Issue 8

EAST ASIA SPECIAL ISSUE Foreword Contents Charlie McConnell About IACD Editorial ...... 04 Community organizing IACD is the only global network for professional community for residents who are living in development practitioners. We support development sub-divided flats ...... 06 agencies and practitioners to build the capacity of Working with people in communities to realise greater social and economic equality, non-decent housing ...... 08 environmental protection and political democracy. Grassroots Organizing What do we do? in Hong Kong ...... 10 IACD links people to each other. We facilitate learning and practice exchange, both virtually Innovative Community and face-to-face. We work with partners to deliver regional, national and international Periodically IACD publishes a special events, study visits and conferences. We document the work that our members are doing Economic Venture – The Case of issue of Practice Insights magazine. around the world by collecting case studies, tools and materials on community Sharing Kitchen HK ...... 12 These have usually been thematic e.g. development, and sharing these through our website, publications and ebulletins. We carry about poverty or the Sustainable out research projects, drawing on international experience. Heritage preservation in Development Goals. This special issue is IACD aims to give its members a voice at the global level, advocating for community geographic. It profiles community old urban community – “Viva development principles and practice in international forums and consultations. IACD development initiatives in eastern Asia, Blue House” revitalization project ...... 14 has consultative status with the UN and its agencies. with a strong spotlight upon parts of China. Our guest editor and IACD East People Service Centre – Contributing articles Asia Director, Kwok-kin Fung has “The Food Friend Action” gathered together over a dozen articles. Our international Practice Insights publications are issued three times a year, each one Most are case studies, written either by Food Recycling Program ...... 18 focusing on a particular theme of relevance to community development. If you would like practitioners or research scholars further information or to contribute to future editions, please contact charlie.mcconnell@ working in the community development Community Building iacdglobal.org Alternatively, IACD members are welcome at any time to contribute news field. As with all of the articles in Practice and Civil Society – Practices and items, research, case studies or other materials to our members’ Facebook site and to the Insights, they are intended to be short, Experiences of Taiwan ...... 20 IACD website. giving the busy reader a glimpse into work in the area, together with the From Social Service to Join us contact details of the author/s should readers wish to make contact. Huge Solidarity Economy – Local Tribal For full details and to join, go to www.iacdglobal.org/join-us. thanks to the authors and above all to Communal Kitchen in Da’An KK and his colleague Chan Yu Cheung, Benefits of membership include: Basin of Taiwan ...... 24 for getting this issue together. đƫƫDaily Facebook News posts about community and international development; We have been asked many times New Development đƫƫAccess to the Global Community Development Exchange resource bank on the IACD whether Practice Insights is peer of Urban Community Service website; reviewed and the answer is yes. At least in China ...... 26 đƫƫOpportunities to participate in Practice Exchange study visits; two external people look at each article. đƫƫDiscounted rates at IACD conferences; Practice Insights is not however intended Community Reconstruction to be an academic journal, but rather a đƫƫDiscounted subscriptions to the Community Development Journal; practitioner magazine. There are over a Projects in China: The empowerment đƫƫOpportunities to share your work and experiences with a global audience, through our dozen academic community of a dysfunctional community in website, Facebook sites and other publications; development journals around the world Pearl River Delta ...... 28 and, as IACD members will know, we đƫƫMembers also have the opportunity to nominate to serve on the IACD Board of Directors. have had a longstanding relationship Our next Annual General Meeting will take place in July 2018. Neighborhood Community with the international Community Project in Macau ...... 30 Development Journal (CDJ) published by Oxford University Press. Indeed the February 2017 edition of CDJ also looked Educational Tourism at eastern Asia, co-edited by KK Fung and Community Development: and Gary Craig, IACD Past President. An Insight for Malaysian Practice ...... 32 (see https://academic.oup.com/cdj/ issue/52/1). “Balik-Tanaw” Revisiting Community www.iacdglobal.org Development in the Philippines ...... 34 The views expressed in this publication are primarily those of the respective authors and not necessarily those of IACD. 2 Practice Insights | Issue 7 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 3 Food Friendly Action”, which is a food development of social work practice in legacy of decades of community recycling programme to integrate China, the article by Leung reports on development in the Philippines from the Editorial environmental concerns and mutual how the local government of Lunjiao in 1960s to the present day, concluding help of disadvantaged communities, Foshan, Guangdong, responded in that community development has Fung, Kwok-kin demonstrates another alternative implementing Community become an ‘in-word’ for many initiatives. strategy for community economic Reconstruction Projects in its villages. development. The project has set up Leung as a social work ofcer from All these articles offer the food recycling service system for Hong Kong Chinese Civil Servants the rich experiences of a low income community to support Association has been invited by the In Hong Kong, the Philippines and disadvantaged in local communities community development the people in need. It successfully built Foshan government in helping to design Taiwan, community development has of Hong Kong. The Alliance adopts practice in the East Asian up the community based mutual help the community projects. It reflects how had its long history since the 1960s, but the conflict approach and unites the networks and facilitated user social work professionals are involved region and unravel the practitioners have been undergoing disadvantaged communities to fight participation in the project. in the development of social work diversified strategies adopted changes in their practices in response to on diferent poverty issues, including services in mainland China, with in response to the changing the neoliberal changes in government social