This issue captures the diversity of Immersion opportunities for development professionals - spending a period of time living with and learning from a poor family. The common denominator is a concern to bring immersion participants face to face with ordinary people, giving them the chance to test old assumptions, develop new perspectives, and strengthen their commitment to the challenge of poverty eradication.

The theme for this special issue centres on experiences of face-to-face learning, often referred to as immersions. Immersions are opportunities for development professionals to spend a period of time living with and learning from a poor family. Different models are being developed: some are structured around a specific theme; others are more experiential and open-ended. But their common purpose is to bring immersion participants face-to-face with ordinary people, to test old assumptions, develop new perspectives, and strengthen their commitment to the challenge of poverty eradication. A critical mass of interest is now gathering among major donors and civil society groups. Yet the impact of immersions is only now being tested. This issue explores both the limitations and potentials by: (i)bringing together diverse experiences of immersions, identifying their challenges and opportunities, and exploring their impacts; (ii) encouraging readers to talk about immersions, share their experience, and recognise that there are many sorts of immersion; (iii)inspiring people to have them, and help make immersions a regular practice for development professionals; and (iv) enabling readers to reflect, get/stay in touch, and follow up.