A Study Circle is small-group democracy at work.  Community participants from all walks of life agree to attend a number of Study Circle sessions that focuses on an issue of common concern. The Study Circle is a peer-led discussion of 8-12 participants; each participant has an equal voice.

An impartial facilitator, who is not necessarily an expert on the issue, leads the group.

A discussion guide is used to keep the discussion on track. The facilitator poses questions to stimulate the discussion and to keep the group focused on the issue. The Study Circle is held in a spontaneous and friendly environment.

A METHOD- that allows people from all spheres of life to express their opinions democratically and without fear of intimidation.

A PLATFORM- that allows participants to broaden their knowledge of an issue by hearing first hand the personal experiences and viewpoints of others in the community.

An OPPORTUNITY- for a diverse group of people to get together and address a common concern and articulate problem-solving strategies.

A FORUM- where members of society can discuss issues and work together by reducing the existing gaps and can lead to community action and positive change.

A MEDIUM- that offers the opportunity to gain knowledge and helps democracy to flourish

The concept of a Study Circle is not new. This method has been used for long time to educate the people. The Study Circle was introduced in Sweden about 100 years ago and is by far the most popular form of adult education in Sweden: One in every five Swedes has either led a study circle or has joined one.

Study circles were sponsored in the United States as early as in the 1870s by the Chautauqua Library and Scientific Circles (CLSC) in New York, which was an initiative of Bishop John H. Vincent’s Lake Chautauqua Assembly. The CLSC initiated a popular program of a four-year correspondence study with home study circles, organized group reading and discussion for adults. The adults had no training beyond high school. By 1915 the course became very popular. In the nineteenth century there was a slump in the economic and social conditions in Sweden, and as a result, one third of Swedes migrated to the United States. Thinkers, educators and political leaders became anxious and sought ways to overcome this condition. In the late nineteenth century, temporal movement leaders attempted to educate Swedes through adult education. However, they were searching for a method that could provide education in a democratic environment. In this situation, Edvard Wavrinksy, an ardent temperance advocate, visited Lake Chautauqua in 1893, was impressed with the CLSC home study circles and wrote an article on it. Temperance movement leader Oscar Olsson picked up on the idea and organized a series of study circles within the temperance movement.

Today, the Study Circle is the most popular form of adult education in Sweden. One in five Swedes participates in a Study Circle. The Study Circle method is still growing. Developed and developing countries across the globe are now modeling and practicing the Study Circle method. The Study Circle is a powerful, democratic instrument for social change.

We don’t have any formal information of existence of formal study circle in Nepal yet. Similar characteristic of Study circle is in function in various forms i.e. community talks, meetings, small group interactions and there could be some in intellectual level in Nepal. But those don’t represent our norms and values what we get through the study circle to achieve. We claim we are the first in Nepal to introduce it. We have commitment that we could change our society through the study circle. If you have commitment, if you have knowledge or don’t have, we welcome you. Let’s meet together, talk together and let’s work together.