In this first episode, Dermot Bryers, community organiser at Citizens UK and founder of English for Action, talks to Roberto Mazzini (Giolli Cooperative, Italy), Adela Belecova (English for Action, UK), Metka Bahlen Okoli (Zavod BOB, Slovenia) and Doria Jukić (Pokaz, Croatia) about what community organising is, the forms it takes in their respective national contexts and their own involvement in community organising initiatives.

Although the term 'community organising' is not widely used in Italy, Slovenia or Croatia, our speakers agree that the method of bringing about social change by coming together as communities, and putting 'people before programme' is common to each of their national contexts. You will hear how historical legacies of socialist self-management and worker organising in former Yugoslav countries shapes organising there today and the risks associated with organising under contemporary capitalist conditions.

Adela, Roberto, Metka and Doria also share how the traditions of radical critical pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed inform their work as they bring together adult language education and Forum Theatre to strengthen and develop their organising.

Jingle created and edited by: Sašo Puckovski

Transcript – also available in Italian, Croatian and Slovene