Community Development in Theory and Practice

Community Development in Theory and Practice Introduction When one person gets wealthier in the society, it is difficult for others to enjoy the benefits that come with that increase in wealth. It has been therefore, the aim of every society to ensure equal distribution of income such that every one in the society can have access to resources that will enable them improve their living standards.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Community Development in Theory and Practice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The community tries to find ways in which it can develop as a whole providing accessibility to basic requirements that are essential to every member. For a long time now, people have believed that for the society to prosper then the poor or less privileged in the society should be empowered in various ways. Consequently, community development is found to be inevitable and requires special attention for it to be effective in the society. But community development proves to be an all round issue that is very flexible, open-ended, accommodating and doctrinaire at the same time. Definition Community development is the process by which people of a certain community are involved in tackling the problems that they face in the society. It is about trying to solve the problems that face the community through community groups who are thought to understand the effects better rather than applying a nationalistic approach. The concerned people are used to come up with ways that they can tackle their own problems using the available resources because it is believed that unless one decides to be involved in the process of development, any efforts to develop the person are futile (Morin 2011). Community development is also concerned with long term solutions because people are taught on how to fend for themselves as opposed to one time support for example food aids. On the other hand, community development tries to follow some laid down procedures on how t he whole process should be carried out. Community Development Theory Community development have some procedure that, those who advocate for it believe that, if followed properly then the aims can be achieved easily and early enough. Community development theory is a frame work of how the whole process should be carried out including the identification of the problems, the indicators of measuring development and the procedure of involving people in the projects (Craig Popple 2008).Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Community development theory requires total elimination of all forms of inequalities, exploitation and social injustices while cultural, economical and human rights should be promoted. On top of that, community development theory outlines that every human being should have relatively average living standards which should be improving continuously as wells as a dequate food, shelter and clothing. Theory of community development is doctrine that strictly defines what strategies to be followed depending on the already existing human behavior theories which sometimes are not a reality. It has been said that this theory is based on unrealistic ideas and thus setting out targets which can not be achieved in the real world. Opponents of theoretical approach claim that problems that are facing human beings in the society require more practical solutions that should be tailored to every situation as it is presented rather than an inflexible approach that assumes that every society is the same (Midgley Conley 2010). It should however be noted that there are some problems which are similar in every society for example poverty but the method of solving cannot be the same because every society has different resources which can be exploited differently. Community development theory describes how various situations should be defined, the reasons behind every situation and steps that should be taken in the event that something goes wrong (Hughes 2009). As impractical as community development theories may be, they set out the initial stages that help in understanding the way society works and therefore, guiding the professionals who are involved in community development projects on how to approach different situations. Community development theory relies heavily on the content from other disciplines in its attempt to define the society and the different situations that human beings find themselves in since community cannot be approached in a linear way given that human behavior is diverse.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Community Development in Theory and Practice specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, though the framework of community development theory might not be effective per se, it is inevitable in introduction as to how various problems can be solved a nd it lays the guidelines that are used to achieve practical solutions (Ledwith 2011). The Open Approach Community development theory is based on the assumption that community problems are similar in one way or the other across the societies and can therefore be approached in a more or less same way. Unfortunately, societies are different from one another and in many occasions they have different problems and even those that have similar problems attempts at solving these problems cannot be given the same approach since the endowment is diverse (Achatz 2011). Theory therefore just provides a skeleton of what can be done but the flesh should be added depending on the circumstances on the ground. Community development therefore does not bind one to the stringent rules of the theory but provides an open for one to choose the options that are more feasible to the community that is being supported. When involving the local people at the community level one is supposed to provide guidelin es only on how the problem can be solved but let the community come up a way on how best they think they can help in eliminating the problem (Phillips Pittman 2009). An agrarian community which is based in a place where there is abundance of land will find it very comfortable if irrigation is suggested as a means of increasing income. On the other hand, a poor community in slums somewhere in an urban center will find agriculture highly infeasible since in the first place finding a piece of land will be very expensive, but starting small businesses can be the best solution to the poverty problem. The opponents of theoretical approach to community development argue that, theory is generated by people who rarely understand the situation in the ground and cannot be applicable to problems that people are facing in the societies. They perceive theory as restricting and impractical efforts by professionals to exercise their authority in the whole process while the main question is left ou t.Advertising Looking for essay on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More They therefore propose that theoretical framework should be done away with and let community development personnel deal with the situation as they find it on the ground or use their past experience gained from areas of