Xinguang Xinguang
Xinzhai Xinzhai
Xinzhai is my home
In the rivers there are fish, in the fields grow the rice
Lusheng bamboo is my life
Traditional culture is my life
There are hills, water and forest; the river is cool and clear
We grow maize and rice
The elders guide the young
The flower blossoms in the heart of everyone
Xinguang Xinzhai is my home

Villagers in Zhouxi Township of Kaili City in Guizhou were rejoicing over the lyrics and melody of their community song – a song that was originally written by their Thai friend Jamnong, but now embraced by the community as its own.  All these happened after the two days of Exchange Program where participants and Thai facilitators discussed, analysed and shared the history and culture of the community. The villagers became proud of the beautiful environment they live in, the wealth of natural resources and local knowledge that they inherited from their ancestors over the centuries.

In June 2007, PCD organised this exchange program entitled “Learning on Traditional Culture for Development in Guizhou”.  In it, PCD’s partners, staff, villagers from the community, and experienced Thai community development workers came together to discuss the relationship between community culture and development through workshops and field visits and sharing. The focus of the program was to help communities in three villages to analyze its changes over time, to recognise their potential by learning about their history and resources, and to experience their ability to recuperate in face of changes. In the process, PCD program staffs also learned how important a facilitator’s role is in encouraging open and frank exchange among villagers.

Why do we need to talk about traditional culture in community development? Building a community is similar to building a house -- a solid foundation is required.  The common history and resources that people share and own form the foundation of a community. By recognising how their own community come into existence; by understanding how their ancestors courageously overcame hardships brought upon by environmental changes; by accumulating life’s wisdoms through generations, people learned from their own past.  Only from then on, will people be able to map out its own path of development, without being drifted into currents of changes that may even eventually cause the community to break up.  One important factor of community development is to help people to become aware of the merits of its own culture, become proud of it, and to build upon it -- similar to building our own house on a solid foundation.

As we are inheriting the culture of a community, we are also exploring its future. At the end of our activities, some villagers were eager to ask the elders to talk  more about the history and the customs of their respective communities. Others want to invite talented individuals to produce a community journal to document community knowledge, skills, craftsmanship, etc. The process may help to rekindle people’s interest in rediscovering what have been long forgotten in the community, such as living harmoniously with nature, spirits of mutual help and the faith in self reliance – many of which are needed to resolve problems we are facing today.