Community Development Journal 39:38-48 (2004)
© 2004 Community Development Journal and Oxford University Press
A growth-centered approach to women's development in Grenada
Maureen Ryan is a community development practitioner in Grenada
Leona English is an Associate Professor, Department of Adult Education, St Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia, Canada
Address for correspondence: Leona M. English, Ed. D., Associate Professor, Department of Adult Education, 120B Xavier Hall, West Street, St Francis Xavier University, PO Box 5000, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2G 2W5. email: lenglish{at}stfx.ca
This study examines how a growth-centred approach (Srinivasan, 1992) to development assisted a group of women in Grenada to build self and group confidence, and to increase literacy. The purpose of the study was to understand how this process could help other adult educators working within a similar context to assist women learners in developing and exercising their personal, social and literacy power. The initial design of the programme was based on the needs ascribed as a result of past experiences working with women's community groups in Grenada and informal perceptions communicated by local women working within the field of women, development and adult education.
This article analyses a six-month participatory study that fostered women's growth as a political act of resisting negative labels and oppressive conditions. bell hooks' (1993) words served as the motivation for the research: ‘We cannot fully create effective movements for social change if individuals struggling for that change are not self-actualized or working towards that end’ (p. 4). A ‘growth-centered’ approach, as advanced by Srinivasan (1992), is shown to be a useful starting place for personal and social transformation within Grenadian women's lives and community groups.