permaculture

INTRODUCTION: Permaculture Workshops 11

Follow-up planning meeting with community leaders

If community leaders are interested in hosting a Permaculture workshop, you should

hold a second meeting to begin specifying plans for the course.

This second meeting should cover all the organizational points for which you

will need the community leaders’ help and/or approval:

• What? The agreed upon course content, focus topics, and expected outcomes.


• When? Set dates. Consider seasonal and ceremonial calendars as well as public
  holidays, and propose the best scheduling options.


• Where? Decide where classroom activities will take place and choose an
  appropriate site in the village for demonstration projects and activities.


• Who? Make a list of possible participants.


• How?

Discuss support the community can provide, such as:

• Organizing free childcare for women participants during course hours.


• Cooking/catering support.


• Community contributions of tools and materials.


• Arranging for an interpreter in cases where the facilitator does not speak the
  local language of the participants.

Discuss support the facilitator and the facilitating organization can provide,

such as:

• Food.


• Training.


• Learning materials.


• Tools.


• Post-course follow-up support.

Identifying the specific needs of the participants

Small, focused discussion groups – if appropriate, separate groups for men and women

• can be a valuable opportunity for prospective participants to express their hopes and

concerns prior to the course. This is also a very important opportunity for the facilitator

to assess the learning needs and expectations of the participants.

Set a frame for their input by explaining that the Permaculture workshop is about teaching

techniques that will help them to create their own solutions to the problems they are

facing, rather than only providing tools or money, or telling them what to do.

Identify the division of labor between men and women and their main concerns in their

everyday work. Ascertain the amount of time they spend working on which kinds of tasks

each day.