security policy, split-flat housing Lu, who is the Chairman of Taiwan community development included. needs, despite constraints and policy. For the case of Hong Kong, problems, youth poverty, etc. Moreover, Community Alliance as well as Chairman limitations, including the following the residual welfare orientation, the Alliance initiates activities to develop of the Association of Community- All these projects aim at enhancement the government has attempted to freeze community-based economy to help the Activists in Taiwan, reported on the of the social functioning of village marginalizing and unfriendly the subvention of community low-income communities as well. These historical and political background of members by rebuilding their community policies of different development services and has various community economic initiatives community building in Taiwan. The capital like trust, neighbourhood governments, and limited emphasized the role of community include development of collective Taiwan government has implemented networks, local economic activities and resources and cultural in supporting families in need. In the production, facilitating collective the community building policy and has social cohesion. The projects help the differences in different cases covered in this issue on the local purchases, organizing local bazaars, continually invested resources into the villages to build up their local economy, communities. community practices, the community and building up local exchange community since the 1990s. The such as eco-tourism, and temple cultural practitioners demonstrate their trading systems. community building practices emphasize activities, to nurture community leaders All in all, it is crucial for all community diversified strategies to respond to the bottom-up approach in identifying and the identity of the village members. practitioners and academies from Community economic development, the changes and the local needs of community assets and building The project is a typical example of around the world to be united as a which is a new agenda item relating the communities. collaborative partnership at the local community work in response to rapid community, to develop together the to sustainable community development, level and supporting diferent initiatives, development in mainland China. critical knowledge and skills in The community centres, both in the has been one of the main strategies for example, civic education, local community development to advance the cases of Caritas-Hong Kong and SKH adopted in response to the needs of community economic development, The Neighborhood Community interests of disadvantaged communities Lady MacLehose Centre, have supported low income households in Hong Kong. social welfare and environmental project in Macau provides the practice amid global changes and challenges. This issue of Practice Insights, is a and worked with the residents living The “Sharing Kitchen HK”, which is a protection, etc. Lu comments that experience of locality development special collection focusing on the in poor housing (the so called split-flat recent example, received funding community building is one of the in building a “neighborhood friendly Editorial author: Fung, Kwok-kin, diverse community development or sub-divided units). The community support from the Social Innovation and important pathways for the zone” in Taipa community. They Associate Professor, Department of practice in the East Asian region, and workers helped build social capital of Entrepreneurship Development Fund in development of civil society in Taiwan. fostered partnerships among residents Social Work, Hong Kong Baptist particularly on the Chinese speaking the community members and organized 2016. It linked up the grassroots vendors in diferent housing estates, merchants, University, Regional Director communities. Ten years on from concerned groups and alliances for with the private for-profit restaurants Huang, who is Assistant Professor of schools, government agencies and civil International Association for IACD’s Hong Kong Declaration on collective action for policy changes. that shared their kitchens and equipment National Dong Hwa University, shares the organizations inside the zone as well as Community Development. Community Development in Asia, Ng of SKH Lady MacLehose Centre to enable the vendors to prepare food experiences of indigenous community facilitated the formation of the “Mutual the community development field in emphasizes the importance of and beverages during the time when work in Taiwan. A group of social Aid Network” through the internet. Email: [email protected] this part of the globe experienced community organizing strategies for these restaurants are not in business. workers entered and stationed in continuous changes and abrupt policy advocacy to deal with the worse The project makes use of the community diferent indigenous tribes after the 921 The article by Maryam Ahmadian, who Acknowledgement challenges. Development in terms housing conditions, but he also resources to help the grassroots to start Earthquake Disasters in Taiwan in 1999. is a visiting scholar of George Mason of scale of the services, (particularly comments on the significance of up their own business under a context of They started with developing in the University and a Regional Director of I take this opportunity to in mainland China), emergence of relationships building among the having to pay rocket-high commercial Da-An River Tribe a ‘Communal Kitchen’ IACD, and her colleague unravels how thank those helping to make residents. To Ng, deliberative process rent for average business. new concerns, particularly about to maintain the tribes’ traditional mutual education tourism has become this special issue a reality. sustainable community development in organizing is crucial for long-term help culture. Afterwards, they helped integrated with community development In addition, the “Viva Blue House” and diversification of the practice changes. Meanwhile, Wong of the with developing their local economy in Malaysia. The intention of the decision They include Miss Ma Wai revitalization project is the first heritage models and strategies are among the Caritas-Hong Kong highlights the and building self-help mechanism in makers to incorporate the diferent Lan who helped with the preservation project which focuses on manifested changes. alliance work by the six community the tribal community. The Communal principles of sustainable community English editing of the first retention of both the residents and the centers under the agency. The alliance Kitchen is a new direction for indigenous development while developing draft, Chan Yu Cheung, who buildings to rebuild the community The under-reporting of practice has provided the platform for