Analyzing a Community Development - Case Study Example

Institution : xxxxxxxxxxx Course : xxxxxxxxxxx Title : Analyzing a community development: Case study Tutor : xxxxxxxxxxx @2010 Analyzing a community development case study Introduction Community development is a general term used to refer to practices of social leaders, activists, concerned citizens, and professionals. The aim of community development is to reinforce the groups of organizations or individuals by offering them the skills they may need to implement changes in the society. The skills mostly contemplate on the improvements of political, social, and economic sectors by enlarging the social groups with a general agenda (Arensberg & Niehoff 2001). To ensure that there is a sustainable social development, powers structures should be prejudiced to get rid of the barriers which can block people from participating in issues which can affect their lives. Each aspect depends on the other, for example, the local leaders play a great role to facilitate the involvement of the societal members in the development processes. The story on the Peake Estate Project is an example of community development (Blakely 1994). Understandings or definitions of ‘community’ underpin this work The Peake estate is found in the one of the biggest slums within a capital city. The buildings were of the old building styles which the county councils had set up for its staffs and none of them seems to have been renovated or at least a newly built wall to break the monotony of the tired buildings. The dwellers did not have any identified general culture but each lived his or her own life. This because there were hardly any projects going on to boost the development of this estate hence no communal activities which could support the togetherness of people. The community is known for its bad characters like so many cases of crimes. This was because most of the people were idle and very poor as a result of high rates of unemployment so the only alternative they had was to rob the others so as to have that which they long for but cannot afford. Women were the most unfortunate, because of the insecurity of the place their outside businesses ended with the sun set (Kenny 2006). The only things that people could have in common and through which some social classes could be formed were their age groups. When the community development worker began the mission of developing this estate, he found it easier together information from individuals or some groups of either adults or the youths concerning the areas in their community those they would wish to be developed. The members could also be organized into unappreciated groups like the gangs of robbers and street boys. These groups made it easier for the development worker to identify and set up projects which would fit a certain group The areas focused on in the development of Peake Estate The social, economic, and cultural aspects were the basis of developing the Estate of Peake. However the economic factor was given the first priority because it would determine the effectiveness of the others. Poverty was the stubborn block on the path to the development of this Estate. Most of them struggle to get their daily bread hence have no time or money to support the projects of developing the community. The community development worker concentrated on projects which could improve the economic status of the members of each groups in the community. The adults argued that they wanted to get employed or provided with other source of income rather than the social services. This would boost their standard of living hence their children would access continuous education like those of the other classes of people and those in the streets would easily be rehabilitated and retained in their homes. The insecurity which has caused the bad reputation of the estate can be reduced if all the members are engaged. For the projects to be successful there has to be some financial support so as to facilitate its activities. Everybody’s objective is to development economically, thus the charitable organizations are replaced by the profit making ones which can at least save the members from the financial inflation affecting the global market. Paolo- the community development worker started a computer training project through which most of the members enrolled in and benefited financially from them. The young people were employed as instructors in the computer training centers thus offering them some sources of income and boosting their standards of living. Those who undertook the computer training found new ways of earning money. One of those who were trained was a graphic designer; he specialized on web design and introduced the skills to the others. Having acquired these skills the residents set up a business to produce and sell professional and stylish posters and notices (Kenny 2006). This was the beginning of the economic development of the Peake Estate, after a short while it had established a prosperous business which offered computer training to the surrounding societies. Cultural development was also considered because the members were encouraged to abandon their ordinary way of living each by his or her original culture and appreciate each other so as to be able to work together. The new cultures were formed where by the all the me4mbers were bound by the law of relying on each other for the common benefit of developing the community at large (Ferraro 2002). From the beginning this Estate did not have a cultural constitution to guide the residents but each person would walk his or her own ways and the only thing that they had in common been the old public houses. But how they behaved was completely different and was based on their original identities. The introduction of group activities such the computer training and the business operations changed the cultural practices of the residents and new ones were formed. This also influenced the aspect of social development. Many groups were developed to organize people as they carried o their various activities. Although there existed some social groups based on the age groups, the process of developing the community came up with other organizations like computer training which brought together all those who were interested in learning new skills and not minding about their age (Smith 1995). The new social organizations also led to interactions of people with different origins hence sharing their knowledge and skills to boost the development of the community. For example, the adult who was originally a designer shared his skills with the other residents who wholly benefited from them. They used them to run the business which later changed the living standard of the entire Estate (Gittell & Vidal 1998). Every community development is defined by the fundamental development