Community Engagement
Process CEPH102
Lesson1: The community as a main factor in community engagement.
Contents
 Defining a community
 Introduction to community development
 Principles of Community Development
 The features of Community Development
 Introduction to Community Based Tourism Enterprises
 Case-Study
 Reflective Questions
Community
 THE WORD COMMUNITY COMES FROM
THE LATIN WORD, ‘COMMUNITAS’ WHICH
MEANS COMMON.
What is community ?
 a “group of people with a common
characteristic or interest living together
within a larger society” or a “body of
persons or nations having a common
history or common social, economic, and
political interests”
Community
What is community ?
 For our purposes, ccommunity refers to a
diverse
group of people who share
residence in the same geographic area
and access a set of local natural and
cultural resources.
Community Development
(CD)
 Cd refers to creation of social services, human development, community
education program and other welfare programs.
 The term ‘cd’ used to describe a goal of bringing about social and
economic development in areas which are underdeveloped.
 Cd can be considered as a goal and community organization (CBTEs) as
the process or the method by which cd can be achieved.
 Cd produces self-reliant, self-sustaining and empowered communities.
 Cd also known as community building
Community Development
(CD)
Is this It?
Community Development
(CD)
CORE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
 Community Development seeks to empower
individuals and groups of people by providing
them with the skills they need to effect change
within their communities.
 These skills are often created through the
formation of large social groups working for a
common agenda.
 It is a broad term given to the practices of public/
leaders,
activists,
involved
citizens
and
professionals to improve various aspects of
communities, typically aiming to build stronger
and more resilient local communities.
Principles of Community Development
Principle of Human Orientation
 Principle of human orientation shows that any community development must
be based on the fact that it recognizes and strives to cater for intangible verses
physical needs.
 Any community development initiative ought to alleviate poverty and suffering
through meeting peoples basic needs, but neglecting their abstract needs is
defective development and cannot qualify to be authentic.
 Any effort to address peoples’ physical needs must simultaneously trice to fulfil
their need for dignity.
 Dignity is enhanced when people are self-reliant and self-sufficient.
 Therefore development must be
separated from health needs
holistic , education needs cannot be
Principles of Community Development
Principle of Empowerment
 Empowerment means giving people (including the poor, minority and
marginalized community members) the power to be able to make decisions,
choices and directions that will lead to an improvement of their lives.
 It means that beneficiaries being the major stakeholders in the development
process have the power to manage their own development
 The principle of empowerment stipulates that people participate because it is
their democratic right to do so.
 Participation therefore is decision making, and participation means having
power.
 It also demands
decision.
the knowledge and understanding to make the correct
Principles of Community Development
Principle of Ownership
 Ownership as a principle of authentic community development is based on the
idea that people will identify with, protect and maintain what they have toiled
to build.
 The ownership in authentic community development starts from the visioning,
conceptualization to implementation of development projects.
 In this principle, the community fully owns the development process and any
benefits thereof and only gets external technical support in form of training and
supportive capacity when they request for it.
Principles of Community Development
Principle of Release
 The main goal of community development is to eradicate poverty
 Development aims to free people from the deprivation trap. The extent of the
poverty crisis is not always realised, especially when the well-off are targeted for
development.
 This is often the case in developing countries, those who are not in crises are
often the beneficiaries of the development projects.
 In some instances development brings short-term or repetitive relief to a
situation without addressing the root causes, therefore not transforming the
communities.
 Development should be a self-sustaining process to engage free (released)
communities in activities that meet their basic human needs.
Principles of Community Development
Principle of Learning
 The principle of learning is crucial in the attainment of authentic community
development.
 There is wide consensus in community development practice today that true
transformation is born of a learning attitude perfected by dialogue with others.
 Community development is a means for taking the knowledge to people and
making use of the knowledge in improving their living conditions.
 Development practitioners can impart knowledge with the aim of building
capacities of the communities.
 This means that development should be a continuous learning process that
ensures that development practitioners engage target communities in practical
action oriented learning.
 Knowledge learnt has to be adaptive and with ability to address people's
development needs.
Principles of Community Development
Principle of Adaptiveness
 This is a principle that dictates that community development needs to be
context specific and that there are no universal ways of doing development
projects.
 Development should be adaptative to suit different conditions and situations.
