Transformation in the South African discourse refers to a process of transition from exclusion to inclusion in all spheres of daily life. This paper identifies inclusion as bringing wideranging changes in the lives of women farmers traditionally relegated to small-scale gardening at subsistence level. Although concerned with the historical issue of separate development particularly in gender and access terms, the paper focuses on an ongoing development project initiated with a small rural community in Colenso and monitored by the Farmer Support Group and the Centre for Adult and Community Education at the University of Natal, Durban. It discusses the Participatory Learning method applied and attempts to understand two critical factors. These are, firstly, how notions of equity, social justice and non-discrimination are understood and manifested through government policy and community experience. Secondly, the importance of the woman and her rural household in the practical interpretation of sustainable livelihoods and cultural practices which will lead to socio-economic transformation. The underlying assumption of all thoseinvolved in the project is that the participatory learning method is the method best able tofacilitate and measure the process of transition without dramatically alienating and distorting cultural traditions.
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