What is a primary goal of COPAR?

The primary goal of COPAR, which stands for Community Organizing Participatory Action Research, is to improve community empowerment and participation. This approach actively involves community members in the research process, allowing them to have a voice and play a significant role in identifying issues, conducting research, and implementing solutions. By emphasizing community empowerment, COPAR helps to build local capacity and fosters ownership of the research outcomes, ultimately leading to sustainable development and positive social change. This participatory model contrasts with traditional research methods, which often prioritize the interests of researchers over those of the communities being studied. The emphasis on collaboration and shared decision-making is what distinctly positions COPAR as a transformative approach in research.