The Reflect Method of Teaching
REFLECT is an innovative approach to adult learning and social change that was developed by Action Aid. Reflect empowers individuals and enables them to make well informed decisions for themselves. This method allows individuals to learn what is relevant to them. Through addressing pertinent issues, beneficiaries learn to read and write and become more aware of their rights.
Reflect circles provide a space for beneficiaries to voice their views and opinions in a democratic environment. This is especially beneficial to those individuals who are the most excluded within their communities. From these sessions, groups develop learning materials such as maps and diagrams, they also engage in social drama, songs and dance to express the issues that are affecting their communities.
Village Aid has used Reflect to address a wide range of issues, such as domestic violence in Sierra Leone, securing rights of vulnerable groups in Cameroon, community farming in The Gambia and tackling witchcraft accusations in Ghana.
Reflect- Regenerated Frierian Literacy Through Empowering Community Techniques
- Level 1
- Critical reflection, basic functional literacy (ability to write/read letters of alphabet and words), numbers & taking action to solve common problems
- Level 2
- Critical awareness, ability to handle basic written texts (e.g. writing/reading personal letters) and having a greater say and influence in both family and village
- Level 3
- Generation/introduction of written literature (relevant to the needs and realities of the learners), greater involvement in and management of community initiatives and empowered citizenship (going beyond family and village)