Difference between revisions of "Community Development"
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| − | [Here, we will take stock of how others have defined these terms, and arrive at our own definitions so that it can encompass the wide array of work and the relevant key constructs (e.g. participation, empowerment, social justice etc). Also how different groups define it could vary, eg government, social workers, community workers etc, so we should take note of this][[File:Boys-cellphone-facial-expression-1036804 small.jpg|thumb|Community work and community development are similar and there are overlaps in their strategies and processes. But the issues or problems in the community are defined by external parties in community work, while in community development, groups and members in the community are supported to identify issues, problems or concerns that affect them. Photo: Boys chatting while seated relaxedly on a sofa by [https://www.pexels.com/photo/men-sits-of-sofa-1036804/ Afta Putta Gunawan/Pexels]| | + | [Here, we will take stock of how others have defined these terms, and arrive at our own definitions so that it can encompass the wide array of work and the relevant key constructs (e.g. participation, empowerment, social justice etc). Also how different groups define it could vary, eg government, social workers, community workers etc, so we should take note of this][[File:Boys-cellphone-facial-expression-1036804 small.jpg|thumb|Community work and community development are similar and there are overlaps in their strategies and processes. But the issues or problems in the community are defined by external parties in community work, while in community development, groups and members in the community are supported to identify issues, problems or concerns that affect them. Photo: Boys chatting while seated relaxedly on a sofa by [https://www.pexels.com/photo/men-sits-of-sofa-1036804/ Afta Putta Gunawan/Pexels]|350x350px|left]] |
==== Community Development ==== | ==== Community Development ==== | ||
Revision as of 06:51, 2 July 2019
“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage
- Page to the Community Development Network
Contents
Definitions
[Here, we will take stock of how others have defined these terms, and arrive at our own definitions so that it can encompass the wide array of work and the relevant key constructs (e.g. participation, empowerment, social justice etc). Also how different groups define it could vary, eg government, social workers, community workers etc, so we should take note of this]
Community Development
[Government] S Vasoo (Assoc Prof, NUS Social Work Dept) has defined it as "planned changes undertaken through the efforts of the government, corporate sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) or voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) to promote community better and and community problem solving" - ostensibly the goal is to promote self-help. Seems to be the government's existing way of understanding it,
[Empowerment, Social Justice] A democratic process where the community comes together to take collective action to determine its own needs and how they should be met (Ife, 2016; Ledwith, 2016)
- Expounded by the principles of social and environmental justice, Ledwith (2016) describes community development as the practice of “seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary” rooted in the vision of a far, just and sustainable world (p. 5).
- Core values: Empowerment, co-operation and collective learning, espousing the ideology of equality including respect, dignity, trust, mutuality and reciprocity (Ledwith, 2016).
- "Community development is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline concerned with the organisation, education and empowerment of people within their communities" (International Association for Community Development) [1]
Community Work
- Not the same as community development, which refers to the processes of developing community structures
The National Social Work Competency Framework defines it as a direct practice that involves direct contact with clients and beneficiaries at the community level to address their needs. The key responsibility area for community work in the NSWCF is to: “Develop new community support systems which bring about enhanced psycho social well-being of the community.”
Community Engagement
Background and History of Community Development in Singapore
Issues Faced by Community Workers / Organisations
Issue 1 Research Capability of Community Workers
Existing Resources
Lee Choon Guan Research Fund
https://www.fas.nus.edu.sg/swk/research/mrs_lee_choon_guan_trust/lee_choon_guan_grant - serves to promote social service research among practitioners in the community. Successful applicants will work with an acad. from social work department in NUS and they get access to NUS research resources. This fund is limited to practitioners with social work qualifications.
Gaps and Their Causes
Possible Solutions
Community Fellowships (e.g. https://www.artstrategies.org/programs/creative-community-fellows/)
Issue 2 Community Conflicts
Recent examples - 'neighbour from hell'
Existing Resources
Community Mediation Centres under Ministry of Law
Gaps and Their Causes
Possible Solutions
Issue 3
Existing Resources
Gaps and Their Causes
Possible Solutions
Issue 4
Existing Resources
Gaps and Their Causes
Possible Solutions
Local Initiatives
Lin Shiyun and team. -- a community artist and her works in and with the community include: Let’s Go PLay OutSide! (https://artswok.org/article/letsgoplayoutside), The Rubbish Prince (https://www.facebook.com/therubbishprince/) and more.
Resource Directory
Stories
Our Grandfather Story
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsiZ4QJyWTdbtB2cfyDPApA/featured
A digital video publisher that documents, curates and retells authentic stories across Southeast Asia.
Professional Associations
International Association for Community Development
Democratic Innovations and Civic Participation
https://democracycollaborative.org/
Founded in 2000 at the University of Maryland as a research center dedicated to the pursuit of democratic renewal, increased civic participation, and community revitalization
Resources on building community wealth, set up by the Democracy Collaborative
"A global community sharing knowledge and stories about public participation and democratic innovations"
Sorted by case studies and approaches (eg participatory budgeting, deliberative polling, citizen's jury). You can post your own cases too.
ABCD Resources
https://www.abundantcommunity.com/
Useful starter kit for practitioners who want to do Asset-Based Community Development
Saul Alinsky texts:
Voluntary Organisations that do Community Work
South Central Community Family Service Centre
Marine Parade Family Service Centre (comm outreach team working with the homeless at East Coast)
Tsao Foundation Community for Successful Ageing (ComSA)