A survey of 23 chairpersons of town unions (rural sociocultural organizations) in Nigeria indicated that self-help projects in education and rural development were concentrated in areas lacking infrastructure. Recommendations were made for an organizing framework, leadership training, government assistance, and efforts to encourage active…

With specific reference to the Aboriginal situation in Australia, and in the context of the Australian federal government's current policy regarding Aboriginal self-management, this document addresses the need for alternatives to traditional Aboriginal training (education) programs and the implications of these alternative programs for the…

A community water supply project in Cameroon illustrates the following constraints on community participation in development: paternalistic authorities, prescriptive role of the state, selective participation, bias toward "hard" issues, inattention to negative results, group conflicts, gatekeeping, pressure for immediate results,…

Comparison of nineteenth- and twentieth-century promotion of self-help learning shows that the aim and outcome can be socialization and order rather than social advancement and autonomy. Successful self-help schemes are rarely based on self-help alone, which calls into question the morality and financial wisdom of promoting a concept without…

Discusses development of a Canadian web site devoted to the self-care of career counselors. Site is organized around four areas: helping oneself, helping clients, helping each other, and helping for the future. Outlines plans for future development of the web site and provides preliminary observations about its impact on the career development…

In the 1908s and 1990s African societies responded to reduced state educational capacity by expanding the reach of civil society--non-state societal organizations that sought to organize individuals and mobilize local resources for education and development. In this paper, I argue that rural African families were differentially prepared to respond…

A study of three Nigerian villages produced the following suggestions for improving the problems facing rural community development: democratic participative decision making, care in project selection, government incentives, promotion of adult literacy, and well-trained community workers. (SK)

The experiences of the Windsor, Ontario, Canada, chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in its development and progress through the grief-anger-social action continuum, are described. This article also portrays a model for problem resolution which emphasizes incorporating the respective strengths and efficiencies of self-help groups and…

The case study examines the work of a coalition between certain women's groups in India and a nongovernmental charitable trust. The mission of the coalition is to empower Indian women, who generally possess neither land nor power, to care for their livestock. (CH)

This book presents a 12-step self-help program to assist people in their quest to move out of depression and away from anxiety. The program offers daily procedures to complete each of the steps along with self-scoring records to enable participants to track their progress. The sections give an overview of the program's structure by describing what…

Author shares experiences and insights, acquired while working in education in Kenya, which might help teachers who want their classes to have an exciting study of the country. (Author)

In the 1960's attempts were made by protest and emancipation movements to deal with the power structure of the political and administrative system. In the 1970's a change typical of the new self-help movement, turning inward from objective to subjective problem situations occurred. This new self-help movement sought programmatically to bring…

The purpose, administration, organization, and clientele of People's Universities is described, as is their function in the Soviet educational and political systems. (AG)

Implemented weekly self-help group for female anorexics and bulimics. Eighteen women who had consistently attended sessions evaluated group six months after it had begun. Found that self-help group benefited most members. Discusses findings in relation to curative factors of such groups. Offers suggestions for professionals interested in…

Matching specific counselor interventions with particular client "moments" enables counselors to conceptualize when and how to best use the interventions. Focusing, evocative reflection, use of the empty chair, reenactment, and fantasy all stimulate adult clients to experience more deeply and develop new understandings. (Author)