A ‘glass half full’ approach to development
Project Builders funds enable AIMM training event in DRC
Despite the amount of resources mobilized for local development, progress remains insignificant and unsustainable in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in general and in Mennonite churches in particular. Concerned about this situation, with funding from Project Builders and AIMM donors, AIMM organized a training seminar on the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach.
The training took place over five days, from August 21–25, 2023, at the Mennonite Community in Congo (CMCO) headquarters in Tshikapa, Kasai province. In this seminar 50 people from all CMCO conferences were trained in the skills of mapping and developing local resources for church and community development.
The ABCD approach to development raises awareness of community members about their assets (physical, natural, social, human, etc.), capacities, skills, experiences, and relationships. With this approach, the goal is for rural populations to take charge of their own development, improve their living conditions, and build resilient churches and communities. The training was organized around five major themes:
1. The glass is half empty and half full
ABCD focuses on the glass half full. The glass half empty represents the notion that communities are deficient and have many needs. The facilitator emphasized that ABCD focuses on the part of the glass that is half full.
Participants learned that within each community, there are things that work. When the focus is on needs rather than what works, community development efforts can become paralyzed.
2. Identification of community assets
Work in groups allowed participants to identify, inventory, and familiarize themselves with the different assets existing in their environment. They classified them according to whether they were social, human, physical, natural or financial.
3. Mapping community assets
Participants formed groups to identify and map the assets of their respective environments. A plenary session followed during which groups presented the results of their work they produced. The participants discovered they have almost everything they need to activate a development process in their communities.
4. The leaky bucket
The “leaky bucket” is a tool that helps participants understand the local economy. It shows in most cases that the expenditures of the communities are greater than the revenues they generate. This is a challenge to address.
Congo, Photo by Johnnathan Tshibangu on Unsplash
5. ABCD and low-hanging fruit
It’s best to start with what the community has available. In other words, instead of the community looking for what is difficult to have, it should focus first what it has or can access.
Outcome
To plan for change based on the community’s assets without relying on external help, each group produced an action plan. The groups presented their different action plans, discussed them together, and evaluated, thus marking the end of the training.
Project Builders provided just under half of the funds needed to provide this training session. Project Builders supports EMC and affiliated mission agencies with funding for capital projects. Its efforts are supported through members (who commit to a minimum $250 annual donation) and donors. Learn more at www.emconference.ca/project-builders.
– AIMM and Project Builders
