Community Development Photo

Community Development- Photo Essay

By Mouna Yangnmali

Community Development is an approach to social change that seeks greater social justice, human rights and ecological sustainability (i.e. working against the reduction of the number of species and exploited environments). This paper will explore a series of photographs I have taken which hopefully demonstrate and exemplify aspects of community development, showing how key concepts may be understood.

Encouraging sustainability: Workers planting trees along a city’s main footpath.

The “concrete or real” benefits of community development, such as employment and infrastructure, come through local people changing attitudes, mobilising existing skills, improving networks, thinking differently about problems, and using community assets in new ways. (Cavaye, n.d.) According to Cavaye (n.d.), Community development combines the idea of “community” with “development” and it is through participation in their community that people rethink issues and expand contacts and networks. Furthermore, Cavaye points out that they learn new skills, building human capital, develop new economic options, building physical and financial capital and can also improve their environment. However, we note as well in Kenny, (1994, p.2) that in its most general sense, community development refers to a method of organising for social and political change. It’s about working with people not for people. This paper will focus on six of these aspects:      

Participation Rethinking issues Expanding/building networks & contacts New economic options Improve environment (sustainability) Organising for social & political change

Participation Participation is a cause of life and the lifestyles that we have. It is good and bad like most things. As much as we like freedom or democracy, it is an absolute must for people, a kindness for humankind. Participation is about social development; Social development is not only 2

about services & programs, but creates a safe and non-threatening safe and friendly environment. Ensuring that participation is at all levels. Participation- a primary focus on the social processes that enable individuals and families to achieve and sustain a higher standard of living. One of the most important justifications for a decentralised system is that it allows for increased participation in a range of activities, including decision-making, service delivery, management of resources, cultural activities, and so on. For many people, the structures of local government, for example, are a distance as the structures of central government. (Ife, 1995, p. 112) Furthermore Ife, (1995, p. 112) gives this reason, a strategy of decentralisation by itself is not sufficient to ensure participation, and a programme to encourage and promote participation is an essential ingredient of a community development project. In the case of a communitybased organisation, it is most likely to experience uneven levels of participation and it reflects the class, gender and race/ethnicity basis of society, and reinforce structural oppression and disadvantage. Participation is a problematic concept (Stiefel & Wolfe 1994). Despite the difficulties, there are number of ways in which participation can be encouraged and under the right conditions; First people will participate if they feel the issue or activity is important and sharing in power and decision-making. The second condition is that people must feel that their action will make a difference and on an individual level as well. This implies the third condition where different forms of participation must be acknowledged and valued. Quite often you see involvement in committees, formal meetings, and other traditional (i.e., white, male and middle class) practices. (Ife, 1995, p. 113)

Participation: Fruit & Vegetable Market- Cooking workshop hosted for kids from all over the world whilst parents doing shopping 3

In the fourth condition- people must be enabled to participate, and supported in their participation. Such as the availability of transport, the provision of childcare (or the inclusion of children in activities, safety, the timing and location of activities and the environment in which activities will occur are all critically important and need to be taken into account in planning community -based processes.

The final condition for participation is that structures and processes must not be separated from each other. A community workers style imposed may not always suit the community, there is no one ‘right’ way for everyone (the principle of diversity). However, it is both useful and appropriate for both community workers to make people aware of possible alternative ways of doing things, the decision must be made by the community itself. (Ife, 1995, pp. 114115)

Rethinking Issues One crucial principle is “rethinking”. Community development basically relies on creating new options by reconsidering issues and problems with new theories. (Cavaye, n.d). For example, if you think of “ export” from the community as the physical transfer of cattle, rice or other products in return for money, only a few options for building exports appear, such as improved product prices. However, if you think of “ export” as activities that bring money into a community a new range of alternatives become available such as tourism, education, government, and transport stops as export activities. Development plans can be put in place to strengthen these export activities. (Cavaye, n.d.) A few Re-thinking development issues that PNG or even other developing countries face are:  Western structures applied to non-western driven projects and indigenous processes are rarely compatible and can be conflicting. E.g., development in PNG has a history of mismatched expectations and priorities with disappointing outcomes and people “doing projects”. These underlying structural issues are challenging. (Carol Kidu, n.d.) Adapted from Cavaye (n.d), he identifies three aspects of re-thinking: 1. Rethinking helps communities redefine assets. 2. Rethinking also exposes local “myths” . Some communities have examined their own economy or swapped with a neighbouring town to Rethinking Development Issues: AusAID scholarships students studying in Australia (Chisholm Institute) from PNG posing at Hawthorn Park, Melbourne. examine each other’s economy and assets. 3. Rethinking creates new options. For example, many communities despairing at the migration of youth, put effort into activities to retain local young people. However, 4

few communities deliberately attempt to attract young people who had left the community some years before, back to the community as adults with families wishing to settle.

