The House of Popular Education

As more and more people begin to talk about Community Health Workers, all of their good work and their potential use within healthcare reform, I thought it important to remember some of what is behind health promotion as practiced in Latin America.

“Community Health Worker” is the term being used to encompass a variety of positions, including Health Promoters or Promotores de Salud, who have worked within Nuestra Comunidad Sana (NCS) since its inception.

A few weeks ago, Joel Pelayo, NCS Health Promoter, and Hollis Dunlop, JVC Member, put this diagram together that shows the methods and philosophy behind Popular Education. It always helps me to be reminded of the tenets behind this type of learning, especially, “we learn better when all share and participate” and “people already know a lot; start with what people know.”  Seems basic, and yet, rarely used in practice.  All I can say is, “Hooray for Community Health Workers–finally being recognized for their true value!”