My Philosophy Of Community Development Essay

My Philosophy Of Community Development Essay
From young age, to my late twenties there has never been a time in my life that I have not been actively involved in community activity. I have
volunteered in student organizations, Non– Governmental organizations, faith based organizations, and civic programs. I feel drawn to community
actions because I am inspired by working for a cause. While I have always been drawn to non–profits and community service, I never intended to make
it a career. In fact, deciding to pursue a Master of Arts in Community Development Policy and Practice was a very sudden decision that pulled me
out of another career path in so short a time frame that I really didn?t have a deep understanding of the field and I had not even contemplated having
a perspective on community development and leadership. As a result, the academic training and practical experience of this program, especially this
course have formed the very foundation of my philosophy of community development practice. My Journey and discovery and what I have learned,
from this course, the articles we discussed and reviewed, have been helpful in my reflection. I did with agree the finding in the syllabus and readings,
as they provided me insights that I need in my personal and professional development. Several topics have resounded with me throughout the semester
and I have worked on developing several learning outcomes from them. I have taken a theory to these subjects and have tried to incorporate them into
my life over the semester.
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Introduction Community sustainable development become more complex from day to day, multi–stakeholder and collaboration of flexible decision
making are more important than before. In order to let local community and inter–community run more efficiency, stakeholders must participate in
environmental decision–making. By increasing knowledge and interest amount public, sustainable partnership is also crucial. (Younge and Fowkes,
2003. The stakeholder decision–making right is increasingly popular in every places and this right is used by community stakeholders and related
groups . Even though, Many people believe that they have real benefit from self–decision making, but those claims are not been scientifically tested yet.
(Reed et al., 2008). This article gather many practice needs that support stakeholder participation to produce benefit , and give some ideas for
greatest participation mechanism. In my literature review, participation is where small unit like individuals to biggest unit like organisations or
government can play their important role in decisions making process that influence them . Any one who relate to decision is stakeholder, no matter
he or she live in community or not. This article also focuses on empower stakeholder in the purposes of efficiency, because many old fashioned
concept believe only people have direct or indirect impact of decision making result are need to be active, but not try to engage with rest of people.
Body When all stakeholders and

Essay on The Importance of Community
Community is very important and has many factors like kinship, unity, and identity. Community helps society because it creates solutions, provides
security and reveals dedication. It discovers truthfulness. Communities are part of everyday life and have positive affects on its members.
Communities can be found everywhere and can be created anywhere. You may be unaware of it, but you are part of acommunity not only based on
your location, but also based on your lifestyle, your religion, your heritage, your education, or your abilities. As Hewitt once said, "Community
provides a psychological world and a place of identification for its members." Identifying yourself with a particular community may be easier than it
...show more content...
Observing others' behaviors lets one realize and understand more about different types and kinds of people. Seeing how certain groups or communities
act or react to situations lets us see more perspective and hopefully appreciate their point of view. It is important to be part of communities for much of
the same reason. When you are part of a group, you understand and compromise with the other members of the group. Discussing issues involving the
community helps to lead to solutions. Talking things through with other members improves social skills as well as relationships. Knowing how people
feel about certain issues let you know more about that person, and in turn, you learn more about yourself. Hearing what other people have to say may
sway your own opinions about something. For example, maybe you are part of a church you thought you really believed in, but hearing the discussions
at the church meetings you start to think that you do not belong in this community. Though that specific church may be the right place for many, you
learn that you need a new church community. Churches are communities because the members are unified in their common beliefs. These communities
are like families because the members support and help each other religiously and they feel secure. Being a sound part of a community, you should
continuously learn more and more about yourself. As a member of a club, taking part in meetings and activities let you learn

