Timothy Koehnen (p)

Diana Bravo Benavides

The paper will compare and contrast two case studies involving non-formal educational programs in low density rural areas. These programs were evaluated in different time periods in Portugal. The two educational models involve a project with gender/family concerns in a rural village setting within Sever de Vouga and rural governance participative decision making through representative advisory councils. These rural advisory councils at the county level (Macedo de Cavaleiros and Vinhais) have shown to strengthen rural and community development for these municipal governments.
The paper will compare these two models oriented by a governmental organization and a non-governmental local development entity. The general objectives of the case-study evaluation process were to assess: 1) participative decision making and 2) educational life improvement programming for low-income and disadvantaged women in the areas of personal and professional growth within their rural community.
The inclusive concerns for both projects and their organizational philosophy will describe the importance of inter organizational communication activities, the facilitation process and building partnerships to assist engagement of the project facilitators´ to their planned interventions. Recommendations will consider the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in the implementation of the two case-studies. The conclusion will consider the merits of a collaborative social action process and identify the essential capital components for each case.