For people working to create a better future for their own communities, methods and tools are important, examples are important – but even more important are the stories. These stories demonstrate how people have worked to improve their communities. Working with Local Agenda 21 underlines the need to share what we have learnt with others trying to make a difference too. When this Ballymun project was discussed, I wondered: “How do we capture the stories?” The answer we came up with was to invite local writers to document the progress of these projects. You now hold in your hand not only a cookbook of methods and tools, but also the dreams, aspirations and achievements of many people. The contributors are mostly volunteers, none of them professional writers. In place of professional skills they brought curiosity, energy, and tenacity –Marilyn Mehlmann, Global Action Plan International
