The development of the social animation movement in Quebec in the last five years has had a profound effect. The stimulus provided by the "animateurs" and citizens' committees in disadvantaged districts in Montreal has helped obtain better facilities (schools, housing, etc.) and, more important, has encouraged the creation of local…

The author became familiar with the work of Paulo Freire while studying at university in the 1980s in Aotearoa/New Zealand. At the time she was involved in a community development project where groups of solo mothers were brought together to be politicised. She then became involved in the anti-racism movement and in international aid and…