Aims
The central aims of the CAM project are:
- To improve the timeliness and quality of dispute resolution on the local level
- To help improve the work of the Quarter Councils
- To ease the strain on the urban judicial systems
- To reduce detention time and eliminate costly bail payments
- To improve gender equality through political participation and social leadership
- To reduce and or eliminate the incidences of jungle justice and arbitrary killings
- To strengthen an environment that is conducive to peace and development
Methods
CAM’s main methods to achieve its objectives are participatory workshops and dialogue with the communities. It targets the individuals in the community that attend the workshops and seeks to transform their consciousnesses, attitudes, behaviours, and skills. It also aims to strengthen existing structures within the community that can support the themes that are promoted in the workshops. Generally in the communities if you affect the former then you have probably affected the later.
CAM has two facets that function simultaneously, one qualitative, one quantitative. Firstly, there is the timeline, implemented in one community per year. This timeline is never completed; rather a final indefinite stage is reached that signals a completion of CAM’s objectives at that time. The second component of the project is the sensitisation series. This is comprised of 10 workshops per year, each taking place in a different community.
The Timeline
The timeline follows a qualitative approach to reach CAM’s goal. As such CAM’s team implements the timeline in one community per year. If the time arises when GCI has considerably larger finances and personnel at its disposal than CAM’s timeline may be implemented in multiple communities simultaneously. However GCI is cautious of learning to run before it can walk, and in the past other projects have suffered by trying to take on too much work too soon.
Phase 1- Meet and Greet. The community meets CAM’s team. There is an initial sensitisation workshop and a movie night. If the Chief, the Council, and the community have enjoyed this, the project can proceed.
Phase 2- Needs Assessment. CAM’s team observes the council and interviews community members to gather data that is used when constructing a relevant workshop series.
Phase 3- Workshop Series. This is where the main sensitisation takes place. Usually there will be 7 or 8, typically on the following themes:
- Responsibility, Participation and Leadership
- Justice
- Human Rights
- Gender and Equality
- Mediation
- Accountability and Transparency
- Community Peace and Development.
Phase 4- Impact Evaluation. CAM’s team evaluates the success of the workshops. Across 6 weeks the team again observes the Council and surveys community members about the workshops and council operations.
Phase 5- Immediate Follow-up. The conclusion of the impact evaluation is presented to the community. A representative is trained who can facilitate easier communications between GCI and your community. Further visits are arranged to monitor the progress of Council and Community
Phase 6- Extended Follow-up. By this stage a healthy and positive relationship has been established. CAM’s team usually visits the community around 4 times per year, unless they are invited to come for more workshops. Once a year there is a refresher workshop.
The Sensitisation Series
The second component is a relatively new creation. Spawned at the end of 2012, the sensitisation series is an initiative in which CAM’s team holds one-off workshops in 10 communities per year. This enables the team to reach more communities, and tackle many of the more pressing areas of concern, at the same time as the timeline is being implemented elsewhere.