similar conditions. Holistic Approach In understanding how to approach the community development factor, it is important that we understand what the community is defined to be. Community is defined as a group of people who are brought together by the sense of belonging between them and have specific areas of common interests (Henderson Vercseg 2010). Often, a community has a geographical distinction and is expected to be there for ages, besides the fact that the operation of the community brings about numerous interaction perspectives. Additionally, community has been defined as a social system that involves people with a common interest but which is complex and large such as to allow predomination of instrumental relationships and one which is very dynamic. From the above definitions it is clear that community is a complex social system that requires care and maximum diligence when dealing with matters that affect its affairs. On the same note, it is important to note here that development as far as the community is concerned, cannot have a specific definition but can be taken to refer to improvement. Unfortunately, there is lack of clear cut indicators that can be used to measure community improvement thus, making community more subjective. Community has very entangled operations which make it impossible to handle community matters in one specific way but rather calls for mixture of approaches in order to come out with conclusive solutions. Though most of the problems that face the community require practical solutions, understanding the way the community operates in general is very vital in enabling one to prepare on how to tackle the situation at hand. Despite the differences that exist among various communities in the world, societies are intrinsically the same and to some extent similar methods can be used to solve the given problems. For example when dealing with poverty, it is important to understand what the poor people need mostly so that one can start by offering it (Robinson Green 2010). The poor have more or less the same needs throughout the world but may not necessarily have the same abilities. It is therefore important if both theories of community development and the practical solutions are interacted in attempting to solve the prevailing problems. Just as community development theory outlines, the community issues cannot be solved in isolation and this has been reiterated even by the advocates for practical solutions. The political, economical or social aspect of the community cannot be improved in isolation as they are all entangled and an attempt to tackle one brings the other aspect in view (Homan 2011). As such there is no one very important aspect than the other hence an understanding of how the co mmunity works, which is provided by theory, is instrumental in community development. Though community development does not restrict per se on the specific procedure to be followed, community development theory does gives a frame work of what is expected to be done at any given stage and in case of in outcomes. And both the theory and practical must be applied when carrying out any activities while putting the whole community in mind. It is very possible as it has happened in various communities for technological advancements to meet cultural opposition because culture was not understood before the introduction of the advancements though theory could have systematically outlined what procedure to be followed. Wrongly understanding the needs of society, has also led to rather pronounced opposition to development projects in communities because sometimes what is given priority is not what the members of the community give importance (Morin 2011). Though it is assumed that some groups in the community especially the poor will be less concerned with the political system but practical cases have proved the idea wrong where politics has manifested itself as important as any other component of community. In these instances therefore, community development cannot be achieved without involving the knowledge of political theory. Integrated Focus In order to effective achieve the targets of community development, the then two sides of the argument need to be connected and be applied together in solving the community problems. People of the community need to be understood and they are generally more concerned with the average improvement of their lives as opposed to only one aspect performing well, while others are lagging behind. On top of that, community development has proofed that community is made up of entangled issues then a disjointed approach to the problem will be impractical (Robinson Green 2010). Theory gives the understanding of the mechanisms that are avail able in the society which must be understood before any step is taken, while at the same time freedom is given for the professional to include feasible ways, according to their judgment, to solve the practical issue. Community people are also involved at the grass root levels so that they can suggest methods that they think can work for their situation. Community development has therefore to be all encompassing to enhance the understanding of the major concerns of the community, the most feasible ways of solving the problem and other factors that should be addressed in order to achieve sustainable improvement (Phillips Pittman). In some instances a specific framework is a must for progression to occur for the whole process requires a specific framework for example production after all requirements have been met while others require a more open approach. Conclusion Community development is a wholesome approach to community problems and cannot be inclined to one line of argument. Due to the interdependency of community development system, borrowing from other disciplines is inevitable preempting the reason why community development cannot have just a single approach. Therefore, community development should be open-ended to allow for freedom of participatory as well as involving the doctrines of human society. References Achatz, A 2011, Community Development: A People Centered Initiative to Achieve Sustainability, GRIN Verlag, Munchen. Craig, G Popple, K 2008, Community Development in Theory and Practice: An International Reader, Spokesman books, Nottingham. Henderson, P Vercseg, I 2010, Community Development and Civil Society: Making Connections in the European Context, The Policy Press, Bristol. Homan, SM 2011, Promoting Community Change: Making it Happen in the Real World, Cengage Learning, Stanford. Hughes, C 2009, Dependent Communities: Aid and Politics in Cambodia and East Timor, SEAP Publications, New York. Ledwith, M 2011, Community Development: A Crit ical Approach, The Policy Press, Bristol. Midgley, J Conley, A 2010, Social Work and Social Development: Theory and Skills for Developmental Social Work, Oxford University Press, Oxford. Morin, JP 2011, Community Ecology, John Wiley Sons, Hoboken. Phillips, R Pittman, HR 2009, An Introduction to Community Development, Taylor Francis, New York. Robinson, WJ Green, PG 2010, Introduction to Community Development: Theory, Practice and Service-learning, SAGE, Thousand Oaks.

