The Preparation for Social Action (PSA) programme was designed and developed by the institution known as FUNDAEC (an acronym for Fundación para la Aplicación y Enseñanza de las Ciencias - or The Foundation for the Application and Teaching of the Sciences, in English).
The programme which is a derivative of a programme originally known as Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial originated in Colombia and has a history of more than 30 years of successful operation in that country. (More information about Sistema de Aprendizaje Tutorial can be found at www.fundaec.org). Preparation for Social Action has been established in various developing countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas and now in the Pacific using education to "produce positive changes in society".
The Rays of Light Foundation is affiliated with FUNDAEC, registered and approved to implement the Preparation for Social Action programme in the regions of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
Preparation for Social Action in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
The challenge
In consultation with the Bahá'í International Community's Office of Social and Economic Development (OSED) and the founders of the Rays of Light Foundation the programme was introduced to help combat some of the difficulties in the region with educating a population which is sparsely inhabited, which contains many remote communities and one where education is often regarded as a privilege, not a priority.