Timelines

A timeline is a listing of key events in the community with the corresponding dates. It is most often used as tools in participatory appraisal (where the learning is a multi-way process), and can be modified for use as a visual training technique.

Figure

Purpose

A timeline can reveal:

· what a person or community believes to be important in their history;

· the background to present situations and links between key events, highlighting their importance;

· how people or groups have dealt with issues before;

· changes in attitudes through time;

· changes in use of resources (e.g., could be money, medicine, natural resources, depending on the focus of the timeline); and

· development of the community, person or event.

Note It is important to realize that the written output may not reveal other benefits gained along the process of making the timeline. Documentation of the process could be very helpful in recording more details of the in-depth discussions, which enhance awareness of how the events and the people involved influenced developments in the community.

People

This will depend on the focus of the timeline. Often, older people are used as key informants as they know more the history of an event or area. It can be facilitated as a focused discussion by one or two people.

As an option, you may work with the small groups separately at first (e.g., representatives of the women's group, farmers, youth, etc.) and consolidate group outputs afterwards. This can maximize participation as many people are more comfortable working with their peers.

Note The timeline will end at the present date.

Suggested approach

1. Work through formal and informal leaders in the community to arrange for a meeting with community members.

Figure

2. After gathering the people and materials, explain the reason for using a timeline.

3. Ask the participants for a well-known event as a reference date and build around it.

4. Allow the people to talk freely and do not worry too much about the accuracy of dates. Use questions to get more detail and raise issues (e.g., What important events have happened in the community? What major disasters occur in the community? When did these happen?)

5. Make copies for future reference.

6. Validate the timeline by asking other community members.

Outcome

The outcome will be a list of dates and events.

Strengths

Timelines are useful tools to complement case studies and action research. They provide lots of historical information in a simple and easily understandable form. They show the importance of the past to present. Experience shows that the communities are happy to have a written record of the development of their community and enjoy completing this exercise. This also boosts respect for older people.

Work with the local officials and respected persons in the community to get the trust and cooperation of other community members.

Caution Be careful in raising expectations as some communities may have experiences with other agencies/organizations which promised much but failed to deliver.

Limitations

· Timelines can stretch with many names and dates that do not enhance understanding, so be careful to include only useful information.

· Limited availability of older people.

Example

Timelines are used as a tool in compiling the Community Resource Profiles of the barangays working with the Western Samar Agricultural Development Programme (WESAMAR) in 14 municipalities of Western Samar, the Philippines. They are in the entry/preparatory phase and facilitate an understanding of the key events in the development of a community. The process also offers explanations behind present attitudes or issues. Some community, for example, doubted that the WESAMAR programme could benefit them. With the use of a timeline, it was discovered that previous interventions promised great things and failed. This led to a deeper discussion of program objectives and emphasized the importance of commitment from all involved. Note: On the whole, this exercise took about one hour and usually provoked heated discussion as dates and events were debated. Our experience showed that people were very pleased to have a written record of their history, enjoyed participating and said it made them realize the importance of their background.

Example

Timeline from a typical community working in partnership with WESAMAR
1941	First settlers (the Nabong Family) arrive
1944	Japanese occupation, many evacuated to safer places (people did not go hungry as they improvised on whatever they found in the forest)
1953	Many children died when a measles epidemic affected the area
1955	The place, then called Sitio Cantawilis and under the jurisdiction of Brgy. Hawalihaw, became a full pledge barangay and renamed Brgy. Nabong
1956	The Rural Improvement Club (RIC), a women's organization, was organized by the Department of Agriculture
1957	A marketshift schoolbuilding was built by the community under the leadership of Brgy. Captain Exuperancio NoroBR>
1957	The RIC, through a resolution, requested for their own schoolteacher
1965	A concrete school building was erected through the efforts of the local officials
1975	Brgy. Nabong community members constructed a temporary Community Health Center
1980	Health Center, Dancing Hall and Multi-purpose building projects were implemented
1983	A seven-month long drought damaged much of the agricultural produce, especially rice
1984	The red tide phenomenon - algal pollution - affected Magueda Bay; fisherfolks, who depended so much on the sea, encountered hardships.
1985	Typoon Undang ravanged the community-out of 28 houses only 9 were spared from major damage
1990	A water system was improvised and every household provided with a water faucet
1996	Entry of WESAMAR programme into the community
1997	Electricity installed through the local electric cooperative
1997	Watershed rehabilitation project implemented through the assistance of WESAMAR and a partner non-government organization (NGO)

* Barangay is a political division in the Philippines, similar to a village. This is often abbreviated as "brgy."

Variation

· Get people to write down events that they think are important on separate pieces of paper, then stick them onto the board in order. If some events are repeated, this reflects a high level of importance to many people.

· Each person could have one piece of paper or card with one event on it, then the participants all form a line holding the events in order.

· A base line with regular divisions can be used as a starter, then events can be added to it. Uneven spacing of events can provoke discussion as to "why?"