Toolkit Community Environmental Action
Toolkit Community Environmental Action
community mural
A facilitator’s guide to mobilising
community environmental action
Prepared for the Ministry of Environment, Energy & Water
with assistance from the Asian Development Bank –
Male', Maldives, November 2006
Disclaimer: This toolkit was prepared by consultants for the Asian Development
Bank. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in it do not
necessarily represent the views of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or those
of its member governments. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data
included in this toolkit and accepts no responsibility for any consequences of
their use.
COntents
community mural
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Attachments ................................................................................................................................................................ 18
In 2006, Live and Learn Environmental Education a community, this environmental education toolkit
conducted research into perceptions of environmental acknowledges the need for communities to identify
issues in several Maldivian communities. The research their own environmental issues that they consider
suggests that there are a range of issues that have to be significant. The process of identifying and
significant impact on people’s health, well being and exploring the impacts of environmental issues on the
livelihoods. Each island in the Maldives is unique, and community is central to the learning outcomes in this
hence each island identified different environmental toolkit. Instead of focusing on a predetermined issue,
issues, however several issues emerged as the most this toolkit guides the community toward a focus on
significant and therefore priority issues for the Island the issues which the participants determine to be
communities: important.
• Water (quality & quantity)
The Mural Toolkit is primarily written for facilitators,
• Waste (solid & sewage, collection, treatment&
in-order for them to work with community members
disposal),
to identify and explore environmental issues and to
• Beach erosion (minimisation), and
develop a community action project. The project is
• Health (links to water).
focused on developing a community mural (artwork),
It is often difficult for an outsider or visiting ‘expert’ and is intended to model and lead the way toward
to understand the important environmental issues in further community action on environmental issues.
It will be an advantage for the facilitator of this
project to have previous training or experience in
leading a group through participatory learning and
planning methods. However, it is intended that this
resource will be provided to prospective facilitators
with training and support where possible. In the
Maldives this training will be provided by Live and
Learn Environmental Education.
Purpose
The purpose of this toolkit is to empower community
involvement in environmental management by
taking part in participatory learning, decision making,
planning and action. The focus is on creating a mural, a start by involving people in first steps that are
which serves as a first step and model for mobilizing achievable and rewarding. Environmental issues can
further community action. sometimes seem too big or too difficult to handle, or
sometimes they are just taken for granted and don’t
What is a Mural? enter our minds. Mural projects are very enjoyable
A mural is an artwork painted on a permanent surface and the results can be appreciated by everyone.
such as a wall or fence, or perhaps even on a structure
The mural toolkit models an approach that can be
like a rainwater tank. Murals are usually painted in a
replicated to empower the community to take further
prominent position where they can be viewed by the
take action. Participants in the project will develop
public. Murals can be made by a group of people
knowledge and skills in participatory decision
who work together to make the artwork as a team.
making and planning, and learn about specific
Murals are BIG and colorful– the bigger and more
environmental issues. The diagram below illustrates
colorful the better!
the implementation cycle and potential of the mural
Why use a mural to take action for the project to extend to further action.
environment? The development of a community mural is a way of
This toolkit is intended to assist communities to taking a first step to solve an environmental problem,
mobilize action toward solving environmental involving people and creating an environment for
problems. The mural is an effective way to make change.
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COMMUNITY MURAL
1 Form a group to take on the mural project. It will be an advantage to include people from
various different backgrounds (or other groups) in your community. [Activity # 1]
Think, share ideas and learn. Activities encourage participants to think critically about
2
environmental issues in their community and examine how they impact on people’s
livelihoods, health and well being.
[Activities # 2 – # 4]
Investigation & research. Seek expert advice or research literature on the issue in order to gain a
3
better understanding. [Activity #5]
4 Planning for Action! Participants will plan a mural, involving various members of the community.
They will also learn communication skills, such as how to promote a main message – which will
be the focus of the mural.
[Activities # 6 - # 9]
5 Create the mural! This step will require all participants to work together; everyone will take
pride and feel ownership of the final result.
COMMUNITY MURAL
Promoting the mural. This will raise awareness of the issue in the community. The mural will
6 continue to speak its message long after it is painted.
Mobilize the community. The final activities in this toolkit are about mobilizing the community
7 into taking the next steps – action toward finding real solutions to environmental problems.
Facilitators schedule
Activity 4
‘Ranking the issues’
Activity 6
‘Communicating the main message’
Activity 7
‘Tasks & responsibilities’
COMMUNITY MURAL
STEP
Activity 1 – Who should be involved? 3. Each group should report their recommendations
Objectives: to the whole group
• Involve key people from the community who may 4. The whole group should make a final decision on
benefit from or provide benefits to the project who else to involve in the project
• Encourage equitable participation and networking discuss why you want their participation
in the community generate ideas about how they can be involved
Time: 45 minutes 5. Record this information in a table see worksheet in
Attachment #1 (example below)
Materials needed: Paper, pens
6. Invite these people to a meeting to seek their
What to do: support and involvement in the mural project.
