The Mercy Corps Blog

Blog Post Posted July 4, 2009, 1:30 am by Jameson Gadzirai

Making words count for everybody

Oral communication is the basis of learning and tradition in many rural Sudanese communities. Photo: Miguel Samper for Mercy Corps

When we're doing training around information sharing and technical skills, It is difficult to reach communities that depend heavily on oral communication. Most of the content we produce is invariably text based, and support for other forms of Information and Communication Technology is still very much in its infancy.

So —ultimately, because they are so dependent on oral communication — women, children and marginalized members of the community cannot easily access the information that helps them make important decisions that affect them.

We need to do a better job of helping them access and use this information. I believe that institutions working on strengthening civil society in developing countries should consider promoting oral communication as opposed to written forms of training, reporting and tracking community development.

Radio listening groups in Sudan, for example, have provided communities with instant access to information and helped create discussions on crucial issues such as the country's Comprehensive Peace Agreement, the Electoral Process, health, water and sanitation.

Across the region, organizations like Fahamu have gone on to develop a series of learning materials on human rights and democracy through their Crossroads drama series. Theatre and story telling, at their best, provide strong insights into day-to-day lives and generate more interest than point-by-point manuals handed out to community members.

Similarly, Mercy Corps Sudan Resource Centers have attracted huge turnouts for video documentaries and radio listening group sessions, because community members felt messages were reaching them.

Song and well-choreographed dance also allow community members to see themselves in the message being illustrated, as well as assist in shaping crucial decisions over health, welfare and civic issues.

Various forms of oral communication have shown great success in community outreach. Where possible, staff working closely with local partner organizations should encourage the use of the spoken word in delivering messages to target groups and promoting active and engaged feedback. Training manuals can be turned into scripts to be acted out, using the art forms and oral communications that are familiar to those we serve.

Just as we strive to achieve information literacy in communities that have a strong and vibrant reading culture, so too should we strive for an informed selection of skills and practices in semi-literate communities.