Children are now part of the solution to problems that frequently occur in these centres. The centres are slowly but surely being transformed and becoming both child-friendly and child-directed. The process, spearheaded by a small team in Hyderabad and supported by the National Yar Forum from Delhi, is now sought to be replicated in the entire YaR sector of South Asia.
Fr Thathireddy Vijayabhaskar, Provincial Director for the National Don Bosco YaR Forum, was present for the occasion. He spoke of how Jesus lived the partnership model of relationship. In a spirit of collaboration with the Salesian family, the Salesian Sisters too were present not as guests but as participants. They have initiated PAR independently at a centre of their own at Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu. The National Co-ordinator of YaR among the Salesian Sisters, Sr. Moksha FMA, was also a participant.
The researchers presented that children who have been bullying before are now protectors of younger and weaker children. Children ensure that no food is wasted. Children are more regular at school. Rushing to grab food has changed to orderly behaviour and volunteering to serve. Specific needs of children are addressed. There is so much more listening to the children with respect and concern. Children express themselves freely at the various fora being created for that. The demand for calling together the focus group is made by children, so that certain immediate issues can be sorted out.
The researchers demonstrated how in a hierarchical society, change is envisaged from down upwards to ensure justice is done. The Human Rights and Child Rights approach functions through this paradigm. Those in power may mouth the required slogans, but are often averse to its practice. PAR, instead, proposes a peaceful paradigm for change. It is both top-down and bottom-up, a “Stepping Towards Equality,” a voluntary choice by those in authority as promoters of change by initiating participation. They give up the privilege of unilateral decision-making and involve all, particularly the children, with amazing results.
The seminar was preceded on 25th and 26th March by the mid-term monitoring and review. The seminar, during which the latest PAR Manual was released, was followed by two days of training for the new researchers facilitated by the senior researchers and supervised by the PAR facilitation team. They learnt and practised the seven steps of PAR starting with the identification of issues (1-3), analysis (4), action plan (5), implementation plan (6) and distribution of responsibilities (7). It became evident during the training that the steps were not as difficult as some may have thought. The real difficulty was in stepping towards equality.
Each of the participant received a copy of the famous book of Ken Blanchard “Whale Done Parenting” which calls parents to redirect the negative and constantly affirm the positive with appreciation and reward. The training module included aspects of assertiveness, and related behaviour, empowerment and power struggles and 'Five freedoms' popularised by Virginia Satir. With the growing evidence of the rich benefits of PAR and the enthusiasm of senior researchers, more staff of YaR centres are keen to tap the potential offered by the process.
