The ABDO Study Circles

ABDO helps start up study circles in the districts where we operate.  The study circle contains 6 – 12 people from the same area, who have the same interests and come together for a common purpose. They discuss problems that affecting them and come up with lasting solutions. The process is that of identifying, investigation, analyzing and action-and-reflection through a collective, democratic and dialogical process. The study circles are a tool of solving problems locally. As the libraries in cases tend to reach a younger crowd the study circles is a way of reaching out to the elders in the community. The older people realized that they also wanted more information on various developmental issues. ABDO develops and or, finds the study material which the groups need for the discussions. ABDO also produced a guide book “Understanding study circles – a guide for communities”, written by Staffan Gunnarsson and published in 2002 and has been a tool in the formation of study circles and spreading the methodology. The study circles have a wide range of activities from discussions of local issues such as HIV & AIDS, gender equality, domestic violence to practical projects like poultry, bakery and crafts making. ABDO provides the project groups with a loan, not in cash but in form of equipment or materials and the groups pay back within a year. The products from these income generating projects increase income in the families of the members.

In periods when the schools lacked books and had limited teachers the study circle method was also used in schools. The pupils would create study circles groups where they would discuss information from the textbooks and give each other assignments. The usage of study circles and the benefit from libraries has improved school pass rates in many schools where ABDO operates.

In every area where ABDO works there is a study circle committee which helps to coordinate the study circles in that area. In the groups the members democratically comes up with rules and structures. Many of the groups last a long time, the members become close friends and sometimes the study circle grows into a company.

ABDO also work with educating other NGO’s about the study circle method since it has been found to be working well in ABDO areas of operation. Study circles bring people together and make them develop both as individuals and as a community.

The most important thing is that the initiative comes from the people, from the grass roots, a bottom-up approach. The focus is on what these people want to learn, that which is relevant to them. ABDO provides the tools for it to come true. Currently ABDO is working with close to 120 study circles.