D1.3 PAR training manual and infographics on PAR activities during project (2)

Participatory Action Research (PAR) is a collaborative research approach that emphasises the involvement of participants as active contributors in the research process. The PAR approach is designed to lead to actionable outcomes to address the issues identified by the stakeholders of the project. It involves the people concerned about or directly affected by an issue, placing them at the forefront of producing and using knowledge about it. The PAR approach is cross-cutting throughout the LET’S CARE project’s stages and ecological levels, directly and indirectly affecting all the WPs of the project and influencing the 4 Pillars (Safe learning, Safe teaching, Safe schools, and Safe education) that form the foundation of the Safe Education Theoretical Model. This document presents the actions undertaken using the PAR methodology from 1st June 2023 to 30th June 2024, with a particular focus on the community-building initiatives (WP1) and the whole development of the qualitative research (WP3). Applying the PAR approach in these WPs helped shape the outcomes of other WPs (WP2, WP4, WP6, WP7, WP8). For monitoring the actions, the PAR toolkit of the LET'S CARE project described in deliverable D1.2 has been used as a reference. To verify the proper application of the PAR, an online questionnaire was distributed to all the project partners at M22 (July 2024). Assessing the application of the PAR approach during the mentioned period has allowed us to corroborate its significance in the LET’S CARE project, resulting in greater involvement of the different communities in the working procedures and the project’s outcomes, and allowing to reveal areas for improvement in the coming months of the project. Undoubtedly, having our own PAR approach manual allows for continuous and longitudinal evaluation mechanisms that will allow us to redefine the necessary actions throughout the project.