Community development can be both empowering and harmful. Dividing these two very opposing sides is a often faint line. With many different parties often involved in community development it can become a tug-of-war as each side pulls to create the community they see best fit. Business owners, community planners, government officials, students and residence come upon this rope (ie. their opportunity to make community) with varying motives. This tug-of-war scenario takes place all over the world, however the strength of certain parties may be overpoweringly strong compared to others. This dominant pulling force in many developing countries is the government, who's motives and views take precedence over that of the people whom which community aims to serve.
But who should really win this tug-of-war???
To answer this question, a new question must be posed. What is is community?
I believe community is hard to define in concrete terms for it is my belief that community is a personal connection built on a sense of belonging to a group and/or area, and thus it is unique to each person. I also believe that community development should set out on a route which aims to best serve the People of the community.
There is no finite agreed upon definition of community development, showing its great complexity.
With the quick strike of 21 keys google provides me with multiple definitions of community development. I have listed the first 4 of these definitions bellow. From these definitions some observations can be made: while many of the definitions have various similar aspects they are all slightly different. Different bodies (meaning the different sources: wikipedia, envision.ca ect.) appear to have different motives and opinions. These motives and opinions come from varying agendas. Community Development can involve various bodies of people and can effect both the individual experience and the built environment.
Definitions of 'Community Development'
Community development (CD), informally called community building, 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.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community_development
is more than just economic development (although economic development is included). Community development is the process or effort of building communities on a local level with emphasis on building the economy, forging and strengthening social ties, and developing the non-profit sector.
www.envision.ca/templates/profile.asp
A process of developing or building up communities of men and women to enable empowerment, self-sufficiency and control over their environment.
www.acil.com.au/glossary.htm
Technical Version: a process involving the conception, planning, and implementation of projects or activities which create improvements in (or reduce the extent of declines in) the living standards of people in a particular community
www.ccd.net/resources/guide/glosary/glossary1.html
Service Canada states an additional remark about community development in their community development handbook which I found of significant importance as well, stating: 'the two [community development and capacity] are interrelated but distinct. Combined or separate, they both have a great deal to do with developing potential and enhancing community living.'
I believe development and capacity come hand in hand and if developed correctly one should lead to the other, for a stronger more vibrant, healthier and knowledgeable (developed) community should in turn have a greater capacity. It is possible for capacity to come before community development too for instance if capital is given to a community, jobs are made and government is well running this may lead to the ability do develop community.
The assimilationist attitude of the Canadian Government in the 19th century towards Aboriginals is an example of community development gone wrong. The goals of the residential schools was to develop a community but this view of community was imposed by the government onto the people. This is not at all what the people wanted in the way of development and resulted in... the disempowerment of the people and a disconnect felt between these people and their true community.
This haunting tale is a reminder to not impose community rather to assist it in its development as the people wish it to be. Although it is a very extreme example of the negatives results of an externally imposed community aid workers and students like myself who travel to other nations in hopes of assisting the people can be faced with similar, although most likely less extreme, scenarios where their ideas of assisting the people may conflict with ideal community of the locals. While I believe myself and others in similar work with NGOs do have the ability to assist and empower the people, providing them with the resources, new knowledge and materials (ie. capacity) community development must come from the community members.
Read Service Canada's Handbook to Community Development here:
I believe development and capacity come hand in hand and if developed correctly one should lead to the other, for a stronger more vibrant, healthier and knowledgeable (developed) community should in turn have a greater capacity. It is possible for capacity to come before community development too for instance if capital is given to a community, jobs are made and government is well running this may lead to the ability do develop community.
The assimilationist attitude of the Canadian Government in the 19th century towards Aboriginals is an example of community development gone wrong. The goals of the residential schools was to develop a community but this view of community was imposed by the government onto the people. This is not at all what the people wanted in the way of development and resulted in... the disempowerment of the people and a disconnect felt between these people and their true community.
This haunting tale is a reminder to not impose community rather to assist it in its development as the people wish it to be. Although it is a very extreme example of the negatives results of an externally imposed community aid workers and students like myself who travel to other nations in hopes of assisting the people can be faced with similar, although most likely less extreme, scenarios where their ideas of assisting the people may conflict with ideal community of the locals. While I believe myself and others in similar work with NGOs do have the ability to assist and empower the people, providing them with the resources, new knowledge and materials (ie. capacity) community development must come from the community members.
Read Service Canada's Handbook to Community Development here:
A. Philip Randolph said that “A community is democratic only when the humblest and weakest person can enjoy the highest civil, economic, and social rights that the biggest and most powerful possess.”It is in this definition that people need to learn that the vulnerable are just as powerful, rich and abled as those that easily have the ability to lead. Tougher said than done. Imposition can be a great obstacle.
ReplyDelete-Sebastien :)