Reflections on 25 years in Grassroots.Development
Powerful Information ran educational and community support projects in low-income countries for over 25 years. This website reviews the charity’s practical experience over this period and describes some of the lessons that we learned in the process. It focuses in particular on our work in two geographically distinct regions, Eastern Europe and West Africa.  We hope people studying international development, and those thinking about making a career in development, will find the material a useful complement to the theory that they are learning on their courses.
It is one of the paradoxes of the Information Age that whilst half the world struggles to cope with data overload — and the profusion of unreliable facts and questionable opinion — lack of education and skills-training blights the lives of the other half. This not only condemns millions to living in poverty and poor health, but denies them their basic human rights; it also exposes them to exploitation and abuse, and contributes in so many ways to the degradation of the global environment.

It was to address this injustice and help local people respond to the threats posed by globalisation, pollution and climate change that, back in 1990,  a small group of concerned professionals set up a new charity. The idea was simple: it was to share the information and expertise that they could easily get hold of with bona fide individuals and groups in low-income countries to help them tackle the root causes of poverty, discrimination and environment harm. They called it 'Powerful Information', and over the next quarter of a century the charity worked with and through in-country partners to understand the needs of disadvantaged communities. It then located appropriate information and know-how, and worked to ensure that these resources reached and empowered local people.

Powerful Information
Powerful Information operated from a small office in Milton Keynes and helped set up and manage projects in more than a dozen countries. The work was project-funded with money raised from private trusts and foundations and from appeals to the public. Some grants were part-funded by the Government — in the early days, via Charity Know How, and later, The Community Fund (National Lottery) and Comic Relief.
When the founder-director, Mike Flood, stepped down in late 2017 Powerful Information had established a track record in grassroots international development, delivering a variety of educational initiatives designed to build social capital, promote social justice, and raise public awareness of important social and environmental issues.

This website has been set up by Mike to provide a resource for people interested in international development.
Our hope is that the lessons that PI staff and volunteers have learned over the years will help others with their studies or field work.
Website Contents
The website starts with some background  on how the idea for the charity came about, and how it developed and what it achieved. This is followed by a description of the main programmes:
  • 'Non-formal Basic Education for Women'; 'Disability'; 'Gender-Based Violence'; and 'Livelihoods & Food Security' in West Africa.
Our observations and advice are then presented under three main headings:
  • On Projects — 'Are you prepared?'; 'The Local Working Environment'; and 'Managing Projects';
  • On Partnership  — 'Expecations & Understandings'; 'Culture, Attitudes & Practices'; 'Organisational Management'; 'Feedback & Reporting'; 'Difficult Issues'; and 'Training'; and
  • On Admin — 'Entry Requirements, Contracts, Banking, Travel & Insurance'.
“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development, an essential complement to investments in roads, dams, clinics and factories. Literacy is a platform for democratization, and a vehicle for the promotion of cultural and national identity. Especially for girls and women, it is an agent of family health and nutrition. For everyone, everywhere, literacy is, along with education in general, a basic human right…. Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize his or her full potential.”

Kofi Annan [Ghanaian diplomat, 7th Secretary-General of the United Nations, 2001 Nobel Peace Prize Winner]

We have also included a section with other  Resources  that students and practiitioners might find useful for example, about preparing contracts or policy papers, or advising on governance/setting up a Board.
Why Work in International Development?
"Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” Mahatma Gandhi
It will be clear from some of the observations and comments on this website that international development is not an easy profession: it requires a wide range of technical and inter-personal skills and a lot of hard work and patience — and that's in addition to the formal qualifications required by charities if you're thinking of becoming a professional in the field. It can also involve dealing with difficult and frustrating situations, even putting yourself in uncomfortable and occasionally, hazardous situations. So why do it?
Most people choose to work in development for altruistic reasons — wanting to help and empower others and give something back; but also, personal development — wanting to experience different cultures and traditions, and develop a better understanding of the world. It was Archbishop Oscar Romero who said “aspire not to have more but to be more.” Development can certainly help you to “be more.” We have explained some of our reasons for involvement on the  About Page, and for donors, some of the questions they may want to consider to make their money go further.
The Work Goes On
In December 2017 Mike retired from Powerful Informationand the charity’s Board of Trustees appointed PI’s Financial Director, Jill Chinn, as Executive Officer. PI rebranded as Grassroots Action and is continuing the work; there’s no shortage of things that need to be done in this increasingly polarised and troubled world!
Mike is available to speak to local groups, schools and colleges — he is offering to give talks or run seminars on grassroots international development.There's more about this in About and in his brief biographical note.
Disclaimer:   The material contained on this website is provided for educational purposes only and reflects our experience in the field. We have made every effort to see that the information is accurate. We are providing the material in good faith. If you choose to make use of any of the ideas or suggestions you do so at your own risk. We clearly cannot accept responsibility for any unforeseen consequences that may arise from use made of the material. If you think anything on the website is misleading or factual incorrect, please let us know and we will endeavour to make corrections as quickly as possible. Thank you.
Notes & Captions
Images
:  (Top) We made it a priority during monitoring visits to meet with beneficiaries: here Mike is addressing one of Grassroots Education & Development for Womenlearning circles in Malaforia Village, in Koinadugu, Sierra Leone. He is accompanied by GEDeW's Director, Fatmata.
(Bottom) One of the learners from the Ropolon Circle in Makeni who went on to enroll for a local training course.

Please Note: Unless otherwise stated, the copyright on all photos used on this website is owned by Powerful Information.

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