Resources: Social change favorites

These resources are some favorites of UNICEF’s Social and Behavior Change team, West and Central Africa Regional Office. (A subjective, heart-felt list created by our Dakar-based team). Updated: 12 May 2024. [Want to suggest something? See link in item 5: “More social change favorites,” where you can click and add your favorites].

1. “I, Rigoberta Menchu,” (1983) is the autobiography of a Quechua woman and human right activist from Guatemala. The book is a counterpoint to Audre Lorde essay: “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” Rigoberta learned Spanish, the “colonizers” language, to share her story. She used the master’s tools, trashed his house, and won a Nobel Peace Prize (1992).
2. “Pedagogy of the Oppressed,” (1970), Paulo Freire. If you only have time for a few pages, check out Chapter 2 and the concept of the “banking model” of education. If you have interest and more time, see full PDF here.
3. “Playing with fire,” by Alfonso Gumucio Dagron (2009). A ten-page essay on the importance of participation, and the difference between information and communication.
4. “Putting the last first,” (1983) by Robert Chambers. We include here an excerpt only, the first chapter (For the intrepid: full book here). Chambers advises us to get off the paved roads, and go beyond our urban mindset. A true classic. If you only read ONE thing from this list, let it be Chambers.
5. [Add your favorites and suggestions here!] More Social Change Favorites — An additional list with links for readings, podcasts and more, crowd-sourced from colleagues, friends, partners and co-conspirators.

Do you have a ideas for this list? Please share in our “Suggestion basket ”

From: The Social and Behavior Change Team, UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office/WCARO).