Workshop Method to Support Endogenous Rural Development

Case Studies of 10 Districts in Wakayama Prefbcture

Abstract

In recent years, it is stressed that rural residents need to reduce their dependence on the government and endogenously revitalize their communities while serious issues suchas depopulation, aging of the rural population and stagnation of economy are intensifying. This study seeks to devise a workshop method to support endogenous rural development. In this workshop method, a series of three workshops is offered to provide a place of learning for residents who will carry forward endogenous rural development. We applied this workshop method to 10 districts in Wakayama prefecture and verified its effectiveness. Participants in the workshops experienced three processes: 1) gaining awareness about the local problems, 2) recognizing structurally the features and problems of their districts, 3) generating ideas for revitalizing their communities, and evaluating the priority orders of the ideas. We found many changes in participants'consciousness and actions for regional development through the series of workshops. On the other hand, it was clarified that the workshop method needs to be improved in terms of, among others, work contents (complexity), participants'attributes (gender and age bias in participation).