diferent social/community work. It demonstrates partnerships with local community assisted in collecting most capacity for sustainable community experience in these Asian communities groups and organizations to advocate the significance of respecting the members of diferent kinds testifies development. The project is renowned in of the manuscripts, and is among the reason behind the for policy change. In addition, Wong culture of the indigenous community further to the increasing concerns of Hong Kong adopting the community-led most important of all, selection. Also, the limitation of the reports on their use of “photo-voice” throughout the community the sustainable community development and participatory model for heritage Charlie McConnell who took personal network of the issue editor is tools for the low-income families to voice development process. agenda in this part of the globe. another. There are totally thirteen articles out their grievances. Wong further conservation. It facilitates collaborative care of the whole project, covering Hong Kong, Macau, and the recommends the significance of using planning with the town planning Community work in China is Maryam Ahmadian and Asnarulkhadi from its inception to the Pearl River Delta parts of the mainland bottom-up approaches in community professionals to deal with the incorporated under the framework of Abu Samah briefly look at the impact very last stage of China. In addition, we have contributions organizing. conservation of the buildings, and most social work. The article by Lu, who is and opportunities for community publishing. Without them, from Taiwan, Malaysia and the important of all, the community living Professor of the South China Normal development in Malaysia of educational a special issue on East Asian Philippines. This special issue tries hard The Concerning CSSA & Low income there. Afterwards, following the social University, and her colleagues gives a tourism. As the authors conclude Community Development to reflect the diversified experience of Alliance, which is a non-government enterprise framework, the project brief introduction of the diferent Malaysia, is now able to attract visitors community development services in funded community activist organization, decided to rent out some of the units to changes in recent decade, and testifies not only in search of quality education will remain wishful East Asia, and particularly those in the emphasizes its mission in tackling new tenants who share the ideal of to the development of community but also healthcare, but what is the thinking in the minds of Chinese speaking communities, though income inequalities and poverty, and cultural conservation and that of development services in the Mainland. impact of this upon local people? And community work activists it does not claim to be representative. defending the rights of the co-housing. Last but not the least, “The Under the context of the substantial finally Excelsa Tongson reflects upon the in this part of the world.

4 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 5 Relations based community organizing is a type of Community organizing non-crisis intervention. Most of the residents in subdivided units suffer from for residents who are high rent and adverse living conditions, which are due to a severely low supply of living in sub-divided flats public housing to meet Ng, Kwan-lim social needs and absence of statutory rent control in the private rental market.

The rent for tiny subdivided flats has increased twofold in comparison to other flats in the private sector, according to the survey carried out by a concern group on sub-divided flats. The social structural causes and the imbalance of housing policy to intervene, is unable to reach the needs of most of the residents. Although this dilemma is commonly found in old urban districts Forum with one of the candidates of 2017 Chief Executive Election and even if the residents can be reached, it is still not easy to organize direct social provides space for empowerment and It is easy to gather people action. This is because the residents consciousness arising, and is a constant for crisis organizing, but the slowly accommodate and adapt to the means of continuing in-group relations. members also quickly leave problems with time. Currently, for example, the “Kwai Chung afterwards because the task Sub-divided Flats Residents’ Alliance” or action that gathers people and the “West District Relocated They think that the together is issue based. problems, such as annual Tenant Conference” have been established for many years, but both rent increases, are a fact of Due to the quick response required for community groups have a strong events that are likened to “a war”, it is life and feel that they do not membership. Even though there are difcult to establish solid relationships. have the power to make members who move into public Regardless whether the goal is achieved, changes. housing or out of the community, some Demonstration for statutory rental control and increasing building public housing the purpose of a crisis group is only to new neighborhood members would seek remedies or compensation. When Even if some of the households are join the groups which increase their In the past, the main focus of are unreasonably high. Their living Due to the high mobility of the issue is resolved, it is generally hard forced to move, the urgency that they sense of belonging to the groups. community work in the old urban area is small and crowded, and the these households (there is face may not align with social action. to continue to organize the group. Even conditions are unsafe with hygiene if some of the residents have needs that districts was on urban renewal no statutory control on rent Therefore, it is not easy to begin to 2) Issue based crisis community problems or old building maintenance problems. All these have a negative require follow up, they are mostly or security of tenure since organize social action. A common organizing – community events issues. In recent years, the housing impact on their health and family addressed at the individual level. 