Introduction

Community development is an essential aspect that involves influencing positive change in a community. It is, however, necessary understanding the community and how this positive change is infiltrated in the community. Over the years, the term community has been significantly used in all areas of our daily lives. The term has been used for political, professional and corporate reasons and has different meanings in all these disciplines (‘Community Development Practice’, 2007). It is, therefore, prudent noting that it is possible for an individual to belong to the various communities at the same time. Community development is made possible through social work where individuals engage in activities that promote social and economic progress in a community.

Community development

Community development is a process governed by various principles and arises from different settings and sources. The development involves community work that entails different critical activities that include;

1 Engaging the community: Pre-planning and meeting the community

2. Community Assessment: Developing a community profile
3. Intervention and Participation.
4. Evaluating community work

It is also important noting that there is no distinct point that marks the beginning of the community development process (Robinson & Green, 2011).

Community development assessment is an essential aspect of community development process. This forms a unique stage that defines the needs of the community and the means of addressing the social problems. For us to address the community challenges, it is vital to take a preliminary assessment of the challenges facing the community. The process requires skills and attention that are community-based. Community development assessment involves several models that include but not limited to asset-based approach.

Asset Based Community Development

Asset Based Community Development popularly referred to as ABCD is an approach used in catalyzing change in a community using the existing gifts and capabilities. This is an approach that utilizes assets (gifts, skills, resources and ability of residents). The approach acknowledges that community has a unique combination of assets from which a community can build on its future. In this approach, community development process starts with identifying the assets rather than the needs. This is am relationship driven and internally focused approach that is concerned with linking micro-assets to macro-environment. It is an approach based on the premise that community has the ability to initiate its development process through identification of existing but unrecognized assets that can be used for economic and social progress.

An asset-based approach can be very applicable to addressing the issues facing the youths at Gundamura. I have realized that as a regional youth support officer, I have an obligation of dealing with increased domestic violence, petrol sniffing, alcoholism and protecting indigenous kids from harm (Payne, 2006). As a social worker, it will be of paramount importance to understand the unique assets in this small urban center that is essential in addressing these challenges.

For instance, the city has a population of nine thousand people who are gifted with different skills and capabilities.  I will ensure that I utilize the abundance of the skills from this population to the betterment of the lives of the youths in this rural town. This population has varied personalities, experiences and knowledge that can be instrumental for sustainable change in the rural city. The region is also endowed with health centers and learning institutions that can lay the basis for introducing change in the community (Henderson, 2010). The rural district also has favorable natural conditions that have enabled thrived agricultural activities in the area.

For me to be able to carry out an effective community development work as a social worker, it will be significant for me to ensure that I fulfill certain asset-focused actions. These actions will be critical in ensuring that the desired change is realized. For instance, it will be my prerogative ensuring that I affirm to the population of the existing gifts and attributes and their role towards community development. I must also ensure that the population of the 9,000 residents is actively involved in the asset-based approach (Craig, 2011). This approach will also require me to integrate the multi-sectoral activities that will lead to social and economic progress in Gundamura. It will also be my role to facilitate and demonstrate the implementation of the decision-making process and also connect people to the available institutions.

Skills to community engagement

As earlier mentioned, the engaging community is a critical activity in the community development process. This stage ensures that members of the community are aware f the challenges they are facing and proposed mechanisms for addressing such issues. As a regional youth support officer, I require certain skill that will enable me engage the community (Kenny, 2010). Community development process can only be successful if the members of the community own up the exercise.  Engaging the community will involve pre-planning and meeting the community to sensitize them on the measures intended to address issues that hinder community development.

As a social worker, I will be required to communicate and listen to the individuals and various groups residing in Gundamura. It will, therefore, be critical to adopt listening and communication skills that will help realize the objectives aimed at community development. Building rapport and empathy will also be critical skills that will help engage the community. For instance, it is evident that young people in the region are faced with numerous challenges. For example, the case of Ben can be used to create empathy among the members of the community (Hamerlinck & Plaut, 2013). This young boy has been charged with stealing the motor vehicle, careless driving, and unlicensed driving at a tender age (Born, 2008). This is a clear indication that the youths in this region have far-reaching challenges that require urgent attention. Publicizing this case can seek empathy from other members of the community thus helping in the engagement process.

I will be required to reach to many members of the community as possible. The engagement process requires that I capture the feelings of as many members of the community as I can. As a result, I will be needed to organize several capacity building forums that will help me meet several groups and individual members of the community. Capacity buildings forums will enable enhance community inclusivity where all members of the community will be actively involved in the community development process. This inclusivity will ensure that even the minority in the community will be actively participating in the development practice. As a youth support officer, it will be my prerogative of ensuring that the different groups in the community have equal opportunity contributing to the community development process (McKnight & Block, 2010). I will need skills that will help remove social, physical, political, cultural and economic barriers that will hinder the equal participation of community members towards community development process.