principles used during the practice. These principles can either be social justice, self-determination, members’ participation, reflective practice, the communities which sustains it or the act of learning and working together. Some of the above principles were used in the development of the Peake Estate so as to ensure that the process was effective (Maser 1997). Self-determination is used in the development of Peake Estate. This principle is concern with valuing the issues identified by the communities as their point of starting their development, promoting the ideas that the communities do not have the right to keep down other communities and neither should an individual do to another. The principle helps to raise people’s awareness of the variety of options available to them and allowing chances for the analyses of the likely implications of the options (Lal 2001). In the process of developing Peake Estate, this principle was used to determine the projects which would be used for an effective development. The project was open for anybody to enroll in, for example, the computer training could be joined by any resident irrespective of the age. The principle also helps to discover other opportunities of developing the community; apart from the computer training the residents were involved in business and this option was suitable for any person because there were no qualifications needed for one to be an effective business person. The principle also worked to equalize the different groups of people by bringing common activities which encouraged togetherness because people from diverse backgrounds came up to achieve a common objective. Through this principle, different talents were revealed. Everybody had a chance of participating in the activities of community development hence it was easier to analyse the efforts of each by the outputs shown. For instance, some of the young people had the capabilities of teaching the computer skills while the adult who was a designer had the skills of web design which he taught his colleagues and their talents bore the sweetest fruits of community development. This principle was the most effective in this community’s development because it was as a result of the resident’s determination to develop their community that they all worked hard towards that goal. The community development worker was much determined to see to it that Peake Estate was development that is why he took time to research on the fields which were favorable to improve the lives of either the individual members or of the whole community. Social justice as a principle of development was not very much considered in the development of the Peake Estate. This principle supports the respect and valuing of the diversity and differences of the people’s cultures or background. Instead of honoring the people’s cultures the development of Peake Estate came up with a common cultural practices or beliefs which were expected to be followed by everyone in the society. If people were supported to live by their original cultures they would perform better than in the new beliefs because they have grown with them and not taught when they are already gown enough (Loomis 2004). The case study on the development of Peake Estate is a good example of community development because it involves all the aspects which should be considered for an effective development and they are accorded the priorities that they deserve. These aspects are economic, social, political, and cultural development. The political aspect facilitated this development by financing the whole process. The development worker was able to see a success of his project through the government funds given to him by the governing committee. The principles of development were also used during the process of developing of Peake Estate. They were used to account for any activity which took place during this process, for example, members participation which states that each member of the developing community is supposed to play a reasonable role so as to be part of the development of the community. So as to ensure that the development of Peake Estate, the community development worker should include other social projects which night not have strong brackets of qualifications like the computer project, hence even the less educated can comfortably fit in the organizations. More training sections should also be including in the development process so as to rehabilitate people from their surviving ways to living (Rogoff 2003). Conclusion Community development is necessary to ensure that the living standard of people is improved. Everybody living in a community ranging from the leaders, activists, all the residents to the professionals is responsible for this development and each represents a certain factor, the leaders plays the role of political factor, activists represents the cultural aspect, the citizens plays the role of the social, and the professionals acts to develop the economic sector. This means that just like the name suggests, it is a communal activity and none of the bodies mentioned can act alone. The case study used is an example of a community which had failed in all its organizations and with the guidance of the development worker; the members are trying to develop it. From the time of implementing the project all through, each of the four aspects of development is seen to depend on each other. For example, the government gives money but expects some people to work on them and these people are looking forward on their leaders for guidance. Bibliography Kenny S. (2006). Developing Communities for the Future: Community Development in Australia. 3rd ed, Thomas Nelson: Australia Cary J. (1999). Community development as a process. University of Missouri Press: Missouri. Blakely J. (1994).Community development research: concepts, issues, and strategies. Human Sciences Press: Michigan Smith D. (1995). First person plural: a community development approach to social change. Black Rose Books: Harvard. Arensberg C. & Niehoff A. (2001). Introducing social change: a manual for community development. Transaction Publishers: Mexico. Gittell R. & Vidal A. (1998) .Community organizing: building social capital as a development strategy. Sage: New York. Ferraro R. (2002). Minority and cross-cultural aspects of neuropsychological assessment. Taylor & Francis: Mexico. Rogoff B. (2003). The cultural nature of human development. Oxford University Press US: Oxford. Maser C. (1997). Sustainable community development: principles and concepts. St. Lucie Press: Michigan. Lal R. (2001). Community development: principles, practice, and problems (with special reference to the State of Bihar). Bookland Private: Michigan. Loomis C. (2004). An experience in community development and the principles of community organization. The Rabun Press: California. Read More

