Study unit 14: ACTING IN A COMMUNITY

Question 1

discuss role of community

Answer 1

The local, community level of society is the level where ordinary people can make
an impact because they have local knowledge and because people often have strong
feelings – and ideas – about the future and welfare of the local community. People living
in an area are often not an “organic community” – they do not really know one another,
nor do they feel any sort of obligation towards one another

Question 2

identify two strands of community development

Answer 2

One
is a formal programme of integrated community development aiming to systematically
address a range of economic, social, environmental and institutional issues in
a community. Such formal processes must be backed by funds and NGOs or government
structures which have skilled personnel and funds, and must facilitate or empower
the community to gradually take control of the integrated programme.
A second strand of community development in action involves applying a set of skills
to various kinds of local/community intervention

Question 3

provide possible skills needed for community development

Answer 3

• skills in facilitating empowerment
• skills in facilitating participation
• needs assessment (eg through PRA)
• project management skills
• professional skills (eg teaching, engineering, town planning, agronomy and
accounting skills)
• financial skills
• coordination skills to bring different elements into an integrated programme

Question 4

provide possible jobs within community development

Answer 4

• activist in a community based organisation
• community activist
• civic association activist
• community leader
• teacher
• community member
• agricultural extension officer
• agronomist
• civil engineer
• town planner
• community development officer/facilitator
• PRA facilitator
• development consultant
• environmental consultant