CITATION AND COPYRIGHT INFORMATION:
Cite as: Rajendram, C. (2003, May). Sense-Making as participatory action research in conflict resolution transformation and peace building. Paper presented at a non-divisional workshop held at the meeting of the International Communication Association, San Diego, CA.
© Christlin Rajendram (2003).

DISCUSSION:
Participatory Action Research has twin aims of action for change in a community with research to increase our knowledge and understanding. It is not action for research or research for action. It is a coming together of two purposes in a single project and a single process. Participatory action research at its best is EMANCIPATING and EMPOWERING.

This appealed to me as a viable peace-building tool. Peace, being an urgent cry among the people of the world and especially in my world in Sri Lanka that could not be postponed I started this project.

Peace as a dynamic concept—PEACE IS EVERY STEP—an ever present and ever elusive GOAL inspired me to use Sense-Making in this project as a CONSCIENTIZING (as defined by Paulo Freire) tool.

A group of people who were affected (not severely affected and therefore not traumatized and needing special help) by the ethnic war in Sri Lanka between the years 1983 and 2002 was chosen for sense making interviews. After individual interviews followed by a focus group session, they were given training in “Nonviolent Communication”—a particular communication model used in peace building activities. The original group was to include both victims and perpetrators of violence. However, it was difficult to find people who consider themselves as perpetrators of violence and willing to participate in this project.

CONCLUSIONS:
The victims of violence were able to recognize their strengths through the bridges they used in their particular life situation. They were also more open for the training and capable of grasping the “Nonviolent Communication” model easily. Most of the time, the strengths were found within themselves and within the community.

OTHER MATERIALS BY THIS AUTHOR ON THIS WEB SITE:
See: http://communication.sbs.ohio-state.edu/sense-making/AAauthors/authorlistrajendram.html