2004 in Hong Kong and the dilemma of the housing problem is, trigger immediate crises problem in Hong Kong has been relationships, and even the of course, the incentives for intervention, tenancy period of sub- In sum, the two types of community increasing in severity and the development of their children. In fact, but the relationship between the Sub-divided flat residents may face divided flats is very short), organizing discussed difer in number of sub-divided flats in old the problem is due to the housing organizer and residents or the social sudden crises. In the past, it was not characteristics and each community urban districts has been increasing. policies, shortage of public housing it is not easy to engage with capital between residents, is a more uncommon to see a number of group is formed for diferent reasons According to a Thematic Household and housing bubble, so it has become them and organize any decisive factor in this kind of households that were forced to move and through diferent events. However, Survey Report called “Housing necessary to intervene through strategies. community organizing. out in a short period of time due to conditions of sub-divided units in community organizing strategies to repossession by owners or based on the most crucial factors are the values Hong Kong in 2015” by the Census advocate for policy changes. Furthermore, with reference to the Work can be started through home orders of the Buildings Department so and attitudes of the community and Statistics Department, the figures quoted in the 2015 Thematic visits by engaging each household and that diferent resident groups were organizers; that is, they need to start total number of sub-divided units It is difcult to tell who is living in Household Survey Report, 46.8% of the assessing their needs. Working at the formed in a short period of time. at the level of the residents and work was 88,800, which is about 20,000 a sub-divided flat. Some of them work households are waiting for public individual level is crucial for building A few years ago, the “Kwai Ying with them collectively. more than that in 2013. Moreover, long hours and others have to take housing (mostly, the waiting time is five relationships, and then, inviting them to Building Concern Group” was formed Author – Ng, Kwan-lim, Team Leader, the number of residents in these care of their young children, and to eight years), which means that they join the group. The second strategy is a by 72 households when they were forced Group & Community Work Unit, units was 199,900 in 2015. These therefore, it is difcult to identify them will not stay long in a particular deliberative process in that every to move out. Meanwhile, the Buildings from others who do not live in sub- community which is another obstacle are substantially high numbers and member can voice out, then set the Department also forced residents to H.K.S.K.H. Lady MacLehose Centre therefore, the focus of community divided flats and engage with them on for community organizing. common goals and decide on the move out from a large number of the streets, in comparison to the other work must also shift to address In assessing the past experiences actions collectively. Moreover, sub-divided units in industrial buildings Email: [email protected] functional groups, such as the elderly this problem. of organizing work, there are two community groups are the means in Tsuen Wan and they reacted and ethnic minorities. Outreach and main directions: through which residents participate in collectively. All of these community Most of the households who are home visits may help as forms of social actions and work together, and events required a quick response in residing in sub-divided flats are engagement and for organizing 1) Relations based deliberative also provide the opportunity to build group format, and the groups easily low-income families. They pay high strategies, by knocking on every door community organizing – non-crisis trust, networks and a sense of formed with clear objectives to fight for rent but their tenancy period is short, to search for those who are residing in intervention for residents who sufer from belonging. Relations based community either a replacement of their current and the fees for water and electricity sub-divided flats in old buildings. structural housing policies organizing is quite time-consuming, but housing or compensation.

6 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 7 accommodate 3 to 4 family members. Therefore, the actual situation may be Working with even more dire than the findings in the Census and Statistics report. people in non- The living conditions of SDUs are substandard, not only in terms of the size of decent housing the units, but also the overall environment. Wong, Chi-hung Edmond In terms of the physical environment, the ventilation is poor and tenants may need to pay more money for electricity.

In the past, the housing rights of tenants fell under the protection of the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance, which included information on landlords and tenants, Forum with legislative councilors protection and determination of tenancies, and control and recovery of rent. In 2004, the government updates on the progress of the actions support to low income tenants to Through these “photo-voice” amended this legislation and terminated of the redevelopers. Some of these supplement exorbitant rent and the programmes, the community the rental protection of tenants and groups have helped tenants extend cost of frequent moving due to the workers have helped the allowed landlords to evict tenants at the deadline for moving out and some lack of rental protection of tenants the end of a contract without even obtained compensation from the in the private market. In the past few members to share the details any restrictions. redevelopers through collective actions. years, the alliance has organized an of their living conditions and annual demonstration that implores physical environment with These changes have had significant In 2010, an alliance was formed which the government to reassess the impacts on tenants. They can no comprised the concern groups on the public. laws for better protection of tenants. longer negotiate with their landlord housing related issues from the six There were other groups and The members feel that it is easier this way on their rental contract. As a result, community centres. People who organizations who take part along to share their daily life challenges of living the average rent in the private housing came from diferent districts all had with the alliance members. The alliance in an SDU with their family members in a market especially that of SDUs has concerns about housing and worked has created a platform for these very limited space. The sharing of photos increased sharply in recent years and on diferent housing issues. In the groups and organizations to advocate and videos resonated within the groups these tenants have had to move more alliance, they built stronger and wider for a policy change which would and society at large as well. Their shared frequently than before. Due to the networks. They discussed the housing ease the housing difculties in the photos and videos in the media also caught instability of private rental housing, more policy as a whole instead of focusing diferent communities. the attention of the public on the housing people have applied for public housing on their own specific housing