Call to Bring People to Research: Community-Based Participatory ResearchTaryn Amos & Sandy Lazarus |
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 A Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR) Workshop was recently hosted by the University of South Africa’s Institute for Social and Health Sciences (ISHS) and the MRC/Unisa Safety and Peace Promotion Research Unit (SAPPRU) in Cape Town.
Prof. Nina Wallerstein, a recognised leader in the area of Community-based Participatory Research in the United States and beyond, shared her experience and expertise to the group of 37 people. She highlightedthe possibilities and challenges of this research approach in the South African context. SAPPRU staff, community leaders and researchers from the communities of Broadlands Park, Nomzamo and Railton in the Western Cape, and several academic associates, attended the workshop. In total 37 people were present.
The goal of the workshop, was to identify and discuss the advantages, challenges and strategies for conducting participatory research. The participants engaged in a process which enabled them to explore the theory and practice of CBPR through various activities. Following a presentation by Prof. Wallerstein, an open discussion, and self-reflection on experiences of community research, based on specific questions provided by the facilitators, was allowed.
The workshop was interesting and practically useful to all who participated. It provided a unique opportunity for academics and community representatives to learn about research - as equal partners. One of the ongoing challenges in CBPR is to find ways to honour and bring together different opinions and approaches to science, including community-embedded knowledge and strategies. The ISHS and SAPPRU place this challenge high on their agenda, and are engaged in various efforts to address these issues. |
