...let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. ( 1John 3:18)  and provide New Possibilities for a Dignified life for all Rural Women and Children

OPEN FLEXIBLE LEARNING
Everybody must have access to knowledge!

ALFA Ministries’ most important aspect of its work is to ensure that the gap between a political, administrative and cultural elite and the so called ordinary person does not increase.  In ALFA – Ministries’ integrated rural community development work, we strive for ‘Awareness Creation’ and Capacity Building through ’Lifelong Learning’.    

And, with our limited financial and human resource base, goals to increase our effectiveness in terms of service to rural communities and to enhance our ambitions to promote community participation in projects, programs, etc. the ‘Open Flexible Learning’ concept (using the Study Circles Methodology) is the best as far as Awareness Creation is concerned.
 

The Programme Aims:

Building a human resource base, study materials store, improve the quality and effectiveness of the present training programmes, save money and enhance the rural community based groups’ ambition to serve, support and increase the rural people’s desire to learn and collectively help each other to gain more knowledge.

Introducing an “Open Flexible Learning” (using the study circles methodology) Programme as a democratic forum and means of empowering the rural community based groups to discuss and influence what happens in their environment – thus achieving social change.
 

Organising adult literacy study circles, seminars, conferences, workshops, and training that increase the rural people’s power.  

Strengthening community structures by training community based health resource persons, local leaders, study circle leaders and involving rural communities in addressing development  issues related to health, illiteracy and poverty – giving the rural people the  confidence and knowledge that can help them find new ways to transform their living standards. 
 

The ‘Open Flexible Learning’s philosophy presumes that all people are free and independent individuals, with the right to participate in all aspects of a democratic society. All activities provide a comprehensive approach to stimulate curiosity and critical thinking; as well as being a part of the crucial process of lifelong learning. ‘Open Flexible Learning’ creates the conditions necessary for people to freely pursue knowledge and contributes towards giving them the opportunity to change their lives.   

The most important aspect of the ‘Open Flexible Learning’ is the ‘Study Circle’. The study circle puts the individual member or participant’s own interest and experience at the centre of all activities. The best study results are achieved when a small group of people, guided by their own free will and interest, come together for a longer period of time to pursue their studies.  
 

The ‘Open Flexible Learning’ (using Study Circle Methodology) is vital to democracy and to the individual member’s participation in the society. It liberates members’ resources and turn passivity into involvement and participation. And, it increases the members’ power over their daily lives and gives them the confidence and knowledge that can help them to find new paths in a changing society.  

Study circles, participation and dialogue are obvious tools in our struggle to strengthen democracy and create understanding between different people regardless of background and origin. The more people get involved, the better democracy works. A strong society creates the prerequisites for a strong democracy.

Tomorrow’s society is often described as a society of knowledge. Conventional and the ‘Open Flexible Learning’ will be of growing importance in such a society. The explosion in Information Technology must not be allowed to lead to the growth of an elite group, skilled in handling new technology, while the majority lag behind.    

Societies are also undergoing rapid change in other areas. Internationalisation is increasing, migration to other countries takes place, economic problems continue and the unemployment is widespread. From this perspective, many people are at risk of being marginalised.  The problems that communities are facing can’t be solved without the participation of the people themselves. That is why the ‘Open Flexible Learning’  is crucial for the society of tomorrow to enjoy a dignified life.