issues. conditions of these low income families. in the past decade. The waiting time They advocated for a policy that Meanwhile, the community workers for public housing is much longer than would give higher priority to the have organized training for the members In Hong Kong, the housing conditions of before and the average waiting time has housing needs of the grassroots. They of the alliance so that they attain the low income families are now worse than already exceeded three years, which is urged the Community Care Fund of skills for taking videos and photos ever before. The community centers have the target of the housing policy. the government to provide financial with their mobile phones. the role of linking diferent people to form community groups and extend their The six community centres operated connection to other communities. Through by Caritas – Hong Kong have a long the collaborated eforts of the alliance, history of supporting people with the power of the people is reinforced, and housing problems. Housing is one information is shared among those in need. of the key foci of their services. The In the near future, housing problems may community centres have adopted be still one of the key agenda items in community development approaches Hong Kong. Therefore, the alliance along to organize individuals into diferent with the help of the community centers concern groups. Each concern group still needs to put forth greater eforts to has diferent foci and concerns. The organize diferent people together and community workers help them build seek better solutions through a bottom-up networks and find solutions through approach. their own collective eforts. These groups have specific housing related Wong, Chi-hung Edmond – Working Demonstration for rental protection issues that draw people together, such Group on Housing Rights of Caritas as those who were living in private Youth and Community Services, Senior buildings in old urban areas and forcibly Social Work Supervisor, Youth and According to a report by the Hong the average living area of the SDUs per evicted by private redevelopers. The Community Service of Caritas Kong Census and Statistics Department, capita in Hong Kong is only 5.8 square community workers approached these (Hong Kong). there were 25,200 quarters with metres whereas that of public housing tenants and helped them organize sub-divided units (SDUs) in private is 13.1 square metres. Based on the themselves into concern groups. Email: [email protected] domestic flats which accommodated feedback of frontline social workers, Through these groups, they are able more than 87,600 households and most of the sub-divided flats are to obtain information about their own 199,900 individuals in 2015. However, around 10 square metres in size which legal rights and also receive clear Photo-voice training for grassroots individuals

8 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 9 conference on the soaring rent paid by grassroots families. It is shown that the Grassroots Organizing actual rent can far exceed the rental subsidies granted to CSSA recipients. It is widely known that low-income families cannot aford to rent private in Hong Kong housing, while the average waiting time for public housing is much longer Lee, Tai-shing than that predicted by the government. Thus, during the July 1 2017 march in Hong Kong, we displayed a ‘cofn size room’ on the streets to depict the living conditions of the grassroots families and to satirize the collusion between corporates and government ofcials. Besides, we conducted a study on the high temperature environment in sub- divided flats, and explored the reasons as to why residents are forced to reside in industrial buildings at the risk of their own safety.

As for the social security of the working class, even though the government has mandated a minimum wage, the current income level can hardly meet Press conference for delicatessen food bazaar – a community economy project for the basic needs of most low-income grassroots families. Even worse, some employers exploit the loopholes in the regulations thus increasing intergenerational poverty. work collaboratively and grow fresh by excluding paid meal breaks or paid Therefore, we have carried out research produce to be sold in bazaars or wet days of in contracts. That is, the wage work and forums to discuss the physical markets. To downplay money as the level of workers has scarcely improved. and academic needs of students. only medium of trade, we have set In fact, even the government realizes up a bartering program, in which that the minimum wage policy itself We urge the government people can earn ‘community currency’ has not ofered much protection for the to review their financial by ofering manual labor or other working class, so they have introduced assistance for under- particular services. The ‘community the ‘Work Incentive Transport Subsidy privileged students, and currency’ can be exchanged for food Scheme’ and the ‘Low-income Working or daily necessities. Labor value is Family Allowance’. However, the number provide equal opportunities once again appreciated, avoiding of applicants that have successfully for students from different manipulation by capitalism and received these two allowances has been socio-economic backgrounds. globalization. disappointing, owing to the complicated application procedures and strict To achieve social advocacy, we have Poverty alleviation is always our eligibility requirements. taken concrete action to promote a mission. Diferent approaches such community-based economy. The Tin as social actions and achieving In the face of adversity, Shui Wai (TSW) district is considered social economies are means of social advocacy. We believe that society Protest to review allowance scheme for low-income working families teenagers of grassroots as an ‘area of tragedies’ in Hong can only advance through collective families are not exempted Kong, as most of the residents are low-income families. The Link Real power. Through empowerment “Concerning CSSA & Low income from the mainland. Allied through We are here to unite these from hardships. Estate Investment Trust (LINK), and social participation, the Alliance”, a grassroots citizens common goals, we have facilitated marginalized disadvantaged underprivileged will understand Since the mainstream education created by the government to concern group in Hong Kong, that mutual-help and raised hope and individuals in order to fight how the macro system afects their curriculum advocates all-round privatize assets from the Housing strives to tackle income inequality support within local communities, lives. Poverty is not the problem of for a better social security development of students, many schools Authority and replace it to manage and poverty related