What is a community (Kenny, 2011)?
Generally community “starts with the idea of a group of people with a common identity, or it may be self-defined on the basis of shared political or other special interests.” (Kenny, 2011 p.45)
5 Characteristics of Community (Ife):
- Human scale (interactions amongst people).
- Identity and belonging.
- Obligations.
- Gemeinschaft (close association with others).
- Culture
Alternative Development (3):
- Local level development and use of local resources.
- Indigenous leadership.
- Addressing structures of disempowerment.
The Wisdom of the Oppressed, and Development from Below (3):
- The ‘expert’ is a resource rather than a source of wisdom.
- Consciousness raising ensures the voices of the oppressed are heard.
- The community should be able to determine its own needs and how they should be met.
What is community development/community work?
According to Kenny (page 8) Community Development is a method for empowering communities to take collective control and responsibility for their own development.
Aim of community work (5):
- Work to reduce dicrimination and inequalities.
- Promote social justice, especially with marginalised groups.
- Develop leadership
- Promote community agency (skills and knowledge).
- Ensuring stablility via passing on of knowledge and skills.
Ecological and social justice in community development:
Both aspects are inadequate without the other. There is not much point in working toward sustainability in a world of oppression, inequality and injustice. Similarly, there is no point in working for social and economic justice in an unsustainable world.
The European Enlightenment:
Ideas of human reason and scientific objectivity rules over all.
How the European Enlightenment can impede community development (4):
- Individualism.
- No consideration of the secular.
- Colonialism.
- Top down expertise.
