Introduction: A history of Training for Transformation

Anne Hope and Sally Timmel

The Training for Transformation (TfT) philosophy and approach to community development grew out of a number of value systems and fields of study. Much of the original work was written by Anne Hope and Sally Timmel, who wrote clearly on the topics discussed. The reason the TfT books have been as popular as they have been might be that they were written in accessible English. In this brief history, we summarize: the content, or the 'why' and 'what' that form the basis of TfT; the historical context in which this approach was developed; how this approach was put into practice, both on a strategic level and practically on a local level by the authors; and how the learning from initial programmes was put into practice.

The roots of Training for Transformation: spiritual, intellectual, and experiential

The taproot of Training for Transformation's (TfT's) approach to development comes from the authors' own spiritual search. Anne Hope came from a South African urban background with rich international experience of Roman Catholic social teaching. Sally Timmel came from a small town in the United States, with her Lutheran Church formation extended by Protestant influences at college, the Peace Corps in Ethiopia, and the student YWCA.

Living out one's faith 'in the world', responding to the cries of those on the margins, drew both Anne and Sally to a common cause, and their bond within the International Grail cemented the partnership.

The Grail is an international ecumenical women's movement that began in 1921 in Holland. It was a strong Catholic women's movement in Europe before World War II but was driven underground by the Nazi regime. After the war, it transformed itself into an international Catholic women's movement responding to urgent human needs in over 25 countries. The Grail set up girls' schools, hospitals, clinics, training centres, and community development programmes with local women. In the 1960s, the Grail was involved in processes leading to the transformation of the Catholic church in Vatican II. Many theologians at that time were instrumental in opening up the Catholic church to active engagement in society and to dialogue with other Christian faiths. The Grail had been experimenting with different types of religious ritual, and now opened its membership to include other women, especially Protestant women, seeking a spiritual community. New programmes began.

Anne had been involved in the Grail since 1954. She taught for four years in a girls' high school in a rural village in Uganda and became involved in adult education. She was inspired by Julius Nyerere's vision of education for teenagers and adults, which had the potential to transform the lives of rural communities. She had strong bonds with members of the Grail in Portugal who had worked with Paulo Freire in communities of farmers and fishermen in Brazil and Portugal. She was convinced that his approach could be effective in Africa, and she began to adapt it with Steve Biko for training the leadership of the black South African Student Organisation (SASO).

Sources of inspiration

During our years in Kenya (1973 to 1980), we started the DELTA (Development Education and Leadership Teams in Action) programme there, became interested in the struggles of people throughout the countries of the South to gain political and economic independence and to overcome poverty. We read voraciously, including the new West African literature that was banned in South Africa. We based many discussions on the films of Ousmane Sembène, such as Xala, and on Souheil Ben-Barka's A Thousand and One Hands and Jean-Louis Bertucelli's Ramparts of Clay. We met Ngugi wa Thiong'o, a Kenyan, and worked with Ngugi wa Mirii, who produced Ngugi's political plays in the villages around Limuru. All facilitators attended a performance...