More conventional approaches, whether through 'development officers' or 'extension officers', explicitly or implicitly treat people as objects of change. Their relationship often takes the form of a knowing subject acting on an unknowing object. Fundamental to a process of participatory development is the break-up of this dichotomy of subject and object and its transformation into being one of two knowing subjects. The notion of subject to subject interaction summarises the essence of a catalytic approach. The community agents in Sri Lanka are building their own organisation in the shanties of Colombo.
People there feel that the crucial issue is class.
The community agents are supporting groups to form credit unions, community newspapers and housing co-operatives. Poor people are themselves building an organisation where there is no social distance between their structure and the 'beneficiaries'. Train them If you are thinking of adopting such an approach begin with training. Select activists committed to the social economy and encourage them to share their own experiences. Introduce new information and concepts including a detailed perspective on community enterprise.