From the outset, community participation has been a working principle of the Mamre Community Health Project. The health planning approach was the predominant one used in Mamre. Attempts at improving community participation include the involvement of a steering committee elected by community members, the use of local people as interviewers and the feedback of results to the community in an accessible way. The process of negotiation of entry into the community was concluded. While consent and passive participation of the community were achieved, active participation remains a challenge for the future. Means of realistically evaluating community participation need to be developed.