ABSTRACT

This article reports an empirical case study of a community self-help group (chama) in Western Kenya, utilising the study circle model promoted by a Swedish non-governmental organisation. Methodologically, it is a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and participant observation for data collection. The results show that the study circle idea was transferred and translated through a locally pre-existing social infrastructure for learning, i.e. a farming collective organised and based on the widespread Kenyan tradition of chama. When the chama embraced the study circle and made local sense of it, they did so by mainly sticking to the same form of meetings and activities they previously had. The added value of referring to the activity as a study circle was that it expanded the group’s networks and increased its chances to invite specialists for consultation. Also, some increase in status for the group compared to other (non – study circle) chamas was noted.

摘要

本文报告了对肯尼亚西部社区自助团体（chama）的实证案例研究，利用了瑞典非政府组织推广的学习圈模式。从方法上讲，这是一项使用半结构化访谈和参与者观察来收集数据的定性研究。结果表明，学习圈的理念是通过当地已有的社会学习基础设施进行转移和转化的，即根据肯尼亚广泛传播的查马传统组织起来的农业集体。当查马拥抱学习圈并理解它时，他们主要是通过坚持与以前相同的会议和活动形式来做到这一点。将活动称为学习圈的附加价值在于，它扩大了小组的网络并增加了邀请专家咨询的机会。此外，与其他（非学习圈）查马相比，该小组的地位有所提高。