Capacity Building
INTRODUCTION:
Capacity building and Community Development models to formulate programs and projects that is not only sustainable but can also benefit the community in the long term with self-reliance and make a positive difference in community. There are different social and political ideologies and perspectives of community development, these ideologies and perspectives make different assumptions of how society functions and the need and level of interventions in the society (Ife, 1995, p 119), therefore it is very necessary that before any development projects or community development programs are devised the ideology, perspective or approaches that underpin the programs must be made clear.
After having the opportunity to be part of some of the wonderful Recharge project activities (e.g. Knox’s Science Works and Maroondah Group’s Glass and Ceramics Arts) and my own research, in this paper I will try to explain some of the ideas of how I would like to develop Recharge’s above mentioned groups and overcome some of the current or potential obstacles and problems. But before that I deem it necessary to explain the underlying perspective or the main ideology that my report is based on.
The perspective that underlines the approach in this report is the Asset-based community development as opposed to some other models of community development including needs-based community development approach. It is important at this stage that the difference between the approaches be defined. Most of the approaches rely on needs-based policies, which typically focus on what communities lack as opposed to what they assets they have and that is why this strategy can guarantee only survival, and can never lead to serious change or community development that leads to self-determination and reliance (Kenny, 2006, pp, 168-172). While an Asset-based approach works with the community not only to identify the difficulties and needs but also to focus more on the strengths capacities and
Capacity building and Community Development models to formulate programs and projects that is not only sustainable but can also benefit the community in the long term with self-reliance and make a positive difference in community. There are different social and political ideologies and perspectives of community development, these ideologies and perspectives make different assumptions of how society functions and the need and level of interventions in the society (Ife, 1995, p 119), therefore it is very necessary that before any development projects or community development programs are devised the ideology, perspective or approaches that underpin the programs must be made clear.
After having the opportunity to be part of some of the wonderful Recharge project activities (e.g. Knox’s Science Works and Maroondah Group’s Glass and Ceramics Arts) and my own research, in this paper I will try to explain some of the ideas of how I would like to develop Recharge’s above mentioned groups and overcome some of the current or potential obstacles and problems. But before that I deem it necessary to explain the underlying perspective or the main ideology that my report is based on.
The perspective that underlines the approach in this report is the Asset-based community development as opposed to some other models of community development including needs-based community development approach. It is important at this stage that the difference between the approaches be defined. Most of the approaches rely on needs-based policies, which typically focus on what communities lack as opposed to what they assets they have and that is why this strategy can guarantee only survival, and can never lead to serious change or community development that leads to self-determination and reliance (Kenny, 2006, pp, 168-172). While an Asset-based approach works with the community not only to identify the difficulties and needs but also to focus more on the strengths capacities and