GOOD INTENTIONS... WHICH WAY ARE THEY LEADING YOU??

Kenya - Charity/NGO -

Aug 23, 2011

The third in a 4 part series entitled Poverty  - A state of mind or a state of pocket.

How easy it is in life to focus on what we lack... by doing so, we often miss what is right underneath our noses!   When helping others often the greatest gift we can give is to help them see their own potential. 

This month we BEGIN WITH ASSETS NOT NEEDS:
When wanting to help a community/project, start by assessing their assets. We tend to do a needs assessment first, making a long list of what is lacking and what needs to be done. Instead of using this approach, the ABCD approach (asset based community development) focusses on the following four elements:

capabilities, skills and resources of the individual or community;   -  view poor people as full of possibilities
-  look for resources and solutions to come from within the individual or community, not from outside
- seek to build and rebuild the relationships among local individuals, associations, businesses, schools etc, so that the various individuals and institutions in communities are interconnected and complementary
- only bring in outside resources when local resources are insufficient to solve pressing needs; do this in a manner that does not undermine local capacity or initiative
This approach will draw attention to all the good and positives in the community, instead of highlighting all they do not have, thereby empowering the local community.

MOBILISE INTERNAL RESOURCES BEFORE BRINGING IN OUTSIDERS HELP
Drawing on the assets and resources available within a community is far more effective to ensure:
•    Sustainability of the project.
•    Empowerment of the local people and community.
•    Interdependence within community instead of dependence on foreign aid/outsiders' help.
•    Promotes problem solving within the community.
•    Avoids a passive and expectant attitude.
•    Promotes survivor attitude and confirms the ability and resources of individuals (I can help myself;