The engagement process will also require that I understand the principles for intercultural work between the Aboriginal and non-aboriginal people. These two groups of people have different cultural backgrounds, and it is not easy to engage them fully in the development process. It is vital that I initiate programs that will enable an intercultural process for community development. Though the aboriginal are the group that is significantly affected by these issues, the non-aboriginal will also be paramount in addressing these issues.  I will, therefore, need to unearth the historical differences between the two groups and design a workable collaborative approach that will help address the thorny issues (Emejulu, 2015). Youths all over the community will be subjected to intensive training to equip them with skills and knowledge essential in addressing the issue affecting the aboriginal. The engagement process will also sensitize them to the dangers of alcoholism and domestic violence thus enabling them share a common stand.

Challenges and dilemmas

As a community development worker, I am aware that I will face several challenges and difficulties in the course of duty. Some of the challenges will be internal/personal while others will be natural/external. It is, therefore, essential that I familiarize myself with these challenges and dilemmas so that I can design the best approach to getting the desired results. The familiarization process will be essential in ensuring that there are no biases in the course of my duty.

Challenges

Neo-liberalism: this is one of the major challenges that I will face as a community development worker. This is a theory of modern thinking where individuals have a freedom to make decisions. Issues about health and other social aspects are allowed in the free market. As a social worker, the regulation of increased alcoholism will be hindered since alcohol retailers and manufacturers have the right to trade their merchandise freely. In the long run, community development process will be compromised.

Democratic decision making: this is considered as a good approach to community development process. It is a process that involves negotiating between different ideas, opinions and beliefs and at times it can result in conflicts. For instance, I may not agree with opinions of all the members of the community, and this may slow the development process (Emejulu, 2015). The democratic process will also slow down the implementation of the development process. The effect of ‘’pure community development is evident in matters of decision making.

Power inequalities: it is my prerogative to understand that different members of the community have different class and social status.  If I fail to address and acknowledge the existence of such variations, then the development process may be a great failure.

Theory and practice: as a community development worker, it is important to understand that it is possible to have too much talking and theorizing in the development process. It is for this reason that I should be able to draw the line between theory and practice if the development process is a success (Eversole, 2010). Though there is a need for informed discussion, it is also imperative ensuring that lengthy discussions do not compromise the development process.

Dilemmas

Activism vs. professionalism: as a social worker, I have a professional obligation of spearheading a development process that eradicates certain social problems among the youths in the community. It is, however, essential noting that there are times that there is a conflict between grass-root activism and professionalism in development. Action and analysis form the best premises upon which this dilemma is based (Hoggett, Mayo & Miller, 2009). As a professional, I will ensure that intense analysis is prior to decision making which may be against the activist spirit.

Nostalgia vs. avant-garde: it is okay to have an imaginary community that is different from the reality on the ground.  Failure to have the ‘’feel good’’ effect in the community will at times be a great disappointment. On the other hand, failure to agree and accept the current trend of increased alcoholism and domestic violence can also be a hindrance to effective community development.

Freedom vs. equality: in most cases, it’s hard to fulfill requirements of freedom and equality. For instance, proponents of equality suggest that there must be regulations that ensure equal distribution of resources. On the other hand, proponents of freedom argue that members of the community should have freedom to access resources.   As a social worker, my actions that intend to promote equality may be considered to limit freedom of some members of the community. These dilemmas must be adequately addressed to realize effective community development process.

References

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Community Development Practice. (2007). Community Development, 38(3), 90-90. doi:10.1080/15575330709489831

Craig, G. (2011). The community development reader. Bristol, UK: Policy Press.

Emejulu, A. (2015). Community Development as Micropolitics. Bristol: Policy Press.

Eversole, R. (2010). Remaking participation: challenges for community development practice. Community Development Journal, 47(1), 29-41. doi:10.1093/cdj/bsq033

Hamerlinck, J., & Plaut, J. (2013). Asset-based community engagement in higher education.

Henderson, P. (2010). Community development and civil society. Bristol: Policy.

Hoggett, P., Mayo, M., & Miller, C. (2009). The dilemmas of development work. Bristol: Policy Press.

Kenny, S. (2010). Developing communities for the future. South Melbourne, Vic.: Cengage Learning.

Mayo, M., Mendiwelso-Bendek, Z., & Packham, C. Community research for community development.

Mayo, M., Mendiwelso-Bendek, Z., & Packham, C. Community research for community development.

McKnight, J., & Block, P. (2010). The abundant community. [Chicago, Ill.]: American Planning Association.

Payne, P. (2006). Youth violence prevention through asset-based community development. New York: LFB Scholarly Pub.

Robinson, J., & Green, G. (2011). Introduction to community development. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications.

Shaw, M. (2006). Community development and the politics of community. Community Development Journal, 43(1), 24-36. doi:10.1093/cdj/bsl035

Stoll, L., & Louis, K. (2007). Professional learning communities. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press.

 
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