Democracy and Civil Society

Confidence and participation

At the heart of each ALEF lesson is a structured discussion where participants themselves analyze a pressing topic based on their own experience and knowledge. Regularly discussing important and even sensitive topics in the group helps participants learn public speaking and to see themselves as citizens whose voice counts.

Our partners report that, thanks to ALEF study groups, many participants who once were reluctant to speak in public now have the courage to express their opinions and participate actively in civil society and local decision-making. Those who join our study groups are often among those with lowest status in their communities — poor women with little or no education — but already after the first year, many have taken on roles of responsibility in savings groups, cooperatives or the church. A facilitator in the EADG pilot project in Guinea tells the story of a woman who never went to school but after only a few months in the ALEF group can write fluently and has been elected secretary of a civil society organization.

The idea of the ALEF approach is that the discussions that start in the group should not stop there, but should influence public discourse. Some of the texts that the participants write together are printed and posted on notice boards in visible places where they can attract the attention of passers-by. It is not uncommon for ideas from the empowerment group to later be raised in village meetings where all residents can participate.

Cooperation for change

We receive many reports of participants acting together to drive change and development in their communities. In Luhungu, the study group wrote a letter to the authorities to demand stricter regulations on the sale and abuse of alcohol. Five women from the study group in Luhumbu, South Kivu, went to a local authority to complain that they had to walk several kilometers every day to fetch water. Eventually, they managed to get a meeting with the traditional leader, the 'mwami'. A new well has been installed and everyone in the village has access to clean water, thanks to the community involvement of the ALEF group.

Civil Society Organisations

An ALEF study group is also a course in democratic collaboration. The participants debate, make decisions, and formulate texts together. At level 3, they learn about the practical work of forming and running their own organization. The work to help the participants organize themselves and participate in civil society is directly linked to our operational goals. This is also crucial for the project's sustainability — meetings and conversations should not stop as soon as the course is over.

Most of the study groups in the Congo continue as independent Musos ("mutuelles de solidarité" — savings cooperatives) after the end of the course. They are not just economic organizations but often get involved in local social issues. In Uganda, many groups who have completed level 3 meet to continue practicing their reading and to carry out activities together. Some form cooperatives or register as civil society organizations. Others are more informal, like the market women from the study group in Kalerwe who formed a reading circle that meets weekly to read books and newspapers in Luganda.

In Uganda, many groups who have completed level 3 meet to continue practicing their reading and to carry out activities together. Some form cooperatives or register as civil society organizations. Others are more informal, like the market women from the study group in Kalerwe who formed a reading circle that meets weekly to read books and newspapers in Luganda.

Democracy

2023 was an election year in Congo. Corruption and electoral fraud of various kinds are common. Illiterate people are particularly vulnerable to manipulation by those offering to "help" them vote correctly. In the study groups, the participants discuss democracy, secret ballot, and how to hold politicians accountable. Many Muso groups have been visited by local politicians and given the chance to express their views and ask questions of the candidates. Several participants report that they were able to vote in an election for the first time ever.