Factors Affecting Community Development Essay
Empowering communities is an important part of health promotion, but it is quite hard to implement the concept of culture and empowerment within a
working health promotion programme (Laverack, 2003). Culture cannot be defined in any one single definition, culture can be shared, taught, and is
passed down from one generation to another (Kreuter, Lukwago, Bucholtz, Clark & Sanders–Thompson, 2003). Culture is viewed as a group's values,
norms and simply just the way of life (Kreuter, Lukwago, Bucholtz, Clark & Sanders–Thompson, 2003). Many different models have been established
which incorporate different values and beliefs of different cultural groups; these models incorporate the key ideas and principles of community
development and overall...show more content...
Creating equality is also essential in communities. Insuring that equality is maintained, the identification of those who need extra help within a
community is important (Scottish Executive, 2004), so programmes can be put in place to maintain equality within the community. Self–determination
is another essential principle that should be encouraged during community development, as self–determination supports individuals to having the rights
to make decisions for themselves (Scottish Executive, 2004); in a health promotion context self–determination needs to be practised, the community
has the right to help make decisions so an appropriate programme can be put in place to strengthen the community. Lastly and most importantly are the
principles of participation and partnership are very important community development (Scottish Executive, 2004). The community needs to actively
participate and create a strong partnership with one another and the leaders of the community; health promoters need to ensure that there is active
participation among the community. It is vital that health promoters also build strong partnerships within the community, and help members of the
community establish strong partnerships, so equality can be balanced thus creating a strong community.
Community development is different among communities.

Importance Of Community Development Essay
In order to ensure safety, livelihood and provision of other basic needs of life, community members have embarked on several developmental projects
by mobilizing themselves for self help projects and other government sponsored development initiatives. Development implies growth plus positive
changes; it is the qualitative and quantitative changes in the economy which involves development in multiple areas including development of human
capital, social infrastructures, safety, literacy and other aspect of the economy.Community development is a way of strengthening civil society by
prioritizing the actions of communities and their perspectives in the development of social, economic and environmental policies. Community
development is a...show more content...
Historically, youths' input in decision–making, problem–solving, local action, and evaluation in communities has received only limited attention. They
need these opportunities to take responsibility, to identify themselves with their home, villages, to influence their environment and their society at
large. Youths in any society are known to be the leaders of tomorrow; hence, their role in sustainable national development cannot be over–emphasized.
But they have been given less attention by the Nigerian government by not properly integrating them into the process of national development (United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 2005; Giwa, 2008).Therefore, there is a need for encouragement and support for youths to
get involved in community development but only few are exposed to the benefits gotten from this participation because of the mindset of "self".
Everyone is self centered but the orientation must be changed so as to benefit both the youth (enhance skills and competence) and the community.
However, recent trends suggest that youth are playing an increasingly important role in the development of their communities (Sherrod, 2002). Youth
ideas,

Human Rights And Community Development
An understanding and a commitment to fundamental human rights is also an important principle of community development. Human rights are
important for community work in both the negative sense the protection of human rights and the positive sense the promotion of human rights (Ife,
1995). In the negative sense it is important that any community development project conform to the principles of basic human rights. Community
structures should be established in such a way that they do not contravene these principles. For example, the right to meaningful work, the right to
freedom of association and the right to freedom of expression need to be safeguarded. In the more positive sense the achievement of the ideals of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights ca be used as a goal for community development. The right to an adequate standard of living, the right to
education, the right to participate in the cultural life of the community, the right to self–determination and the right of the family to protection and
assistance should be the focus for community development (Ife, 1995). In the case study, before Ela Bhatt done something there was no human right
for women of Ahmedabad, female literacy rate is less than half for males because girls are much less likely to be sent to school. Their humanity is so
minimally acknowledged that killing a wife in order to take another wife and get another dowry is one of the major sufferings addressed by the
women's movement. Ela Bhatt used human

