Community Development in the 21st Century: Empowerment for Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

This book builds on decades of practice-experience in education for community development. With a clear focus on professionalisation, Community development in the 21st century: empowerment for breaking the cycle of poverty is a definitive guide for community development practitioners, professionals and students alike. In addition to context and process, the book details the skills required by a community development practitioner and explains the local government context of community development practice in particular. The book also provides an overview of the professionalization process of community development in South Africa. The book contains practical case studies, specifically relevant to the South African environment. Contents include:

Chapter 1Poverty, ill-being and wellbeing

Chapter 2The development environment

Chapter 3Stakeholders in community development

Chapter 4The origins of community development

Chapter 5The features and outcomes of community development

Chapter 6The principles of community development

Chapter 7The community as main actor in community development

Chapter 8The place and role of community development workers

Chapter 9Participatory decision making and management

Chapter 10Communication skills

Chapter 11Leadership development and group facilitation

Chapter 12Development Projects, Change and Conflict Resolution

Chapter 13Mobilisation and motivation

Chapter 14Operational writing

Chapter 15Meetings

Chapter 16Public speaking

Chapter 17The Community Development Practitioner and Technology

Chapter 18Contact making

Chapter 19Participatory research methodology

Chapter 20The start of a project

Chapter 21Planning and implementation

Chapter 22Monitoring, evaluation and control

Chapter 23The training dialogue

Chapter 24Planning and facilitating a training workshop