People’s Action Forum (PAF), was formed in August 1994, as a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation. As an open denominational, non-discriminatory society PAF had a membership from the rural communities where PAF carries out its activities.

PAF’s approach was to help local groups realise that their development cannot be some abstract body’s responsibility, but their own; that rather than wait for Government to decide what they need, people should insist on being involved in the decision-making processes for necessary redress of issues concerning their communities’ welfare. In order to facilitate this process, PAF chose to work through literacy with adults because for them to be able to function in their communities, it was essential that they “read the word to read the world”.

 In addressing basic needs and concerns, PAF interacted with other non-governmental, civil society organisations, both local and international, as well as with Government, for the purpose of interpreting, assessing and becoming involved in advocacy for critical issues, especially those related to the education policy.

PAF had, in its community facing objectives:

• To facilitate the provision of basic education and literacy in the target communities as back-up support to other empowerment programmes.
• To empower members of the target communities to claim their human rights.
• To strengthen the capacities of the target communities to manage sustainable development projects.
• To advocate resolution of critical issues of concern to the target communities.