issues, and also encouraged social advocacy. individuals, but a social structure system require each student to learn at least one facilities in public housing estates, and to defend the rights of the Eventually, we hope to empower the problem. The public should not sport or musical instrument. Obviously, has monopolized numerous food disadvantaged in local communities. underprivileged and marginalized to As the circumstances and difculties continue to blame the poor but grassroots families can aford neither markets and shopping centers in TSW, Our mission is to alleviate poverty in engage in social participation and of the needy can be fairly diversified, condemn an unjust society. With a the equipment nor the lesson fees. Aside which has led to unafordable prices Hong Kong and uphold the rights of sustainable mutual-support. diferent alliances have been established better understanding of inequalities, from extra-curricular activities, digital for groceries and daily necessities in civil participation. The alliance was to handle particular areas of needs. All more civic organizations like ours will Since social and income inequalities learning has recently become an integral the area. Moreover, the public transit founded in 1998, united to protest of our alliances share the same ideology steer the city towards a more just, fair have been worsening in recent decades, part of the core curriculum in many fees are too high for residents to against the welfare retrenchment in and direction. We all believe in equal and equal society. the quality of lives of the disadvantaged schools. High-tech gadgets are routinely access other districts. Therefore, our participation and bottom-up management, the social security scheme proposed has severely deteriorated . We see used in teaching and for learning. Apple proposed community-based economy Lee, Tai Shing – Community in pursuit of a more pluralistic and civilized by the government of the Hong lower-income citizens who are sufering computers, iPads or Android tablets has four dimensions: 1) caring for the Organizer, Concerning CSSA & society. earth, 2) caring for the people, 3) Kong Special Administrative Region. from unjust treatment, including are not as easily available to these Low Income Alliance. Our committee comprises devoted welfare recipients, the working poor, In the past few years, we have students as to other adults. How can emphasizing value instead of price, members from grassroots and labor and residents who are living in poor increased the awareness of Hong Kong they complete homework which requires and 4) achieving democracy. In order Email: [email protected] organizations, district-based self- conditions and inadequate housing about various poverty issues. To reveal particular software/apps on diferent to sustain such a system, collective help and women’s rights groups, units (such as sub-divided flats, cubical the living conditions of the poor, our devices? The lack of accessibility of production and collective buying religious groups and the social units, rural shelters, container houses or alliance, along with other concerned electronic devices could further widen the platforms are the essential elements. welfare sector as well as new arrivals industrial buildings). NGOS, conducted a press release disparity between rich and poor students, We have cultivated community farms for the residents in TSW, where they

10 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 11 few hours in the afternoon. He estimated that about 9.5 million business hours are Innovative Community lost every year, which is equivalent to a loss of HK$1.57 billion in economic resources annually. Economic Venture – Cheng said, “Given the sky-high commercial rents in Hong Kong, the grass-roots dream of starting up their own business only seems too remote to be attained” The Case of Sharing (Yau 2017). Therefore, “Sharing Kitchen” could take advantage of this gap and use kitchen space during the of hours of the Kitchen HK restaurant, and at the same time, allow grassroots individuals to have job flexibility Cheng, Yiu-tung Dodo that nurtures their talent and passion, which would otherwise not be readily available in the mainstream job market.

The funding from the government allows the venture to acquire restaurant partners, create a business model for each “sharing kitchen”, match food products and cover the start-up and overhead expenses for each kitchen, which include wages for Retail shop of Sharing Kitchen HK – free shared space from Thai restaurant the chefs as well as insurance. This is considered to be a win-win situation for everyone involved, as the business of the collaborating restaurants will be stimulated with the addition of the participating chefs who ofer one of a kind products and services. In turn, the restaurants are doing a good deed and providing new and innovative products for their clientele.

Community economic development emphasizes the use of local resources in a way that enhances economic opportunities as well as improves social conditions in a sustainable way.

Chefs of Sharing Kitchen HK making traditional mooncakes “Sharing Kitchen HK” demonstrates Rice dumpling made by Sharing Kitchen chefs for sale at Dragon Boat Festival the practice of using idle resources “Inside a small cafe on a busy street in it rent-free thanks to restaurant bosses However, there are many barriers when which has been worsened by property mutually benefits both grassroots to create social value, which creates Cheung Sha Wan there is a continual who are willing to take part in a “sharing grassroots microenterprises (which usually hegemony. In April 2016, the government- vendors and restaurants. On the one an alternative option to conventional bustle of people coming and going, but kitchen” project under the concept of a have less than 10 employees) try to enter run Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship hand, grassroots vendors can gain entry economic development. More evidence is nothing can distract Debbie Yan Ka-oi. ‘sharing economy’.” the market. For example, there are not Development Fund, which supports start- into the market more easily. On the other however needed to prove the importance of “sharing” in contributing to practices She is completely immersed in preparing (Yau 2017) enough production places for vendors to ups and community projects to alleviate hand, their products can supplement the that are related to community economic her special brownies, and whisks flour produce food and beverage. Unlike other poverty, provided three years of funding restaurant menu. development. However, it is always good with melted chocolate, cocoa powder, This story was posted in the South China products which can be prepared and for Sharing Kitchen HK which totaled Morning Post on 14 February 