Civic Participation in Orosi, Costa Rica: An Action Research Project
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Authors
Kaiser, Carla Therese
Issue Date
2003
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
In 2002, the town of Orosi in Cartago, Costa Rica, was struck with a devastating
landslide resulting in seven deaths and widespread chaos. Since that August, several
workshops and meetings were offered to better prepare the citizens of Orosi for such
disasters. Very few people attended the workshops. Community leaders did not
understand why so many chose not to participate in the process of disaster prevention and
recuperation. In 2003, this study was undertaken to explore community dynamics and
the reasons behind the lack of participation. Three months of field investigation evolved
under the method of Participatory Action Research. Through observation, interviews,
focus groups, and a survey, residents of Orosi responded and participated. The
importance of youth involvement in the community emerged repeatedly, turning the
project towards collaborative empowerment and the formation of a youth organization.
This paper explores the ways that ethnographic research can be used to catalyze
participation in and organization of community betterment initiatives.
Description
ix, 126 p.
Citation
Publisher
Kalamazoo, Mich. : Kalamazoo College.
License
U.S. copyright laws protect this material. Commercial use or distribution of this material is not permitted without prior written permission of the copyright holder. All rights reserved.