The members could also be organized into unappreciated groups like the gangs of robbers and street boys. These groups made it easier for the development worker to identify and set up projects which would fit a certain group The areas focused on in the development of Peake Estate The social, economic, and cultural aspects were the basis of developing the Estate of Peake. However the economic factor was given the first priority because it would determine the effectiveness of the others. Poverty was the stubborn block on the path to the development of this Estate.

Most of them struggle to get their daily bread hence have no time or money to support the projects of developing the community. The community development worker concentrated on projects which could improve the economic status of the members of each groups in the community. The adults argued that they wanted to get employed or provided with other source of income rather than the social services. This would boost their standard of living hence their children would access continuous education like those of the other classes of people and those in the streets would easily be rehabilitated and retained in their homes.

The insecurity which has caused the bad reputation of the estate can be reduced if all the members are engaged. For the projects to be successful there has to be some financial support so as to facilitate its activities. Everybody’s objective is to development economically, thus the charitable organizations are replaced by the profit making ones which can at least save the members from the financial inflation affecting the global market. Paolo- the community development worker started a computer training project through which most of the members enrolled in and benefited financially from them.

The young people were employed as instructors in the computer training centers thus offering them some sources of income and boosting their standards of living. Those who undertook the computer training found new ways of earning money. One of those who were trained was a graphic designer; he specialized on web design and introduced the skills to the others. Having acquired these skills the residents set up a business to produce and sell professional and stylish posters and notices (Kenny 2006).

This was the beginning of the economic development of the Peake Estate, after a short while it had established a prosperous business which offered computer training to the surrounding societies. Cultural development was also considered because the members were encouraged to abandon their ordinary way of living each by his or her original culture and appreciate each other so as to be able to work together. The new cultures were formed where by the all the me4mbers were bound by the law of relying on each other for the common benefit of developing the community at large (Ferraro 2002).

From the beginning this Estate did not have a cultural constitution to guide the residents but each person would walk his or her own ways and the only thing that they had in common been the old public houses. But how they behaved was completely different and was based on their original identities. The introduction of group activities such the computer training and the business operations changed the cultural practices of the residents and new ones were formed. This also influenced the aspect of social development.

Many groups were developed to organize people as they carried o their various activities. Although there existed some social groups based on the age groups, the process of developing the community came up with other organizations like computer training which brought together all those who were interested in learning new skills and not minding about their age (Smith 1995). The new social organizations also led to interactions of people with different origins hence sharing their knowledge and skills to boost the development of the community.

For example, the adult who was originally a designer shared his skills with the other residents who wholly benefited from them.

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