Case study: the non-formal adult education as a component of integrated rural development of the communities in the lake area of Patzcuaro, Michoacan, Mexico

Abstract

The regional Center for Adult Education and Functional Literacy for Latin America (Centro Regional de Educación de Adultos y Alfabetización Funcional para America Latina - CREFAL) with Seat in Mexico, started under the auspices of the O. A. S. , and in collaboration with other Latin American countries, the Project PREDI-MEXICO, pretends to contribute to the global development of the region of Pátzcuaro, state of Michoacán (Mexico) and more concretely to the reduction of the situation of poverty and margination of its inhabitants. The referred zone is characterized, among other aspects, by its great social difference, a high rate of illiteracy, scarce use of the natural resources, lack of school constructions, deficient public health, and a very precarious agricultural production, which oblige those who are dedicated in it to look for other sources of work such as agricultura1 workers, fishermen and craftsmen. The objective of the project is to support a self-managing process, under the auspices of CREFAL and which at the end will have to be managed by the local communities. For this, it is indispensable to promote the participation of the subjects concerned. The fundamental elements in which the Project is based to obtain the global development of the region are the following: a) Basic Planning: Unti1 now, activities are being carried out which serve to analyze the situation of the area and discover the necessities and resources which it disposes. Moreover, two experimental literacy and post-literacy courses have been realized as well as various projects of socio-economic incidence carried out and forming different subjects on utopics of interest to the community . b) Organization: The community organizations are being strengthened so that they could take care of the management of the activities of the community. c) Research: This is being taken cared of by the community and the Project furnishes the methodology and tools necessary. A study is being made on the needs of the region. d) Communication: The existing motivational value is highlighted by informing of the results which are being obtained by the Project. e) Evaluation: This will serve as a continous analysis method of the situation. Arnong the most important difficulties which interfere in the process are: The social system of present inequality in the region. The lack of coordination between government and non-oficial organizations. The lack of practice in the communities to solve their own problems. The evaluation made of the Project, unti1 now, is positive, underlining the various daculties with which it is confronted.