The Importance Of Community Development
Community can be considered to be subjective because it looks at how the community and society understands how people see and experience
situations. As Hardcastle, powers and Wnocur say that community is about understanding how people think and act. (2014, p. 146) this means that it is
important to consider how values and behaviour influence generations and societies. Community Development looks at how individuals connect within
societies and community levels and the implications and outcomes of this. Harms identified how being aware how community connectedness is about
not only the support systems but also the consideration of environments that provide supports of acceptance and consideration of diversity. (2010,
p.41). Community is about understanding people's the need for belonging in a disadvantaged environment.Therefore, community development is
important because it looks at impacts of stress and implications.Welbourne, Blanchard and Wadsworth input that analysing stress in a community is
important because it considers how by reducing stress for people who are facing high levels of stress can have impacts on multiple health outcomes
including wellbeing. (2013, p. 136). However, there are many levels and implications of threat to consider that being said include economic issues,
social issues and environmental issues to consider. Thus the significance to understand how people are affected including young people, women and
children escaping violence, issues of poverty and

Asset-Based Community Development
For the last three months, I have been volunteering at Bobbi and The Strays, while there I help feed the cats but most importantly I give them
attention. One of the worst side effects of living in a shelter is that many times the workers have no time to be affectionate towards the animals. This
can cause them to become aggressive or even depressed making the transition from shelter to home much more difficult. I really enjoy being able to sit
down and play with all of the kittens and cats. But, what I really enjoy is watching the workers, volunteers, and the whole Freeport community works
together in order to maintain happy and healthy space. We live in a time filled with a lot of hatred and mistreatment, this mistreatment is usually
broadcasted...show more content...
Many times when people think of social activism they fail to realize that social activism includes animals as well. However, social activism is a
very broad topic that includes people, animals, and the environment. Animal abuse is a major issue in America, abuse towards domesticated and
wild animals is still relatively prevalent. The goal of Bobbi and The Strays is to take in neglected, abused and unwanted animals and find loving
homes for them. Bobbi and The Strays are also a no kill shelter meaning that regardless of whether or not an animal is old or "unadoptable" they will
not be killed in order to make more space. Many shelters within America will euthanize healthy animals if they have been living in the shelter too
long or are old. Bobbi and The Strays overall mission to help keep animals safe and healthy addresses the issue of animal abuse in the United States of

Reflection Paper On Community Development
When I first began visiting the Boys and Girls Club for service learning, I had already developed predetermined assumptions about how this
experience was going to be. I knew it would be a challenge for me to prepare myself to deal with so many backgrounds and behaviors from all the
children that attends the after school program there. On the other hand, I also felt well knowledge about child/youth development to understand the
children that I encounter and how to react to various behaviors accordingly.
Upon arriving at the Boys and Girls Club for orientation, my assumptions were right; I noticed children that varied in age, sex, personality, race, and
etc... As I am walking around and observing during the orientation, I noticed that there are many classrooms with roughly 10–15 children in almost
each one of them. All of the classrooms had two program leaders, one acting as an assistant to the head leader. I saw informative decorations on the
wall which consisted of items to help the children with letters, numbers, calculations, and reading. The staff seemed nice and the children gave the
impression that they were enjoyable to be involved with. With having such a large number of children, I was impressed with how well organized
everything was. I felt confident to start my service learning experience at the Boys and Girls Club.
During my first visit there, I assisted first grade children with their homework and came up with fun, educational activities to keep them engaged.
Although I have volunteered my time at child care centers in the past, this was new experience for me because I had never acted as a teacher. I was
very impressed with myself for brainstorming such activities with little to no help from the programs leaders. In addition to helping with homework, I
also served lunch to the children. While I did not expect to serve lunch, I was happy to help in any way I could.
My second visit there was quite different from the first. Due to the fact that the children in the classroom I visited the first time had not arrived, I was
directed to go to a different classroom. This new classroom in particular focused on kindergarteners. Although there is only one grade level difference
between the first graders I

Community is established locally but community development is a process that includes actors from inside and outside of the community to achieve
sustainability. My previous essays have addressed the progression of community development from place–based attachment, organizing and advocacy
to addressing the need and effect of government involvement. The final stop on the continuum of the community development is to analyze
market–based approaches to community development. This paper will look at how a market based approach to community development is an
important component of community development because it is the appropriate response to the current socio–economic, and political context that our
country is in. A market–based approach provides a mechanism to define relationships and allocate economic resources to create systemic change within
communities. increasing opportunities for social inclusion and economic sustainability
Social Sustainability
1.True community development exemplifies the relationship between the local actor and the interconnectedness that needs to exist to accomplish
change.
Market based approaches to community development involve those who participate in the social economy i.e. cooperatives, social enterprises etc.
Locally tied, these market based approaches tap into social capital as key business practice. Broadly speaking most cooperatives would not succeed if
it were not for the collective membership of the local community. Cooperatives