1. Divide into small groups (5-8 members) Explain the concept of the mural project to the
new group members. Emphasize that the mural is a
2. In each group identify 5 key members of the
learning project about community empowerment
community who could be involved in the mural
and environmental management.
project
E.g. Island Office We need their permission to paint Invite a representative to be part
on a Government building. They of our mural planning team.
may be able to help promote
the project when it’s completed.
Maybe they can help us to obtain
a ladder?
ACTIVITIES
STEP
2
Identify & explore community
environmental problems
COMMUNITY MURAL
What to do:
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1. Divide the group into smaller groups of 5-8
members and provide each group with a set of
cards.
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dilemma: they must place the environmental issues
in order from most important to least important.
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their decision.
3. When each group has reached consensus (or
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present their ranking of issues to the whole group
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their ranking.
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each group time to reconsider their own order of
ranking.
-&",*/(4&15*$5"/,4 5. Each group will have a turn at presenting their
ranking (and argument). Each time allow the other
groups to reflect on the arguments and change
their ranking (if they want to).
5. When the diagrams are completed, each group 6. As a group discuss the following:
should discuss their diagram with the whole
• Did your group change its ranking during this
group.
activity? Why?
6. As a group discuss the following:
• What were the strongest arguments that influenced
• Are these diagrams realistic in your community? your decisions?
Why?
• Did you feel that you could have a say in your
• How aware are community members of the links group? As an individual would you have made the
between the environment and their health and ranking differently?
livelihoods?
• What were the benefits of having a range of
• What actions have been taken in the community different people participating in this activity?
to solve these problems?
7. Ask the group if they would like to use the number
1 ranked issue to be the focus of the mural project.
Activity 4 – Ranking the Issues
If participants do not agree on the issue, then allow
Objectives:
participants to vote on a range of options (e.g. out
• Encourage participants to express their opinions of the 3 top ranked issues).
on an environmental problem;
• Critically reflect on environmental issues
• Make decisions about the relative priority of issues
considering a variety of arguments and points of
view
ACTIVITIES
STEP
3
Investigation
and Research
Activity 5 – Investigate the issue material on the internet so it may not always be
Objectives: reliable, also bear in mind its applicability to the
Maldives context)
• Undertake research into an environmental issue
2. As a group discuss the main ideas from to
• Consider the opinions of experts on the
information that you have collected on the issue.
environmental issue
In particular consider the following:
Time: Variable
• Who was the source of the information and is it
Materials needed: An expert or reports / published
likely to contain any bias or inaccuracies?
information about the environmental issue that you
have identified. Possible sources of information and • Are there any alternatives points of view or
contacts are listed on the next page. conflicting information?
• Do I agree with it? Is it valid in the local situation?
What to do:
3. If you have the skills or equipment available,
1. Consider the available options for obtaining more
consider undertaking some of your own research
information relating to the environmental issue
work. For example you could investigate waste
that you have identified as the focus for the mural.
management practices by carrying out a
Try to obtain sources of information that relate to
community survey, or investigate water quality by
the local situation. For example:
carrying out some simple water quality testing.
• Invite an expert to speak to the group about the
issue Contacts and sources of information
• Identify an expert who you can email with a series regarding environmental issues
of questions regarding the issue • Live and Learn Environmental Education
• Consult technical papers or reports written about • Ministry of Environment Energy and Water
the issue (MEEW)
• Search for information about the issue on the • Maldives Water and Sanitation Authority
internet (but be mindful that anyone can place
10
COMMUNITY MURAL
STEP
There will be significant amount of organizing and Activity 6 – Develop a shared vision
planning required before your group actually picks up Objectives:
a paint brush. Activities 6 – 9 will assist your group
• Identify the value of having a shared vision to
to develop goals, involve people and create a plan of
guide group action
action.
