Developing a Community Learning Network and Local Wisdom to Expand Opportunities and Reduce Inequality among the Aging Population in the Border Areas of Surin Province

Abstract

In the border areas of Surin Province, people face problems due to limited access to services. The aging population is unemployed, has low income, and lacks opportunities for participation, resulting in multidimensional inequality. These issues led to the following research objectives: 1) To synthesize local knowledge and wisdom in the border area of Surin Province; 2) To develop a network of learning communities and local wisdom; and 3) To study the components and success factors in the development of a learning community network. The researchers employed a mixed-methods approach. The qualitative component involved fieldwork, including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with 15 key informants (local wisdom scholars, community leaders, and village representatives). This phase aimed to explore local knowledge and wisdom to support the design of learning activities, followed by a workshop with a target group of 50 participants to help develop the network. The quantitative component involved collecting questionnaire data from a sample of 385 respondents, focusing on the components and success factors of community network development. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, means, and standard deviations. The study found that: 1) Local wisdom was primarily held by the elderly due to their lifelong learning and accumulated experience. It could be classified into six areas: rituals and traditions, arts and culture, handicrafts, food, agriculture, and herbal medicine. 2) The development of a community learning network and the promotion of local wisdom were carried out in four steps: 2.1) preparing the community (including community analyses, setting common goals, and planning activities); 2.2) conducting workshops to foster a learning community; 2.3) monitoring; and 2.4) evaluation. 3) The components and success factors in developing the community network included: 3.1) community leaders; 3.2) local wisdom; 3.3) cooperation; 3.4) networking; and 3.5) community resources and capital.