Effective Community Development

Solutions to the global water and sanitation crisis are complex. It is not enough to dig a well or install latrines, which many well-meaning individuals and organizations do every day. While the tangible materials are essential to improving overall health, they are not sufficient or sustainable when provided alone. What happens when the well stops working? What happens when the water becomes contaminated through poor hygiene and sanitation practices? Community members need to be empowered to maintain their water sources and sanitation facilities and to implement behavior changes necessary for long-term health. Community members need to be part of the solution rather than just recipients.

Lifewater‘s Principles of Effective Community Development program teaches organizations how to facilitate community-led development through participatory methods. The participatory approach allows people to identify their own problems and develop solutions that work best for their culture and resources. It also provides the knowledge and skills people need to teach others. Empowered community members become involved in all aspects of their own community’s development and experience life-changing transformation.

For communities to experience transformation, certain foundational principles are necessary.  Lifewater International’s Principles of Effective Community Development program addresses the complexity of issues encountered in community development and allows the participants to explore biblical perspectives of development, the project cycle, participatory learning, behavior change, and cultural issues. 

Lifewater‘s Principles of Effective Community Development program consists of three courses, each course designed for a specialized group. Exploring Transformational Mission is for Lifewater’s field trainer applicants, Transformational Community Development is designed for Lifewater partners, and Missions & Community Development is a course for other North America-based organizations involved in international project work.

“The participatory method creates an environment for real input from the community members and not just the project people - which leads to real transformation in the community.“ - TCD-trained practitioner in Southeast Asia