ANALYZING PROGRESS TOWARD ACHIEVING A CIVIL SOCIETY
Organize a diverse focus group of five or six local citizens, including old/young,
men/women, and members from different social or ethnic groups. You should
ask people who trust you to take part—perhaps host family members or friends.
A training participant can act as facilitator. Briefly explain what the term civil
society means to an American, then appreciatively ask the following questions.
Each member of the focus group should be given the opportunity to voice an
opinion. Do not force group members to speak.
• What do you consider the essential elements of a civil society?
Are some elements more important than others?
• What progress has your country made in developing a civil society?
• What groups actively participate in the decision-making process?
• Which groups are not allowed or encouraged to participate?
• What efforts are being made to increase public participation?
• Who is making efforts to achieve participation?
Reflect on the information you have gathered either individually or in small
groups.
• What did you learn about civil society in your host country?
• What is the level of participation (use voting, community involvement, and
volunteer activities as a benchmark)?
• What are the implications to your work as a Volunteer?
• How does a heightened awareness of the importance of participation affect
how you plan to function as a Volunteer?
