The 7 Key Learning Areas of CHART

Self awareness:   “At the deepest level we help by what we are, not by what we know or even by what we do” (Edwards 1999). Becoming more aware of our own developmental paths is a requisite for working with others on theirs. Relating to another begins with the relationship we have with ourselves.  This component of the CHART course seeks to enhance participants’ awareness of their own developmental journey, its struggles and resistances to change.  It promotes a foundation for empathy and congruence in what development practitioners personally value, think and believe and the values and beliefs on which their work is based.

Relationships: Relationships are at the heart of development practice. The developmental intervention occurs through relationship and without authentic connection there can be no real trust. For people to increase their control over their lives and dreams they have to change the way they relate to themselves and to others in their relationships. The character and integrity of the relationship will have a major effect on the quality of the intervention, and the extent to which it achieves developmental objectives. The CHART course helps participants to continually improve their practice in the establishment, nurturing, sustaining, and closing of relationships.

Creativity:  Too often development practice can be mechanistic, following pre-set formulas and not adapted to people and context.  The CHART course works with a wide array of arts and creative development tools, using improvisation, story, theatre, painting; poems and action methods.  Course workshops create a safe and playful sharing environment and encourage participants to draw on their experiences and use their own ideas, feelings, and issues to create, explore, illuminate and reflect.  New roles and strategies are practised, confidence enhanced.  A range of possible personal, workplace and community interventions emerges.

Critical thinking: In a culture where learning by rote is the norm, critical thinking and analysis are not strongly encouraged.  The CHART course helps participants to understand and appreciate connections and patterns in thinking between ourselves; those we serve; our organisations and the purpose and ultimate aims of our work.

Learning: Exploring how we learn and unlearn is a requisite for us becoming fully responsible of our own learning and accepting it as a life-long endeavour.  The CHART course gives space to the participants to explore and nurture their own learning styles by offering a wide variety of different learning methods and opportunities.

Power and Development: Understanding power relations, both visible and invisible, internal and external, are a critical area of analysis.  A greater appreciation of power and its forms helps participants define more clearly what forces can support or sap development in Cambodia.  The course seeks to raise awareness about the various forms of power (over; with; within) and how we use, can use and are used by such forms.

Facilitation:  Facilitation skills are central to nurturing developmental relationships that can adapt and change over time.  The course aims to give participants safe space to gain confidence in experimenting with different styles and methods so that lessons learned can be applied in their practice.