Adult Literacy and Community Development Essay
My vision in my work with VOC this year is to explore the intersection of adult literacy and community development. Through research, I hope to learn
more about the connection between research and practice in writing for adult learners; through working with a community based organization I hope to
deepen my knowledge and understanding of the impact and challenges of working in a literacy program and how this translates into overall goals of
improving livelihoods and building a stronger community. Throughout the semester, I have realized more potential for realizing my goals in my work
and I have worked on different components of my vision.
Asset mapping is one of the highlights form this semester. Bergdall (2003) defines asset–based...show more content...
This exercise allowed me to reflect on my values, how they have shifted and solidified and to predict the kind of learning experiences I hope for as I
work and live in organizations. Looking back, the concept of understanding the individual level has become more critical. Micro and macro asset
mapping has allowed me to see myself as an essential element of the whole hence my contributions matter. Furthermore, understanding my assets,
skills and learning goals in my work as a community fellow allows me to trace my progress, set benchmarks and reassess my goals and vision.
Illich (1968) brings the local/global dichotomy to the forefront. I resonate with his frustration, passion and anger on this issue but I see this
conversation boiling down to the conversation about being an outsider and doing community development work. The speech builds on Bergdall's
conversation about being an outsider and Illich takes it on a more international level. I always question my intentions and my interactions on working
in community development especially in a community that is not necessarily my own. I believe that regardless of geographic location or affiliation
with communities, social issues on today's world deserve our attention; this call to action for global citizens transcends boundaries and difference.
Respect for difference is the key to some of the challenges with working

Community Development In Social Work
Introduction Community development (CD) has been playing an important role within the society as it is a critical practice that identifies and attempts
to address unequal relations of power (Forde & Lynch, 2015). In CD, social capital is an important term as it refers to the networks and norms that
enable collective action. In general, social capital is the level of trust between members within the community. Social workers need to understand and
empower the social capital to strengthen the community through collective action based on the existing resources. The CD involves in a continuing
process in which maximises the opportunities for people to work collaboratively to identify and fulfil their needs based on the existing assets within the
community (Kenny, 2011). As the society is not static due to the uncertainty and continual change, CD has to be flexible and fit within the context and
the needs of the targeted community. According to AASW (2010), social workers are committed to work with individuals, groups and communities to
achieve the equitable access to social, economic, environmental and political resources. As a social work undergraduate, we acknowledge the
significant impact of CD through the positive change in the society. Our group through the course of this semester has learnt about the process of
community work and community development. They are inter–related and beneficial to the community in which address and meet the needs of
members. The progress of

Principles
Principles in community development are used to achieve overall goals and achieve results (Checkoway 1995). Jim Ife has identified 32 principles of
community development that are seen as critical components and can be useful to develop a framework for evaluating community development (Ife
2016). Many of Jim Ife's principles are being acted upon in this case study such as Addressing disadvantage and inequality, linking the global and the
local, valuing local processes, valuing local skills and relationship and dialogue.
Relationship and Dialogue is one of Jim Ife's process principles. Community development essentially focuses on process rather than the outcome (Ife
2016). Relationship and dialogue focuses on the significance...show more content...
Effective control requires ongoing structures and processes. Effectively community control requires adequate resources, including income, material
resources and knowledge and strong skills base (Kenny and Connors 2017). This definition is reflected on in the case study as the residents are
teaching and learning from each other. This enables them to use their own resources to develop a small business that operates from an office in the
estate. By developing a business and strategy plan, the residences are taking control of their own development. The members of the estate have set up
these structures and plans, which enables them to have ongoing progress for the future.
Healy refers to community development as a set of approaches focused on understanding individuals as part of a community and on building the
capacity of that community to address the social, economic or political challenges facing its members (Healy 2012). One of the adults was a graphic
designer in his country of origin. Through the access of computers he was able to expand on his knowledge and learn how to create web designs. He
then was able to share his knowledge with others in the community to start up the business. Healys definition has been applied to the case study as he
community came together to build a economic future for their estate.
Paolo could continue to engage all aspects of the community,