 Development planning should be based on adequate knowledge of local
challenges and not blue printing because adaptiveness to local conditions is a
critical pre-liquisite for viable community development.
 Social, political and economic environments must be factored in the entire
development process.
Principles of Community Development
Principle of Simplicity
 The principle of simplicity contrasts sharply with the notion that ‘bigger is better’.
 However, big, complex and sophisticated
potential for learning and participation.
community projects limit the
 When the opportunity for learning and participation is restricted, the very
humanistic nature of development is in jeopardy .
 ‘The smaller and simpler project, the easier it will be to get long-lasting
results
Introduction to Community Based
Tourism Enterprises
 Community based tourism is tourism in which local residents (often rural, poor
and economically marginalized) invite tourists to visit their communities with the
provision of accommodation or other tourism services.
 Community-based ecotourism should foster sustainable use and collective
responsibility, but it also embraces individual initiatives within the community.
 By sharing activities such as festivals, home-stays, and the production of artisan
goods, community- based tourism allows communities to participate in the
modern global economy while cultivating a sustainable source of income and
maintaining their way of life.
 Community-based tourism initiatives decrease poverty not only by increasing
income but also by providing residents of rural communities with the tools and
knowledge necessary for long-term critical thinking and decision-making.
Introduction to Community
Based Tourism Enterprises
Principles of Community Based Tourism
Identity
Roots and Customs
Ecological Consciousness and Harmony
Sustainable Economic Development
Local Control
 Identity: Respect and preserve all the
characteristics of the environment, help
residents reclaim historical
practices,
revitalize productive activities, highlight the
ethnic background of the population, and
highlight the unique aspects of the locality,
such as topography, climate, architecture,
cuisine and handicrafts.
 Roots and Customs: Highlight local cultural
practices so that communities share their
cultures and traditions with tourists with
authenticity.
 Invaluable educational opportunities such
as home-stays and town-hall-style round of
talks are encouraged so that tourists and
local community members can mutually
share cultural aspects such as food, music,
folklore, and goods. Both visitor
and
community cultures will always be treated
with appreciation and respect.
Introduction to Community
Based Tourism Enterprises
Principles of Community Based Tourism
Identity
Roots and Customs
Ecological Consciousness and Harmony
Sustainable Economic Development
Local Control
 Ecological Consciousness and Harmony:
Seek to conserve natural ecosystems and
cultures by being a
part of a larger
development plan.
 All plans have a low impact on the local
environment while highlighting the unique
aspects of the locality, such as topography,
climate, and architecture.
 The conservation of nature and rigorous
concern with the environment influence the
development
of
infrastructure
for
community-based ecotourism activities (i.e.
building houses, roads, showers, etc.).
Introduction to Community
Based Tourism Enterprises
 Sustainable Economic Development: Stimulate the
local economy by generating income through the
sustainable use of natural resources. All plans seek to
ensure that the local population has an equitable share
in benefits.
Principles of Community Based Tourism
 Local Control: Local control of the community- based
ecotourism industry.
Identity
Roots and Customs
Ecological Consciousness and Harmony
Sustainable Economic Development
Local Control
 Local leadership leads plans and encourages clear
and transparent decision- making.
 Community members actively make
decisions on
strategies and acceptable levels of tourism based upon
the community’s culture, heritage and vision.
 Strategies also equip local communities with the tools
and knowledge necessary for decision-making, and to
build effective structures to enable the community to
influence, manage and benefit from ecotourism
development and practice.
Introduction to Community Based
Tourism Enterprises
 CASESTUDY: BULUNGULA LODGE
Bulungula Lodge, a backpackers hostel on the Wild Coast on the Eastern
Cape, is owned and managed by the Nqileni community. The business
was originally a joint venture and a private sector partner was involved
for ten years. This was time enough to establish the CBT venture, ensure
that it is profitable and train the community to manage the lodge
themselves. The private sector partner withdrew from the CBT venture in
2014 and the community took over full management from that point on.
During the ten years of being a joint venture, the business helped
establish several community-owned businesses that have created jobs
and income for 33 families over and above those employed directly at
the lodge. These community-based businesses include a restaurant and
activities. In 2007, the business created the Bulungula Incubator, a notfor-profit organization working in education, health and infrastructural
projects in the community
Think Points
 Think of manifestations of poverty in your community, e.g. overcrowding of
dwellings.
 List community development approaches that do not adhere to community
development principles