• Develop a shared goal through equitable
The activities are designed to assist your group to participation from the group
develop an effective mural project, however they are Time: 1 hour
also about learning how to conduct a participatory
Materials needed: Pens & paper
planning process. This process can easily be applied
to other action projects in your community. It is What to do:
important not to miss these steps – even if you think 1. Introductory game:
that the Mural project doesn’t require this level of Stand in a circle, each person holding the hand of
planning. Most of the learning that occurs through the person standing next to them. Tell the group to
the planning activities concerns the process of choose a corner of the room (this must be done in
planning – and is not just about the outcome. silence and participants are not allowed to tell anyone
else which corner they’ve chosen). When they have
all chosen a corner explain the following: Everyone
Why participatory planning?
in the circle is in the same community, represented by
• Participation in decision making is empowering
linking hands (this is a rule!). You are not allowed to let
to communities, it provides people with an
go of the people standing next to you. On the count of
opportunity to realize their own potential
three I want you to move to the corner of the room that
• Participation allows a community to take full you have selected…1, 2, 3, - go!
advantage of the diverse knowledge, skills
and experiences that it contains When the dust settles, ask the group: Did you get to
• Participation in decision making allows the place that you wanted to go? Who did get where
the needs of everyone in the community they wanted to go? How? How did you feel if you were
to be considered, a lack of participation pulled into someone else’s corner? Did the group have
raises the potential for certain groups to be a shared goal?
disadvantaged (e.g. women and youth) Allow the group to repeat the activity, this time
• Empowerment through participation is encourage them to have a discussion and work out
particularly important in the Maldives, a shared goal before they start. Repeat the exercise
where long distances between islands make when they are ready. Ask the group: Did you get
the provision of centralized services and to where you wanted to go this time? What was the
resources difficult. Participation increases local advantage of having a shared goal?
determination of decisions and can create
better outcomes for the community 2. Refer to the issue identified in Activity 4 to be the
focus of the shared vision. Explain to participants
• Participation in decision making involves real
that the object of this activity is to work together
learning, where people critically think about
as a group to develop a shared vision for the mural
issues and solutions, enhancing the capacity
project. The vision will be expressed as a “vision
of the community to respond to future
statement”
challenges
• Participation allows fairness and transparency The vision statement is one sentence that captures
in decision making and helps to maintain a the vision.
peaceful society Divide participants into small groups and ask
11
ACTIVITIES
each group to produce one or more vision • The audience: Who is the mural message
statements. Use the following prompts to assist targeted at? This will affect decisions about the
the brainstorm: artwork, writing and placement of the mural. For
• What do you want the situation to be like in the example a mural aimed at parents might be placed
future? on the wall of school.
• Who will be involved? • Motivating factors: What will motivate the
audience to look at and consider the message
• Who will benefit?
in the mural? What message could motivate
When each group has prepared a vision statement,
the audience to take action based on what they
ask them to explain and share it with the whole
have seen? For example a message targeted at
group. Collate a list of vision statements and
adult home owners might include images about
allow participants to choose the one that is most
saving money connected with taking action on an
favored.
environmental issue.
Activity 7 – Communication for change • PROPOSED ACTION: What do you want the
audience to do after viewing the mural? You
The mural is intended to communicate a message to
should consider the value of not just highlighting
an audience that will contribute toward achieving the
a problem, but also directing the audience to
vision (as described in the previous activity). In order
an action that could contribute to solving the
for the mural to make an impact it is important to
problem. For example, in addition to messages
consider the following:
about the problems associated with contaminated
• The main message: What is the main message well water, a mural could highlight an action such
that you want to communicate to the audience? as increasing the storage of rainwater so that it is
If the audience walks away from the mural and always available for drinking.
remembers only one thing from it, what would Objectives:
this one thing be? The main message is the
• Explore the concepts of main message, supporting
biggest consideration when designing the artwork
messages, audience, motivating factors and
or writing in the mural.
proposed actions.
• SUPPORTING MESSAGES: It is often beneficial to
• Review example murals to identify the above
have several supporting messages that combine
concepts
to provide the overall main message in the mural.
• Create a communication plan based on the above
These messages or ideas support the main message
concepts
and are optional inclusions in the mural.
Time: 1 hour
Materials needed: Communicating a message
worksheet (appendix 2), example CHSE mural
What to do:
1. Examine the mural created by CHSE students
(see next page). As a group discuss and identify
the following: the main message of this mural,
sub-messages that support the main message,
the intended audience, motivating factors and
proposed actions. Create a large version of the
‘communicating a message’ diagram on a white
board or black board and work together to
complete it. Alternatively this could be done as a
small group exercise.
2. Divide the group into 2 or 3 small groups and
provide each a copy of the ‘communicating a
message’ worksheet. Display the ‘vision statement’
and reflect on what it means (see activity 5). Explain
that the purpose of this activity is to create a
12
COMMUNITY MURAL
communication plan for the mural, which includes 3. When each group is finished, ask them to present
a main message, supporting messages, audience, their communication plan. When all groups have
motivating factors and proposed actions. Give the presented their ideas, choose one of the ideas or
groups time to create a communication plan using a combination of them to be the communication
the sheets. plan for the mural.