The world is built by tens of thousands of communities and its participation is indispensable to the world development. Community's development
depends on the economic and progress of the world. The subject of community is people. Therefore, the communities even the world cannot prosper
without the sustainable people. This article focuses on sustainable people, economy, education and China's experience in communitydevelopment and
meanwhile explains the relationship between community, community developmentпј€
CDпј‰ and community economic developmentпј€
CEDпј‰.
Everyone in the world belongs to a group or an organization. People stay together to share time and all other benefits, keep same thinking and values
and live in their own place, that is how community naturally created. Different individual ability, local culture and environment can lead to different
communities. For instance, community economy in east, middle, or west region of Canada has big differences because they develop in different level.
Some of the people in the community may be wealthy and highly educated, while the others are living in high–poverty and lower educated communities.
According to Lotz and MacIntyre (2003), "Common to all humans these days is a desire to exercise some control over their own lives and those of
their communities. Community development is about showing how this can be done, and how personal and local development can be linked in
mutually beneficial ways." (p. 9) People always protect and

Community Development Reflection
I have enjoyed taking this class this semester. Even though I hit a few hiccups along the way I pushed through. I think it will help in my future
endeavor in community development. Many people can benefit by taking this class and learning more about the health issues within a community. The
information can also be carried on and utilized within many other professions. I have shared many of my learning experiences from this class with
family and friends and have passed on a lot of knowledge. I honestly feel taking this class in a classroom would have been more educational to me.
The use of visuals and hands on is a way I like to learn and as a result I would have retained and understood more in this area. Having an experience
professional in the career already attending the class and sharing would have helped me too. Even though I did take this class online and a lot of
topics were covered in a short amount of time a lot of good information was taken in. It does help that I have experienced on some level of the topics
that were presented. There's always room for more growth while learning more on the topic of health in community development. Things are always
changing, growing, and expanding, including the development of new Technology. I have just started the beginning of what all it entails. I think it
would be helpful to have learned more on the solution to some of the problems presented. A lot of the topics were interesting to read about, but on
some I felt the need

Community Development Essay
ASSIGNMENT 1
UNIT 17: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK
ASSIGNMENT TITLE: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT– THEORY AND PRACTICE
CATHERINE CARLIN
Introduction: In this assignment I am going to explore the core theme of Community Development. In doing so, I will come to understand various
theories and concepts, relevant legislation and policy, underpinning values, principles and ethics, and practice application with all regards to
community development. In the first section of the assignment I will analyse the differences between Community, Community Work and Community
Development and explain how Northern Ireland has become a more diverse community. Following this section I will analyse how worker/agency
would go about analysing the strengths,...show more content...
Community: For the last two hundred years, the word community has been defined by different people in different times, but still is a difficult term to
comprehend properly and appropriately and sometimes people do not know how and when to use it. For example the phrase community can be used in
the following ways: Blacks community, student community, world community, Christian community, Muslim community, Hindu community, and so
on and so forth.
According to Arthur Dunham (1958) community is a group of human beings, settled in fairly compact and contiguous geographical area and having
specific elements of common life as shown by manners, customs, traditions and modes of speech. Arthur further stated that the term community implies
a group of people living in a particular area (village or town) who share some common interests and functions. Hence the term community refers to a
common life of some kind which is based on feelings of association with one another.
Prof Abdul Hameed (1999) stated that the term community is 'A place where people can get the things they need and want. Communities have places
for all the things people do. They have places where people learn and pray. They can be village, towns or cities'.
Maclver and Page (1948) defined community in the following words: 'The members of any group, large or small, who live together in