2017 to To date, the CDEF has secured the support to have someone who is willing to try eggs and other ingredients in a mixer as produced at home, food and beverage HK$800,000. report on a new social innovation venture can only be prepared in authorized venues of seven restaurant partners that are willing innovative ideas to promote social goods a delicious aroma gently wafts through called “Sharing Kitchen HK”. The article which adhere to food safety regulations. to share their kitchen with underprivileged and sustainable development. Therefore, the air. At slightly over 100 square feet, Sharing Kitchen HK is a exemplifies that community economic However, grassroots vendors cannot aford chefs. So far, 18 female chefs, who are either when it comes to community economic this is her dream factory where she churns good example of a project ventures can be a good way to support the rent and renovation costs to comply housewives or migrants from Mainland development, let’s think outside the box out her beloved desserts with the help of that uses the concept of the poor. According to a survey conducted with these regulations. China, have been involved in the project. and innovate practically. an adjacent kitchen – borrowed, free of “sharing economy”, which by Oxfam in 2015, 80% of the bazaar Reference: Yau, C. 2017, ‘Hong Kong chefs savour project charge, from a Thai restaurant upstairs vendors agreed that a bazaar can In response, Dodo Cheng, chairman of a is an innovative means of Prior the start of the venture, the CDEF in which they share kitchens of popular restaurants’, called Tum Yum Thai during its daily determined that there were over 9200 South China Morning Post 14 February. Available from: encourage grassroots women to participate non-governmental organization called the linking grassroots vendors Yan, in her 50s, may freely use the In this particular cafe, the kitchen of restaurants would close for three hours total family income at the bazaar. The HK”. He had promoted the idea of a Cheng, Yiu-tung Dodo – Director, kitchen’s facilities to flex her culinary the restaurant is not being used in the each day and some may even be closed on previous Secretary for Food and Health of “sharing kitchen” a few years ago as Sharing Kitchen HK, Community muscles, defined by the training she Hong Kong, Dr. Ko Wing Man, announced afternoon, which means that Debbie Yan holidays. Cheng realized that there was a he hoped to explore the concept of a Development Enhancement Fund received from a veteran patisserie in her at the time that the government will look “sharing economy” to help the grassroots Ka-oi, the grassroots vendor, can use the “gap” in the operating hours of restaurants. Limited. youth. Her cafe is in fact owned by the into developing a policy for a bazaar in the start their own business in light of the space and equipment to prepare her own There were restaurants that start business Thai restaurant, but she is allowed to use near future for Hong Kong. difcult economic situation in Hong Kong food specialties. This sort of arrangement later in the day or would shut down for a Email: [email protected]

12 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 13 conservation model. The work committee in its future revitalization plans. This Previous heritage incorporated the views and agendas of is the first time that the Hong Kong preservation models in current and former Blue House residents, government has adopted such an Hong Kong kaifong (neighborhood) preservation approach, and this demonstrates a activists and social workers, and consulted significant change in the preservation Previous heritage preservation them on a weekly basis. culture of Hong Kong. projects in Hong Kong have only involved vacated historical buildings. The project is the first effort What is the Blue House Adaptive reuse of heritage places made on a Hong Kong Cluster? often diverts focus away from their heritage site to preserve and historical significance. Although revitalize a community, The Blue House Cluster is a community most would agree that changes are which includes its original made up of three tenement buildings needed to meet the demands of users today, there have to be better ways residents and the existing (tong lau ,唐樓) that were built in the 1920s to 1950s located on Stone Nullah of preservation which adequately way of life, and also extends Lane in the Wan Chai district. The conserve and link the past. Total to incorporate cultural and Blue House itself is listed as a Grade 1 decontextualization of inherent socio-economic dimensions. historic building, Yellow House is Grade heritage contents to the point where 3 and Orange House has not been history becomes too inconspicuous After a significant amount of research graded yet. Throughout the life span to have any real meaning is not and community feedback, we introduced of these buildings, they have mainly acceptable. a policy, planning and development been used for residential purposes In many cases, the focus of the proposal for the Blue House Cluster, which and a range of commercial uses on the government to date has been almost we submitted to the government for ground level. However, for most of their exclusively on the financial costs consideration. history, a wide range of cultural and of heritage preservation. So much After four years of hard work, the community uses were also commonly that they have mandated heritage preparation work and negotiations found. The building cluster is at the buildings to generate enough revenue reached a milestone. In February heart of a district rich in history and on their own to cover all of the costs 2008, the Development Bureau of the community human capital. It is a for maintenance and conservation. Government of the Hong Kong Special characteristicly mixed-use tenement The contents of the heritage buildings Administrative Region adopted a more cluster, which houses a well-integrated are not as important as the ability people-oriented approach, which living community. It radiates the spirit to be financially viable. Thus, many meant that tenants who opt to remain of a tong lau neighborhood and is a The Blue House and Mid-Autumn Festival celebration with kaifongs heritage spaces either become over- within the cluster would become an valuable living specimen of the tong commoditized or high-end restaurants Heritage preservation in integral part of the social network lau way of life. and shopping malls. old urban community – “Viva Blue House” revitalization project Ng, Sze-on Wan Chai, one of the oldest urban Hong Kong is commonly to wedding cards. Preservation eforts are areas in Hong Kong, is facing described as a city without again beginning to emerge and inspire. community disintegration. The history. Old buildings are In March 2006, the Hong Kong