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Community Development Assignment 01

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34 views4 pages

Community Development Assignment 01

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anas1054108
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COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

“ALONE WE ARE SMART

TOGETHER WE ARE BRILLIANT”

Steven Anderson

• Definition:

Community development is about bringing people together to improve their living standards. It’s a
process where people of the same interest work together to solve problems, share resources, and
build a better, more sustainable future. The goal is to create stronger, healthier communities where
everyone has a chance to thrive.

Kibera Community Development Project, Nairobi, Kenya

In Kibera, one of Nairobi’s largest informal settlements, a community development project


focused on improving housing, sanitation, education, and healthcare. Residents, NGOs, and
local authorities collaborated to build affordable homes, enhance water systems, and provide
vocational training. Over time, the community saw significant improvements in living
conditions, economic independence, and education. This project empowered local residents
to manage their development, leading to a more sustainable and thriving community.

• Functions of Community Development

1. Improving Quality of Life: Community development aims to enhance the well-being


of individuals and groups within a community by addressing basic needs such as
housing, education, healthcare, and employment.
2. Empowerment: It empowers individuals and groups within the community by giving
them the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to take control of their own
development and solve local problems.
3. Social Cohesion: Community development fosters social inclusion by strengthening
relationships among community members, encouraging cooperation, and building a
sense of belonging and solidarity.
4. Capacity Building: It focuses on developing the skills and capabilities of community
members, helping them acquire knowledge, skills, and confidence to address
challenges and participate in decision-making processes.
5. Resource Mobilization: Community development often involves organizing local
resources—whether financial, human, or natural—and leveraging external support
(e.g., government, NGOs, or private sector) to meet community needs.
6. Sustainability: It works towards creating long-term solutions that are economically,
socially, and environmentally sustainable. This ensures that improvements continue
even after external support ends.
7. Economic Development: It stimulates local economies through initiatives like small
business development, job creation, and skill-building programs, helping communities
become more self-sufficient.
8. Advocacy and Policy Influence: Community development efforts often aim to
influence local, regional, or national policies to address systemic issues that affect the
community, such as poverty, discrimination, or environmental concerns.

• Characteristics of Community Development

1. Participatory: Community development is a participatory process, where local


residents play a central role in identifying needs, setting goals, and implementing
solutions. It emphasizes community ownership and involvement.
2. Inclusive: It seeks to involve all members of the community, especially marginalized
groups (e.g., women, youth, disabled persons), ensuring that everyone has a voice in
the development process.
3. Holistic: Community development looks at the bigger picture, addressing multiple
aspects of life—economic, social, cultural, and environmental—rather than focusing
on one specific issue in isolation.
4. Bottom-Up Approach: Unlike top-down development strategies, community
development starts at the grassroots level. It builds from the needs and desires of the
community, rather than being dictated by outside agencies or governments.
5. Flexible and Context-Specific: Community development is adaptable to the unique
needs and circumstances of different communities. Solutions are tailored to local
contexts rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
6. Collaborative: It fosters partnerships between various stakeholders—community
members, local authorities, NGOs, the private sector, and others—working together to
achieve shared goals.
7. Self-Reliance: One of the key aims is to build the community's capacity to manage
and sustain its own development without continuous external assistance.
8. Empathy and Trust-Building: Effective community development creates a sense of
trust and empathy among members, as they collaborate to solve common problems. It
focuses on building relationships and mutual respect.

• Case Study: The South Central Farmers Co-op (United States)

Location: South Central Los Angeles, California


Sector: Urban Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, Environmental Justice

Overview:

The South Central Farmers Co-op (SCFC) was a community-led urban farming initiative in
Los Angeles. It aimed to combat food insecurity, promote economic independence, and
address environmental justice issues in a predominantly low-income, Latino community.
Key Features:

1. Urban Agriculture for Empowerment:


o Created local food sources and jobs in a food desert.
o Enabled residents to grow and sell fresh produce.
2. Advocacy for Land Rights:
o Fought against land sale to developers intending to build warehouses.
o Emphasized land access and environmental justice.
3. Cooperative Model:
o Focused on collective ownership and decision-making.
o Promoted economic sustainability through community-run farming.
4. Education and Capacity Building:
o Offered training on sustainable farming, nutrition, and local food systems.

Challenges:

1. Land Tenure:
o The land was sold for commercial development, threatening the project’s survival.
2. Legal and Political Resistance:
o Faced opposition from developers and local government.
3. Post-Eviction Sustainability:
o The farm was dismantled in 2006 after eviction, but the movement continued.

Impact:

1. Food Security:
o Provided affordable, healthy produce to the local community.
2. Economic Empowerment:
o Created jobs and income through cooperative farming.
3. Social Mobilization:
o Raised awareness on land rights and food sovereignty issues.
4. Legacy:
o The SCFC’s advocacy and model inspired other urban farming initiatives and food
justice movements.

Conclusion:

Despite challenges, the South Central Farmers Co-op demonstrated how urban agriculture
can empower communities, promote food sovereignty, and fight against land displacement.
Its legacy continues to inspire food justice efforts today.

Further Reading:

• American Sociological Review, 2006


• Community Development Journal, 2008
• Environmental Justice, 2010

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