Expanding/Building networks & contacts In community development work, one of the early tasks is always making contacts, or networking. It is important to develop trust and build alliances with other people; link in to existing formal and informal networks; tap into local knowledge; and respect and learn from the accumulated experience of the members of the community. Twelvetrees, (1982: 23-8) cited in (Kenny, 1994, p. 161) identifies six rules for making contacts: 1. 2. 3. 4.

Never pass up the opportunity to make or renew contact . Consider first and foremost what impression you are making on the other. Learn how to listen and notice. I like this- Walk, don’t ride. Always try to walk from A to B, and ensure that you visit areas that are unfamiliar to you. 5. In order to get, you must give. People are prepared to give best when it is clear that they will get something in return. 6. Do not believe everything that people say. Ambivalence or doubt is an important human characteristic.

Expanding/Building network & contacts: Youth With a Mission (YWAM) sharing God’s Word, praying together with a Papua New Guinean mother whilst she's breastfeeding her baby. Continuing on, Kenny (1994, p.163) encourages involvement. We live in societies which value individualism, competition and self-interest at the expense of solidarity and sharing. Find local issues, attend local public meetings and go to where people are, such as local shopping centres or playgrounds, it helps you make contacts and hear a range of different views. 5

Alinsky (1972:98) as cited in Kenny (1994, p.165) points out that incoming community organisers must establish their identity or as he puts it, ‘get a licence to operate’. The community development worker must be wanted by the community and have a clear reason for being in the community. According to Kenny (1994, pp. 165-166) building trust, developing team work, using communication and skills audit, which identifies the skills and resources of the members of a community are all good processes and practices for community development. Furthermore, Kenny (1994, pp. 167-168), brings out the feminist understanding that men have more control over conversation than women. Men actually talk more, and they interrupt women more than women interrupt them. Women are generally more polite than men. Whilst it’s more common in the most rural and the developing countries, this issue is still happening even in the most developed nations. Men need to see and understand that they need women as part of the expanding and building of the community!

New Economic options When we hear or read the word economy, the first thing we think of is money, finance, savings, investments all these link, what about community development, does it link? World-wide recession. Collapse of large financial institutions. Whole countries gone bankrupt. Bail-outs and wipe-outs. Consumers maxed out. That's just some of the bad economic news for much of the developed world. (Anon., 2012) Economic development specifically aims to improve the relative economic positionemployment, income and the economic base of the community which seeks to build all community capitals. Flora et. al. (1992) (cited in Cavaye, Economic Options: Main Business Plaza n.d.) argues that it does not necessarily lead to improved quality of life nor involve “collective agency”. (Cavaye, n.d.) 6

Sustainable community economic development is not an over-night "quick fix". There is a need to firstly explore the full range of development options and strategies before choosing an appropriate set of initiatives that are feasible. Too often, economic development has been viewed in terms of attracting new industries or establishing a conference centre, a tourism or technology park. Job creation through public works programs, is also often seen as an element of this "quick fix" thinking. Whilst these approaches may produce useful outcomes to some communities, they really only examine one part of their potential. (Anon., n.d.) Following on the article (Anon., n.d) both international and Australian experience regarding development options and strategies, consider that there are six broad and inter-related approaches for increasing economic and employment activity. These approaches provide a useful framework for considering development options and strategies. The six categories are: • Retaining and expanding local business • Fostering new enterprises • Attracting industry, businesses and resources from outside the community • Plugging the leaks in the local economy • Enhancing the joblinking capacity of the community • Marketing the community Having said that, these are some approaches but should not be regarded as magic solution to all community problems and they should only be implemented in the context of a wider analysis and other community development initiatives that address fundamental structural issues. (Ife, 1995, p. 147).

Improve environment (sustainability) Is there a way to improve environmental sustainability? The challenge is meeting human needs while protecting the environment. One answer is to use resources wisely. Every day people make choices that affect the environment. Sometimes the consequences of these choices are not immediately seen or felt, but may indeed have a global impact. (Anon., 2010) The environment is a critical component and needs to be incorporated in any approach to community development. This applies both to natural and environment and to the built environment. (Ife, 1995, p. 166). In addition, Ife believes sometimes environmental issues will be 7

Improve Environment: Ela Beach, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 2012

important in bringing a community together, and in serving as a catalyst for community action. Specific pollution concerns, such as toxic waste disposal or lead emissions, can be another critical issue around which a community will readily mobilise. Such a threat can bring a community together, and the initial action organization can provide a basis for more longterm development. Adapted from Anon, (2010)- Stop polluting the environment and humans with toxins; Don’t use non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels as if there is an unlimited supply because fossil fuels are a non-renewable resource that will eventually be depleted, we need to conserve energy and develop alternative energy sources. Also, fossil fuel combustion produces pollutants that are damaging to the environment; Stop using renewable resources, such as fresh water, faster than it can replenish naturally and consider the consequences of our rapid population growth.

