This book summarizes the experiences and results of nearly four years' work in a pioneering nonformal education project in Ecuador. The chapters are intended to serve as a reference for the educators around the world who are grappling with the problems of development at the most local level; who are motivated by philosophers like Freire and Illich toward a different outcome of the process of development; who are committed to trying significant educational alternatives; and, who above all, are concerned with the impact of their efforts on the individual lives of people in rural areas. The book describes the many creative and unusual games, simulations and other consciousness raising methods tried in the project. All the materials provide learners with the opportunity to participate in their own education, especially in understanding the factors in their environment that contribute to their local conditions. Many of these innovative techniques are described in detail in a series of Technical Notes which can be found in the Technical Notes Collection on this site. If anything distinguishes our efforts, it is a constant striving to think and act in a way which affirms the legitimacy and the necessity of the participation of local people in the process of development as it affects their lives. The process has not been easy. It has required constant dialogue and confrontation within the staff, and demands a commitment to continual assessment of our activities and their results. We hope that some sense of this process is conveyed by the chapters of this document as different individuals from the staff strive to express in words what the experience was like.