Qualitative and participatory project evaluation: an experience based on environmental education and environmental sanitation research

Abstract

Project evaluation on environmental education and sanitation developed in Brazil has been very little used despite its academic and practical importance. Its relevance is even greater for research-action projects where investigators play an active role in search for solutions of the existing problems. Publicizing the research results to studied communities may help them to better plan future actions. This article is based on a qualitative and participatory evaluation of the project "Environmental education through social representations and technical information" developed in two municipalities in the western region of the state of Sao Paulo - Espírito Santo do Turvo and Vera Cruz - during the 1998-2001period. Results indicated that the local aspects contributed for different forms of project development and different evaluations by the studied communities. Nevertheless, in different ways, the project achieved its main objective, which was to prepare the local inhabitants for the promotion of a more sustainable development.