Asset-Based Community Development & Global Brigades

Reflection C Meghan A. Jones 9 October 2013

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What is Asset-Based Community Development?

ABCD, or asset-based community development, is a formula for aiding a community in strengthening and developing as a culture by focusing on the assets it already has to offer. ABCDs ultimate goal is to empower communities to be self-sustainable in the future. Examples of assets include:
Knowledge of environment Family nurturing Knowledge of wellness
(Kretzman & McKnight)
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How I identify ABCD from my Global

Brigades experience:
My experience in Ghana has allowed me to identify ABCD as our collaboration with the Techiman community in order to achieve a common goal:
- Improved health and overall knowledge of wellness. - The majority of community members were
aware of personal wellness but simply needed help and advice in learning how to take care of himself/herself. Therefore, part of our job as volunteers included utilizing their prior knowledge and expanding on it. Helping to create a sustainable health awareness for the community, and to increase its development as a whole.

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Global Brigades and its use of the ABCD model:

From my experience with Global Brigades and our time spent in Ghana, I fully believe their aim follows the ABCD model.
Our time spent with the Techiman Community was well organized and researched. We came prepared to work with the community in order aid them in strengthening the development of their community. The Techiman community was already more advanced that previously visited communities in Ghana, and they were excited for our help. The community offered many beneficial assets that could be tapped into in various ways in order to further improve development. I.e.: Our brigade focused on health, however, on our door-todoor visits we learned that the community was extremely concerned and interested in improving the condition of their water (exhibiting knowledge of the environment)

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Assets of the Ekumfi-Techiman Community:

Awareness of importance of knowledge of wellness Care of Children Story telling Soccer Listening Knowledge of environment Praying Singing Game playing Cooking Caring for the old Family nurturing Hair cutting Playing musical instruments (all of the above I chose from the list provided in the article by Kretzman & McKnight)
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What needs I identified within the community:

During my time spent in the community I quickly became aware of all of the gifts the members had to offer, as well as some needs:
The Ekumfi Techiman community is in need of: Clean water - as well as a better understanding of the importance of boiling their water. Increased literacy - if the community member was not in school, it was not common for them to know how to read or write Better access to transportation - this will also improve healthcare because they will more easily be able to visit a doctor or hospital Support groups - This is listed in the article, however, I am unsure if the community has any kind of support groups for single parents, etc. General hygiene - Not eating meat that has been left out, or eating food with your hands that have touched an animal

Conclusion:

I truly hope and believe that our work through the model of ABCD has had a lasting impact on the Techiman Community igniting in them a flame to improve and further develop as a whole. The unity I witnessed amongst the Techiman Community was honorable, I do not believe we needed to improve any assets that affected the neighborhood feeling, or impacted the Our Way phenomenon. The only thing I hope is that the overall health of the community was positively impacted and that the members wish to continue experiencing the benefits of good health, and realize that there are several ways to continue building upon the foundation of the assets their have.