For example:
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13
ACTIVITIES
Goal Statement:
14
COMMUNITY MURAL
STEP
By now you should have a good plan to follow - how just as effective. You might be surprised about the
you paint the mural is up to your group and your hidden talents that some people have! Alternatively
creativity! Plan to involve as many people as possible you could have someone who is a talented artist
in painting the mural. Don’t leave all the work to just to draw the shapes, and the other members of the
one artist in the group. Murals painted by people who group could fill in the colours.
don’t have much artistic ‘talent’ or experience can be
15
ACTIVITIES
STEP
6
Promote the mural
& the message
Completion of the mural should be cause for • Ask a high profile person to ‘launch’ the mural
celebration, when taking any community action • Invite experts from the field associated with the
it is important to recognize the achievements of ‘main message’ of the mural to talk to community
the group! This is also an opportunity to focus the at the launch
attention of the broader community on the mural
• Organize entertainment – singing, dancing,
and the message that is promotes. You are also
drama or food around the theme (or message) of
encouraged to use the media to further broaden the
the mural
‘reach’ of the message in your mural.
• Ask media (TVM, Radio etc…) to report on the
Some ideas for celebrating and promoting the mural and about its message
mural: • Have a day of action along the theme of the
mural. For example if your mural is about waste
• Invite special guests and the general community
management, organize an Island clean up day
to a grand ‘unveiling’
where everyone is encouraged to be involved.
16
COMMUNITY MURAL
STEP
7 Mobilize the
community
After celebrating the launch of the mural, it is time 6. Ask participants to fill out the project evaluation
to reflect on the journey that you have traveled in form, see attachment # 5
order to realize this community action. The following 7. Please collect the evaluation forms and return
activities allow your group to reflect on the lessons them to Live and Learn Environmental Education
that you have learned and encourage you to apply your - Address
skills in participatory planning to a new community
action project. Taking the next steps
The mural project is a model demonstrating a process
Activity 10: Reflection & evaluation by which your community can be mobilized into
Objectives: action. Hopefully the process of developing the mural
• Reflect on the past in order to plan for the future has provided opportunities for your group members
• Develop listening skills and community to learn about environmental issues
and to become empowered to take actions.
Time: 45 minutes
Materials needed: Copies of the reflection sheet The next steps are up to your group and community.
The process that was used to develop the model can
What to do:
be replicated to address another new or related issue,
1. Invite the people associated with the mural project
and to take a new course of community action:
to a meeting. Divide the participants into pairs.
2. Ask each person to close their eyes and think Step one: Form a group to take on a new project. It
about the activities that they have been involved will be an advantage to include people from various
with while creating the mural. (Give a couple of different backgrounds (or other groups) in your
minutes to do this) community. [Activity # 1]
3. Provide each pair with a 2 copies of the ‘reflection Step two: Think, share ideas and learn! Critically
sheet’ (appendices # 4) think about another or related environmental
- Because of the mural project, I know … problems in the community and examine how it
- Because of the mural project, I can… impacts on people’s livelihoods, health and well being.
- Because of the mural project, I feel… [Activities # 2 – # 4]
- Because of the mural project, I will… Step three: Investigation & research. Seek expert
Explain what is meant by each statement. The first advice or research literature on the issue in order to
statement relates to knowledge gained, the second gain a better understanding. [Activitie # 5]
to skills, the third to feelings and values and the
Step three: Planning for Action! Participants will
final question relates to how the project may have
plan further action, involving various members of the
influenced participants future actions or behaviors.
community. [Activities # 6 - # 9]
4. Ask the pairs to interview each other (using
Step four: Take action! This step will require all
the statements on the reflection sheet). The
participants to work together; everyone will take
interviewee must finish each statement read
pride and feel ownership of the final result.
out by the interviewer, who will write down the
responses. The interviewer should be instructed to Step five: Promoting the results of your action. This
listen very carefully and write down the thoughts will raise awareness of the issue in the community.
of their partner without interrupting.
5. When everyone has finished the exercise, ask for
volunteers to share their ‘reflections’ with the
whole group
17
attachment 1: partners martix – worksheet
18
attachment 2: Communicating a message
19
Attachment 3: PLANNING CHART-Worksheet
VISION Statement:
20
attachment 3: Draft Mural Design-Worksheet
Target Audience:
DRAFT DESIGN:
Main Message:
21
attachment 3: Draft Mural Design-Worksheet
Target Audience:
DRAFT DESIGN:
Main Message:
22
Attachment 4: Reflection Sheet
Name: Date:
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Haa Alif Atoll
Shaviyani Atoll
Noonu Atoll
Raa Atoll
Lhaviyani Atoll
Baa Atoll
ARABIAN SEA
Kaafu Atoll (Malé Atoll)
INDIAN OCEAN
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The fisherman
needs to know the sea
to catch the fish
Developed by:
Live & Learn Environmental Education and
Ministry of Environment, Energy and Water
ISBN 99915-95-04-X