Opening new ones and what activities are valuable for members

I am travelling to India in February and one of my objectives, which will interest SHGs in the UK, is that I want to find out about the Indian SHG activities. Currently there is wide ranging discussion going on in Kenya, India, Pakistan, UK and probably many countries of the World about self-help groups, including -
the usefulness of SHGs
how to open new ones
how to spread the idea to new places
what activities to carry out
why some members of SHGs do not always attend
what can we learn from Toastmasters or speakers clubs
the value of a therapist as a member
the value of a therapist running an SHG etc; etc; etc.

I started http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/stutteringselfhelp in October 2006. It is a small group, but there are 175 International members. It is an ideal venue to explore these issues and to give guidance to anyone who wants to spread awareness of SHGs in their own country.

If you have views, or want to ask questions of an international membership, please join and get started.

Keith Boss
BSA Trustee; International Stuttering Association Director; Chair of ISA Outreach

See also BSA's self-help group resources page.

January 2010