Organising for social & political change How can we organise for social and political change in community development? Community Development work is linked with the Government/State and is one of the key sites of power in advanced industrial societies. Governments sometimes use the word ‘community’ to make the services sound good. Again in this section, I will be adapting Cavaye's (2000) principles and approaches for the social and political change because I personally see them very useful guides to use. Principles Developing government’s role in community capacity involves the following principles:  Creating a “vehicle” for local people to express and act on existing concerns,  Judging Seeking political change: TAFE students protesting in front of the Victorian Parliament on TAFE Cuts. appropriate interaction with communities from “consultation” to genuine partnership and facilitation, 8

  

Personal relationships between local public servants and community members is crucial to the invitation government can receive from local people, and the role government can have in community capacity, Melding formal “structures” that mediate community involvement with a grassroots culture of local participation. Community members “unlearning” the role of government solely as a “provider” and government “unlearning” the historical technical assistance approach to communities.

New Approaches The following new approaches are needed:  Redefining the “real work” of public servants to not only be the delivery of delegated services but also a dual “delegation and community” role where delegated work is achieved in a way that supports community networks, partnership and capacity.  A dual “delegation and community” role maintains public servants within their field of expertise or responsibility. It can enhance the value of technical expertise and reduce potential conflict between multiple functions of agencies, e.g. research, extension, regulation.  Fostering relationships between community members and government workers by increasing the “ networking” role of public servants in communities and initiating contact with a greater diversity of clients.  Introducing accountability for the process with which government interacts with communities, and accountability for community capacity outcomes. 

Coordination between agencies based on valuing existing cooperation, common goals and values, and joint projects.

Avoiding Pitfalls There are several pitfalls government needs to avoid. These include selectivity in dealing with community members, the risk of co-opting community organisations and not being sensitive to when it is appropriate to help communities build capacity. They must work hand in hand. In conclusion with Kenny (1994, p. Xii), while it is possible to identify strategies, theories, principles and processes that work in specific situations, there is no clear answer, no magic formula, and no single key to unlock successful community development. In addition to Kenny’s opinion, there is probably not even agreement about the details of what constitutes successful community development. But this is the point! Community Development is challenging, living discipline, full of contradictions and dilemmas. It is up until now; I see community development in a different way. When I first heard the word community development, I always told people it was about saving people’s lives; not necessary saving, it’s about change or gradual growth.

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Bibliography Anon., 2010. Improving Environmental Sustainability. [Online] Available at: http://suite101.com/article/improving-environmental-sustainability-a208614 [Accessed 20 October 2012]. Anon., 2012. Useful-Community Development.org. [Online] Available at: http://www.useful-community-development.org/community-development-ideas.html [Accessed 19 October 2012]. Anon., n.d. Community Economic Development Action Strategies. [Online] Available at: http://www.mercury.org.au/PDFs/CED%20Action%20Strategies.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2012]. Carol Kidu, D. M., n.d. Rethinking Development. [Online] Available at: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/humansecurity/assets/downloads/MDGconfpapers/Kidue_Carol.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2012]. Cavaye, J., 2000. The Role of Government in Community Capacity Building. [Online] Available at: http://www.communitydevelopment.com.au/Documents [Accessed 20 October 2012]. Cavaye, J., n.d. Community Development. [Online] Available at: http://www.communitydevelopment.com.au/Documents/Understanding%20Community%20Development .pdf [Accessed 19 October 2012]. Ife, J., 1995. Community Development: Creating community alternatives-vision, analysis and practice. Melbourne: Longman. Kenny, S., 1994. Developing Communities for the Future:. Victoria: Nelson ITP. Municipal Association of Victoria, n.d. Community Economic Development Action Strategies. [Online] Available at: http://www.mercury.org.au/PDFs/CED%20Action%20Strategies.pdf [Accessed 20 October 2012]. Preserve Articles, 2012. Preserve Articles. [Online] Available at: http://www.preservearticles.com/201105096419/5-most-essential-elements-of-acommunity-development-programme-in-india.html [Accessed 18 October 2012].

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