The level or better to say the "intensity" of diversity in communities or in local groups, is not the same as the diversity in bigger organizations, especially those organized from different communities. Does it mean that a local group shaped in a community has to be very week since they are only from the community and the members are not diverse. Is that true ?
When I look back at my experience in working with different communities and local groups in Iran, I can imagine how week the groups were. In some cases, some female villagers, with not enough knowledge, came together, while they were trying hard to create a change in their own community; they were not enough empowered since, at least, for one reason, they were not diverse. What has to be done ?
I think that we have to create diversity and contribute to it, as much as we can. If the group are only men, we have to encourage them to include women too, and the reverse is also true. Age diversity is another fact. Is there possible to invite various individuals from different age groups ? The third is to create diversity through involving various people from different perspectives.
In one village, I remember, I suggested students (university students) to join the group. The students were not in the village (they were students in other cities), but they came back the village when there was a holiday. That would be good, since these students could act as a bridge between the community and the resources available outside the community.
There are many other ways to guarantee the diversity within the local group, but, as facilitators, we have to ask the local people how they can add to their own diversity or to the diversity of their own group. Of course, the people attending the meetings have to be trained on diversity, so that they can understand the concept better. They have to understand diversity as "source of knowledge" which may be much helpful.
When I look back at my experience in working with different communities and local groups in Iran, I can imagine how week the groups were. In some cases, some female villagers, with not enough knowledge, came together, while they were trying hard to create a change in their own community; they were not enough empowered since, at least, for one reason, they were not diverse. What has to be done ?
I think that we have to create diversity and contribute to it, as much as we can. If the group are only men, we have to encourage them to include women too, and the reverse is also true. Age diversity is another fact. Is there possible to invite various individuals from different age groups ? The third is to create diversity through involving various people from different perspectives.
In one village, I remember, I suggested students (university students) to join the group. The students were not in the village (they were students in other cities), but they came back the village when there was a holiday. That would be good, since these students could act as a bridge between the community and the resources available outside the community.
There are many other ways to guarantee the diversity within the local group, but, as facilitators, we have to ask the local people how they can add to their own diversity or to the diversity of their own group. Of course, the people attending the meetings have to be trained on diversity, so that they can understand the concept better. They have to understand diversity as "source of knowledge" which may be much helpful.
