Community development (CD) is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities.
Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities. These skills are often created through the formation of large social groups working for a common agenda. Community developers must understand both how to work with individuals and how to affect communities' positions within the context of larger social institutions.
There are a myriad of job titles for CD workers and their employers include public authorities and voluntary or non-governmental organisations, funded by the state and by independent grant making bodies. Since the nineteen seventies the prefix word ‘community’ has also been adopted by several other occupations from the police and health workers to planners and architects, who work with more disadvantaged groups and communities and have been influenced by CD approaches.
CD practitioners have over many years developed a range of skills and approaches for working within local communities and in particular with disadvantaged people. These include less formal educational methods, community organising and group work skills. Since the nineteen sixties and seventies through the various anti poverty programmes in both developed and developing countries, CD practitioners have been influenced by structural analyses as to the causes of disadvantage and poverty i.e. inequalities in the distribution of wealth, income, land etc. and especially political power and the need to mobilise people power to affect social change.
Poverty can shape whole communities for generations. The best strategies for combating its effects and progressing into a better future must come from within the community itself.
Carolina's believe. Its ambitious young people have resounding hope and remarkable creativity. They have the talent and initiative to create real, sustainable change. Oftentimes all they need are the resources and some support network to help their ideas thrive.
Definitions The key elements of community development are expressed to varying degrees in many definitions. Some key descriptions are as follows: · For community development to occur, people in a community must believe working together can make a difference and organise to address their shared needs collectively – Flora et. al. (1992). · Community development is a group of people in a community reaching a decision to initiate a social action process to change their economic, social, cultural and environmental situation – Christenson et. al. (1989). · Community development is a process that increases choices. It creates an environment where people can exercise their full potential to lead productive, creative lives. – Ron Shaffer (pers. com.). · Community development is a process where people are united with those of governmental authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions of communities and communities are integrated into the life of the nation enabling them to contribute fully to national progress. – (United Nations, from Biggs, 1999) · Community capacity is the combined influence of a community’s commitment, resources and skills that can be deployed to build on community strengths and address community problems and opportunities – (Aspen Institute, 2000). · Community vitality is the capacity of the local socio-economic system to survive and persist in generating employment, income, and wealth and to maintain if not improve its relative economic position. – Shaffer (1989). · Community economic development is about identifying and harnessing local community resources and opportunities and stimulating sustainable economic and employment activity – Kenyon (1994). · Sanders (1958) saw community development as a process moving from stage to stage; a method of working towards a goal; a program of procedures and as a movement sweeping people up in emotion and belief.
Community development (CD) is a broad term applied to the practices and academic disciplines of civic leaders, activists, involved citizens and professionals to improve various aspects of local communities.
ReplyDeleteCommunity development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people by providing them with the skills they need to effect change in their own communities. These skills are often created through the formation of large social groups working for a common agenda. Community developers must understand both how to work with individuals and how to affect communities' positions within the context of larger social institutions.
There are a myriad of job titles for CD workers and their employers include public authorities and voluntary or non-governmental organisations, funded by the state and by independent grant making bodies. Since the nineteen seventies the prefix word ‘community’ has also been adopted by several other occupations from the police and health workers to planners and architects, who work with more disadvantaged groups and communities and have been influenced by CD approaches.
CD practitioners have over many years developed a range of skills and approaches for working within local communities and in particular with disadvantaged people. These include less formal educational methods, community organising and group work skills. Since the nineteen sixties and seventies through the various anti poverty programmes in both developed and developing countries, CD practitioners have been influenced by structural analyses as to the causes of disadvantage and poverty i.e. inequalities in the distribution of wealth, income, land etc. and especially political power and the need to mobilise people power to affect social change.
Approach
ReplyDeletePoverty can shape whole communities for generations. The best strategies for combating its effects and progressing into a better future must come from within the community itself.
Carolina's believe. Its ambitious young people have resounding hope and remarkable creativity. They have the talent and initiative to create real, sustainable change. Oftentimes all they need are the resources and some support network to help their ideas thrive.
ReplyDeleteDefinitions
ReplyDeleteThe key elements of community development are expressed to varying degrees in
many definitions. Some key descriptions are as follows:
· For community development to occur, people in a community must believe
working together can make a difference and organise to address their shared needs
collectively – Flora et. al. (1992).
· Community development is a group of people in a community reaching a decision
to initiate a social action process to change their economic, social, cultural and
environmental situation – Christenson et. al. (1989).
· Community development is a process that increases choices. It creates an
environment where people can exercise their full potential to lead productive,
creative lives. – Ron Shaffer (pers. com.).
· Community development is a process where people are united with those of
governmental authorities to improve the economic, social and cultural conditions
of communities and communities are integrated into the life of the nation enabling
them to contribute fully to national progress. – (United Nations, from Biggs,
1999)
· Community capacity is the combined influence of a community’s commitment,
resources and skills that can be deployed to build on community strengths and
address community problems and opportunities – (Aspen Institute, 2000).
· Community vitality is the capacity of the local socio-economic system to survive
and persist in generating employment, income, and wealth and to maintain if not
improve its relative economic position. – Shaffer (1989).
· Community economic development is about identifying and harnessing local
community resources and opportunities and stimulating sustainable economic and
employment activity – Kenyon (1994).
· Sanders (1958) saw community development as a process moving from stage to
stage; a method of working towards a goal; a program of procedures and as a
movement sweeping people up in emotion and belief.