Community Development and collective action

Before I start talking about the progress of the project and reflections, I would like to share important concept of community development (CD) and collective action.

Margaret Ledwith (2005) argues that “community development begins in the everyday lives of local people” (Ledwith 2005: 1). Similarly, Carmel Daveson (2000) argues that CD is “a way of working based on values, which facilitates changes in individuals, groups and communities as people become actively involved in the issues which affect their lives” and “a way of working which focuses on the relationship between individuals and groups, and the institutions, which shape people’s everyday experience” (Daveson 2000: 38). Ledwith emphasise this is the core context of sustainable change and it involves a process of empowerment and participation. Moreover, she explains that empowerment engages a form of critical education that helps people to question their reality, and this is the important foundation of collective action and the values of participatory democracy is at the base. She argues that CD is a process and this process is based on confidence, critical consciousness and collectively (Ledwith 2005: 1-2). Collective action, which is crucial in CD, is defined as “the process by which people join together to bring about change” (Ledwith 2005: 7).

Image Source:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/beija-flor/230554907/ (creative commons license)

References

Daveson, C. 2000. ‘From Private Concern to Public Action’. Culture Matters Magazine. Issue 1. pp. 38-41.

Ledwith, M. 2005. ‘Opening thoughts’ in Community Development: A critical approach. Bristol: Policy Press.