a 'Problem Tree'. However, often in identifying a problem, in seeing it clearly and its genesis, a solution or solutions may also present themselves.
Materials:
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