Community Development: Definition
Community Development: Definition
Definition:
Community Participation
Everyone has a valuable contribution to make and communitymembers can join in
at any level. Volunteers and community members are integral to the decision-making,
evaluation, provision, participation and direction setting at all levels of the organization.
Community Ownership
Members are actively involved in decision-making and have
ownershipof the centres activities. A voluntary management committee Comprising
elected members who live, work or participate in the local community
governs each centre. The governance model is developmental, working co-operatively
and collaboratively with staff, volunteers, centre participants and the wider
community , thus generating a range of community benefits.
Empowerment
A process that respects, values and enhances people’s ability to have control over their
over their lives is put into practice. This process encourages people to meet their needs
and aspirations in a self-aware and informed way which takes advantage of their skills,
experience and potential. Change and growth occurs through informing and
empowering individuals and communities.
Lifelong Learning
Learning is integrated into all aspects of centre activities, thus building and supporting
the personal skills, knowledge, abilities and resilience of people. They develop the
health, wellbeing and connection of people and their families, through formal
and informal pathways in education, employment and self-development.
Inclusion
The diverse contributions that people make are valued, no matter what their background
or varying abilities. Individual and local needs are
acknowledged and addressed, often through informal interaction.Identifying these need
s and issues through a range of methods isinstrumental to informing the planning and
development of activities and programs.
Access and Equity
Centres are accessible and welcoming. They promote a fairer distribution of economic
resources and power between people byaiming to improve the social, environmental,
economic and cultural infrastructures within their communities.
Social Action
Internal and external factors that impact on the local community are
analyzed and relationships between individuals, groups and Organizations and within
the community transformed through collective action.
Advocacy
In meeting individual and group needs, Centre act with, or on behalf of, community
members.
Networking
Networking, forming alliances, collaborating and working with individuals,
groups, other agencies, government,and business are crucial, with interaction between
formal and informal methods to achieve connections within the local communities.
Self Help
Individuals are supported in coming together in a caring group environment to share
information, knowledge, skills and life experience in order that each participant can
reach their own personal goals.
Community Development Practice
Objectives:
Number of pages 12
Volume 35
Issue number 1