The Importance Of Community Development
Community development is defined as the development and utilization of a set of ongoing structures which allow the community to meet its own
needs. A subset of society that has a collective identity and collectively responds to issues facing their community (McArdle REFERENCE). (ADD
SOMETHING HERE). The current evaluation concerning the Community Conservation Program illustrates the importance of community conservation
and gardening efforts in improving distressed communities, promoting sustainable community development, and increasing civic engagement and
conservation practices. Community gardening programs were initially designed to increase affordable food supplies during the world wars and Great
Depression, but have evolved into broader, more comprehensive and sustainable community development efforts. However, todays programs are
intended to provide green space to produce food and flowers, while assisting to reclaim devastated urban areas, engage residents and other community
improvement efforts, while facilitating social interaction and a sense of community among residents. Prior research demonstrates the importance of
community conservation and gardening programs to revitalizing and strengthening neighbourhoods, including reclaiming devastated urban areas and
fostering neighbourhood social ties, interaction, community involvement, political activism, and feelings of safety and adjustment. The Program: An
Evaluation Since 1982, the Community Conservation Program has

2.12.1 The Importance of Community Participation It is widely accepted by the international organization and Local NGOs that community
development is a fundamental instrument in the development process/project. Various scholars and organizations have shown the importance of
community and its participants in developing process. Some of the aspects related to the importance of community participation in development process
is following. Firstly, it empowers the community in decision making process which directly affects their life. It also satisfied the citizens about the
communities and development at large. So it is a key to build an empowered responsible community. Secondly, sense of ownership is created by the
community participation in the development process. It provides a sense of ownership as they think it is their own development. This sense of
ownership is not created by top down approach. Thirdly, sustainable development continuity of development process is ensured by community
participation. Basically in community work the people are involved from planning to implementing stage. It creates mutual partnership. It creates
mutual partnership between government/donors and communities and it results in a suitable development. True domestic...show more content...
Particularly, community involvement in education can develop the educational delivery in primary schools. General literature search has recognized
the importance of community participation in education. helps the project to be sustainable as communities themselves learn how to approve and
correct changes resulting from the project; partnership or contribution helps to defend interest of the people concerned; it enhances self–respect and
self reliance among people, that is, they are enabled to get and do things by themselves and they become aware of the project implementation as they
have a great store of knowledge and

Social Planning, Community Development, and Social/Community Action
A Community can be defined as a group of people who don't just live in the same area, but also share the same interests, experiences and often
concerns about the area in which they live. Often when individuals have lived on a street or in an area for a while they become familiar with each
other and the issues surrounding them. Children often attend the same schools and grow up together, again sharing similar experiences. In some
instances adults may work together, and quite commonly all community members will share the same doctors, dentists, hospitals, health visitors and
other public services and facilities.
Frequently however, issues arise amongst a community...show more content...
Of the six districts in the County Penwith came the highest, of the 60,000 population, 26,000 are aged 4 and under, 13% of households are lone parent
households and 19% of the 201 lone parents are unemployed.
The 'Treneere', area of Penzance showing as the highest area of deprivation, 13% are unemployed, 46% are in receipt of income support and 16.8% of
adults are illiterate. During 1998 there were a total of 235 children referred to social services 98 of which were aged 0–4 years old. With regard to
education, of the children attending the infant and primary schools in the area 33.4% are entitled to free school meals, the average in the county
being 15.4%. 54% of the pupils between the two schools are registered with special educational needs. Of the 244 primary schools in Cornwall the
two schools ranked 1s and 4th in the deprivation rank. Along with these figures strong evidence shows high levels of violence, high levels of riotism,
high levels of drug abuse and a complete absence of community facilities.
Figures taken from the 'SureStart Trailblazer', proposal As with all Social Planning the government specifies a time limit to achieve the projects aims,
goals and ultimately to improve living conditions. The 'SureStart', project has a specified time limit of 2 years, in this time limit the project aims to
achieve the following: – Improve social and

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