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SESSION E:3. TRAINER'S NOTES

THE POWER MATRIX

This approach can be adapted to the needs of a local facilitator and group. Before reaching this point, you should have built a sequence of Sessions (Problem Tree, etc.) to achieve the desired end.

This type of reflective activity has been developed by the NGO agency, Actionaid. It uses the REFLECT method to incorporate a variety of themes. (E.g. economic and socio-political among others.) This approach of power and the lack of it, use a diversity of formats
(maps, calendars, matrices, diagrams and timelines.) to achieve awareness among the marginalised.

This guided approach allows each community to produce graphics about their own immediate society. Graphics, which, in their development, lead to, increased awareness.

Although this method has been used primarily with rural communities in Africa and Latin America, it can be successfully adapted to suit the needs of communities in the developed western economies.

You should provide a starter Matrix of the more obvious centres of power in the community under scrutiny. Allow the participants to add from their own experience.

You may wish to have to hand a copy of the local 'phone book and any local directories of community groups, chambers of commerce and statutory agencies to act as reminder for the group.

Ask the group to value the positive or negative power of each subject. Minus 0 to 50, for groups dis-empowering the community, and positive 0 to 50 for those groups offering empowerment.

The full group as a brainstorming session can handle this exercise, or you can break into several groups and ask each group to report back to the main group.

The session should look at internal groups with significant impact.
(For example, agencies delivering services to the area) and external organisations who also influence the development or otherwise of the community.

To stimulate discussion you could pose the following questions about each group under scrutiny:

  • Is the group democratic?
  • Is it important, but ineffective?
  • Has the community a consultative role?
  • Do we need a new organisation to replace an ineffective one?
  • Can we deal with the identified problems of power and the lack of it in our community?
  • Are voluntary, community organisations growing in power or waning?
  • Do statutory bodies match empowerment rhetoric with appropriate actions?

This REFLECT module is not as constrained as many others which require a more precise knowledge of residents and local family history. This particular Session was devised to work with a dispersed urban group, which should be its strength, as such a mix of experiences will add to the information available to the group.

This Matrix of formal and informal power structures can be very provocative. It can be a powerful perceptual tool of awareness and empowerment for those who have never considered the collective influence of the myriad power relations within their community, and which impact on them and their family. Such an exercise can turn disinterested involvement into an aware activism.

Materials:
Power Matrix diagram.
Pens.
Flip chart/ markers.

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