Writing Prompts 60 Ideas You Can Use Today - Freewrite Store

Writing Prompts 60 Ideas You Can Use Today - Freewrite Store When I was in elementary school, I had a teacher who would have us freewrite to writing prompts he would write on the whiteboard. Every Monday morning,  we  would spend the first 10 minutes of class writing about dragons, time travel, or our weekends. I had stopped using writing prompts after that 4th grade English class.   This changed once I began writing thousands of words per day. Some days, I just didn’t know what to write about. Other days, I already had a topic in hand, but I couldn’t find the words.  Writing prompts have been a great tool to help me defeat writer’s block and swiftly put pen to paper. Related:Writer’s block: 13 Strategies That Work A writing prompt is a topic around which you start writing ideas. You’re free to stick to the subject or let your mind wander. Writing prompts have a few benefits:   1. Put pen to paper. Instead of thinking about what to write about, writing prompts give you a topic to start writing about immediately. 2. Practice makes perfect. Writing prompts help you build your writing â€Å"muscles†. This habit will help make it easier for you to start writing and will teach you to write longer. 3. Increase your creativity. Writing prompts can make you see the world in a new light, or a way you’ve never imagined. Maybe you want to buckle down and finish that novel. Or perhaps you needed to complete that blog post yesterday.  Ã‚  Regardless of your circumstance, prompts can be your ticket out of uncreative purgatory and back to the writing promised land.       Sometimes, it can be hard to think of what to write, so we put together a list of over60 writing promptsto give you some fresh ideas. 60 Writing Prompts To Spark Your Imagination 1. Your favorite childhood vacation. 2. The last words of your novel are, â€Å"As night became day, he started to understand the truth.† Now, go write the rest. 3. Turn one of the last texts you sent into a story. 4. Add an original scene to the last movie you watched. 5. Two friends have a disagreement. 6. Write about your favorite teacher. 7. Outside the window, you see something you can’t believe. 8. Write about the first time you held someone's hand. 9. Write about the last thing/person that made you smile. 10. Write about a time you were lost. 11. Write about your first job. 12. Write a letter to your 14-year old self. 13. Write about why you write. 14. Five years from now, I will be. 15. Write about your dream vacation. 16. Do you like to be alone or with company? 17. You have $300 and a Prius, describe the 2,800 mile road trip from NYC to LA. 18. Write about your biggest goal. 19. Write about your biggest fear. 20. A conversation you and a stranger have on a plane. 21. A time you or someone you love was scammed. 22. Turn the last song you listened to into a story. 23. Describe the life of your favorite singer. 24. Write about a piece of furniture in the room you’re in. 25. If I knew then what I know now. 26. If you could travel back in time, where would you go? 27. You have a billion dollars in your bank account. How did you make it? 28. You’ve discovered a new planet. Describe what you see. 29. If you could do anything for work, what would you do? 30. You live on an abandoned island, describe your morning routine. 31. You’re in a foreign country and don’t speak the native language. 32. Describe how you think your grandparents met. 33. Write about a time you failed. 34. You wake up today with the superpower of your choosing. 35. You’re a dog, describe your interaction with a human. 36. Write about someone you admire. 37. Go to Twitter or Facebook and write about the first post you see. 38. Write about a time you were uncomfortable. 39. She tried to forget him, but never could. 40. Just as your flight takes off, you discover a shocking note under your seat. 41. None of your friends remember you, describe yourself to them. 42. An island rose from the sea. 43. Out of the ashes, arose a hero. 44. The whales grew feet. 45. I open the last book on earth. 46. You knock louder and louder on the door, but nobody answers. 47. The door you had locked, is wide open. 48. Just as you fall asleep, the phone rings. 49. She had the perfect party planned, only to have it ruined by her ex. 50. She said her final words and left, there’s no turning back now. 51. A blind man falls in love, describe his feelings. 52. You have the power to stop time, what do you do? 53. The sun rose for the final time. 54. You discover that your partner is a robot. 55. You have 10 days to live. 56. How will cars look in 50 years? 57. This needs to be cleaned, the police will be here any minute. 58. For years, he carefully planned out this day. 59. The birds didn’t go south for the winter. 60. It’s June 13th, the snow won’t stop falling. Okay, so now you’ve found two months worth of writing prompts.  If you’re looking for more prompts, every Friday, we send thousands of writers just like you a writing prompt via email or text message. We call it Writing Time Fridays. WTF is a 30 minute block of time each Friday that the Astrohaus team spends freewriting. It started as an internal initiative, but now anyone can join us from around the world. It's free and there are no rules other than to write for 30 minutes. We'll send you a prompt but feel free to write about whatever you want. There are no requirements to share your writing and how you write is completely up to you. Clickhere to sign up for WTF and receive a writing prompt at noon every Friday. Would you like to share a writing prompt you’ve used in the past? Comment below, and we’ll add it to the list!    Carlton Clark loves to write about business, baseball, and popular culture. A writer, marketer, and entrepreneur. At the age of 14, he founded the media company  ballplayerplus.com. Currently, Carlton helps businesses share their stories through social media and blogging. When he’s not writing or creating content, Carlton coaches youth baseball at his local high school and plays guitar. You can find him online on Instagram @itscarltonclark, and on Twitter @carlton_mukasa