The method in context: Ecological engagement in Angola

Abstract

This chapter aims at illustrating the use of Ecological Engagement. For that purpose, we will describe the methodological process of a research project held in Angola focused on education and children’s rights. The objective of the study was to elaborate a situational diagnosis on the local public primary schools, to investigate how the school of the Angolans’ dreams would look like, and, based on this, guide the development of an Angolan child-friendly school model. During the 4 months of Ecological Engagement in Angola the researchers tried to be a part of the context they were inserted in, experiencing local life and learning the most about Angolan history, its culture and its situation regarding education and children’s rights. The implementation of this study was a great challenge for the research team. However, the engagement of the researchers in the participant’s context enabled a wide analysis over process, person, context, and time, expanding the reach of the study and increasing the quality of the data collected.