Encouraging Transformative Learning:
Experiences from Development Practice in Cambodia

On Wednesday 16th July, 2008 at the World Vision Conference Room in Phnom Penh, VBNK and the CCC Analyzing Development issues will jointly host a workshop called Encouraging Transformative Learning:
Experiences from Development Practice in Cambodia.

The key message of the workshop is that transformative learning processes are effective and do lead to positive social change. However transformative learning all too often gets blocked by the organizational culture and the need to comply with donor requirements.

Since the publication of the seminal study Learning for Transformation by Moira O’Leary and Meas Nee in October 2001 several NGO projects have sought to experiment with transformative learning approaches including CCC’s ADI Project and VBNK’s CHART Project. Launched in 2002 CHART (Creative Holistic Action-research for Relationship Transformation) aims to promote an appropriate, process-oriented, sustainable and empowering development practice within Cambodia. Introduced in 2006 the ADI community level course seeks to build the capacity of NGO practitioners and village stakeholders to respond to emerging development issues in program areas.

The aim of the workshop is for participants to gain a better appreciation and understanding of transformative learning approaches in general and of the ADI and VBNK experiences in particular, as well as practical ideas for bringing transformative learning into every day practice in their organizations.  The process will use interesting dialogue methodologies to engage participants in sharing about the experience and practice of transformative learning.  Creative presentations of the ADI and VBNK experiences will also illustrate how transformative approaches can be integrated into development practice.  The language of the workshop will be English.