Reflect is an approach to learning and social change. Key to the Reflect approach is creating a space where people feel comfortable to meet and discuss issues relevant to their lives. Reflect aims to improve the meaningful participation of people in decisions that affect them, through strengthening their ability to communicate. Reflect web site
Reflect was developed through innovative pilot programmes in Uganda, Bangladesh and El Salvador between 1993 and 1995. It started as a fusion of the political philosophy of Brazilian educator Paulo Freire with the practical methodologies developed for Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). Other significant influences were the ideological approach to literacy and gender analysis.
Reflect has been one of the most exciting innovations in adult literacy over the last 15 years. It won the UN Literacy Prize in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2008 and is now used by over 500 organisations in 70 countries. Reflect has been successful in linking the literacy acquisition process with individual and community empowerment, strengthening the capacity of millions of people to secure their basic rights.
Evaluating Reflect
A new framework - 2009
Reflect programmes operate in diverse contexts and approaches to evaluation have been equally diverse, making it difficult
to consolidate evidence and learning. In response, Reflect practitioners have developed a new Evaluation
Framework that aims to ensure that the principles of Reflect remain central and that programme objectives and participants'
expectations are being met, whilst allowing context flexibility. It will also help practitioners provide even stronger
evidence of the impact of their work and to share and compare their learning. In 2007, 39 practitioners from Africa and
Asia met in South Africa to develop the draft framework. A review of 16 existing evaluations was also undertaken and a
website resource centre "Reflect basecamp" was created. Key to the project consolidation was an extensive online
discussion that took place over 6 weeks in 2008. 74 practitioners from over 38 countries participated in discussions across 3
working groups: the Anglophone with 36 practitioners, the Francophone (23) and the Portuguese/Spanish-speaking(15).
The process is documented in the leaflet "Evaluating Reflect - A New Framework" and the Framework itself, entitled "Counting Seeds for Change" are both available for download:
Evaluating Reflect - A New Framework 2008
Counting Seeds for Change 2009
Communication and Power
In 2003 this international resource pack
for Reflect practitioners pulled together practical ideas and experiences from people using the Reflect approach around the
world. The pack covers different elements of communication and is divided into four sections: on the written word,
the spoken word, numbers and images. A fifth section provides some examples of Reflect in action.
Communication and Power
Communication is the basis of all our relationships - at home, at work, within any community or group and beyond. Whether through reading, writing, speaking, listening, numbers, visual means, technology or the media - we need to be able to communicate so that people can know and understand our experience and perspective. Communication is not only about getting our voice heard, but also hearing and understanding others. People need to be able to deal critically with communication that they receive, and they need to actively develop, reproduce and use alternative forms of communication.
No communication is neutral - the capacity to communicate and be heard is determined by power relationships that need to be analysed. By linking communication and power we are focusing beyond the technical aspects of communication and considering the various factors which influence our ability to get our voice heard. Being unable to communicate is both a cause and effect of inequitable power relationships.