Immersions: understanding development from a people’s perspective

What is it?
“Immersions” have been described in many ways. To keep it simple, as the term itself suggests, it is a condition in which someone is fully absorbed by a certain reality. In our context, that “someone” is the development professional who - eager to get a first-hand understanding of people’s lives s/he is concerned of - decides to live with them for some time, as a person. In this sense, immersion represents a unique opportunity to learn about the complexities of people’s realities in their own terms and at a more equal power level.

But why? Just think:
“What would have happened if the experiential learning and reflection of immersions and reality check had been the norm of good practice by development professionals over past decades? Would the deprivations, suffering and death inflicted on poor people by structural adjustment have been perpetrated if those responsible had spent a few days and nights immersed in a poor affected community? Might not those responsible have put a face and a person on the human price and sought other policies?” Robert Chambers, Research Associate at IDS, UK.

Wouldn’t poor communities be allowed (and justified) to “express their amazement that people who are experts in poverty don’t even bother to spend time with them?” Koy Thomson, Knowledge Initiative Director, AA International, UK.

So, how can we still claim to understand and find solutions to poverty and other development issues by only reading, studying and discuss about it? Is this a real “knowledge” or just theoretical presumption? And, most importantly, can this (only) be the basis for effective decisions? Most of us – be development professionals, policy makers or researchers - may think this is enough or, at the worst, not even question our assumptions.

Of course, as Frederick E. Nunes (former WB staff member) rightly spells out, “immersions are not a panacea, but they do offer an in-your face microcosm of the real challenges of development”. Also, it is important to highlight that immersions offer added values that other forms of learning do not:

• it is a reality check for us to find out what is really happening on the ground;
• it changes our perspective, enabling us to view and understand development issues from the perspective of people affected by it;
• it offers deeper and multi-dimensional learning, by being both an intellectual and emotional experience;
• it provides an equitable learning environment, where poor and “professionals” temporarily transcend their social “roles” (and power positions) and engage in a human relationship, a person-to-person encounter;
• it re-energises us, rekindling and deepening our personal and professional motivation;
• it gives authority and confidence in talking about development issues, because we can draw on lived experience.

And, how does it work?
There is no single model or blueprint for an immersion. The experience built so far is, in fact, quite diverse depending on the organisation, local context and purpose of the same. However, an immersion should be open, voluntary and based on a personal ground. Immersees should be ready to abandon their professional roles and overcome personal bias in order to see things from a different perspective, that of the insiders. To the extent possible, immersion participants should be treated as family members and not guests. It is also a responsibility of the visitors to encourage such treatment.
Concretely, participants are expected to take full part in the lives of their hosts, help them in their daily tasks and interact with them and the community so as to understand their living conditions and the dynamics which affect them.

Do you want to know more?

• Resource Centre

Over the last twenty years, more and more organisations have adopted immersion and utilised it for different purposes. As a result, a rich body of good practice is currently available, which is enriched every day by new, innovative experiences. To ensure that this wealth of practice is shared and put at its best use, a virtual resource centre is part of this site. Through this service, you can keep yourself abreast of the latest on immersion as well as know more about its pioneering work and evolution.

• Immersion Forum

Similarly, there is a felt need for immersion practitioners and others to interact more, share their diverse experiences, critically discuss, learn and build up a body of best practices. This is the aim of the Immersion Forum. If you are interested in being part of this online group discussion, contact us.

• Insight, Praxis Immersion Programme

At Praxis, we too believe that regular reality checks are crucial experiences for any person engaged in the development sector, particularly policy makers. Which is why, we have developed “Insight”, a learning programme based on the principle of immersion. Follow the link to know more.