government turnover of residents and massive demolished and the announced a preliminary conservation urban renewal projects only serve to indigenous population is proposal for the Blue House Cluster in Wan intensify and speed up the process. heartlessly uprooted. Then, Chai, a historical tenement block which As a result, the social support is named after its blue colour walls. The capacity in Wan Chai is breaking sleek skyscrapers occupied proposal was based on a tourism driven down. The “Viva Blue House” by wealthy residents rise in concept. The entire community began to revitalization project is therefore their place. come up with ideas for preserving this the first project of its kind which community heritage site. In the meantime, embraces the mission to “retain In response to the prevalence of this St James’ Settlement Community both residents and buildings”. scenario, Hong Kong has witnessed a Development Services collaborated with This is an opportunity to rebuild wave of activism on heritage preservation, The Heritage Hong Kong Conservation community capacity and develop such as the call for the resurrection of the Foundation, Community Cultural Concern the strengths and characteristics of Queen’s Pier in front of City Hall, saving and the Blue House Resident Group to the former Star Ferry pier from land a local neighborhood to facilitate organize workshops and focus groups reclamation and redevelopment of Lee the development of a sustainable with the local community, concerned Tung Street, or the Wedding Card Street community. citizens and professionals to facilitate renowned for all sorts of services related the development of a more sustainable Gala dinner after completion of first phase of renovations

14 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 15 Some initiatives have already begun. We are already operating the Hong Kong House of Stories on the ground floor of the Blue House, which is earmarked for expansion to include house exhibitions, workshops and guided tours. Through interaction with the residents, visitors will increase their knowledge on the history of the tong laus and their lively surroundings. Job opportunities will be ofered to the deprived for the self-sufciency of the project in the long run through the operation of two innovative social enterprises. A Chinese dessert shop which sells family style sweet soups is also in the proposal, as is a vegetarian restaurant in the cluster. These showcase the unique characteristics of local common cuisine, but also create employment opportunities and provide additional revenue to the project. The preservation of heritage and tradition does not Bird’s eye view of Blue House Cluster necessarily mean replication of the past. Cultural sustainability Existing conservation cases stairs to use the public toilets because can also imply the articulation there are no flushing facilities. Aside from in Hong Kong are usually of traditional wisdom, devoid of the participation of in-flat bathrooms, the project will install an exterior elevator for the safety and knowledge, experience and residents in the neighborhood convenience of the older residents. principles in ways that are or kaifongs. Without their In order to honor the desire of the majority respectful of the past, but also participation, the heritage sensitive to the present and structures often become of the existing residents to stay and witness the renovation of the Blue House meaningful for the future. devoid of their original spirit Cluster, as well as to maintain their social Thus, the programs of Blue House will be and instead, become spaces ties during the renovation period, the able to connect with visitors today while operated by an imposing and construction was proposed to take place also revitalizing the spirit of the old to intimidating new culture that in two phases. The Yellow and Orange delight and inspire future generations. To has no connection with the Houses would first undergo renovations. impart a sense of cultural connectivity also During the renovations, the residents would local community. requires a balanced and holistic approach temporarily move to the Blue House. After in living environment in which diferent the renovation work is completed for the First project to retain needs and resources are managed and Yellow and Orange Houses along with the integrated in a meaningful way. facilities and tenants construction of the means of escape, the Blue House will undergo renovations. All The Blue House has been often lauded Our mission for the project was to conserve of the tenants will then temporarily move as a success story in the myriad eforts one of Hong Kong’s living heritages: to to the Yellow and Orange Houses. When of preservation in Hong Kong. There encourage people to share their time, skills the renovations of the Blue House Cluster is no doubt that the approval of the and experience which would benefit both are completed, all of the tenants will move government for this revitalization proposal themselves and others, and by doing so, back to their original residence. New is encouraging to Hong Kong people who conserve a community way of living that is tenants and the social enterprises will move care about heritage buildings in the city. relevant to future generations and valued into the vacant units. There is still much to be done to ensure by them. Eight families have chosen to that the execution of the project will in stay in the building cluster. Twelve new We hope that all of the tenants (both fact take place. The government has taken apartments will be available for rent after current and new tenants) will be able to the first step and approved the project. renovations are completed. participate in the entire project. However, However, it will take an even greater it is not enough that tenants pay rent as commitment to truly preserve the Blue The cluster of buildings represents a rare part of their eligibility to live in the cluster. House and its neighborhood, and for those group of well-preserved examples of pre They will be expected to volunteer in the who wish that these heritage sites remain Second World War urban tenement houses. community and contribute their time, skills part of Hong Kong’s history, to not only However, the existing building fire safety and experience to benefit both themselves maintain their existence but ensure their and electrical codes are not up to current and others, perhaps by guiding tours or growth and vibrancy. standards. The project therefore takes the carrying out publicity duties. health and safety of the residents as its Ng, Sze-on – Service in Charge, top priority and intends to improve living The goal is to preserve the integration Community Development Services, standards while promoting community of living tangibles and the intangible St. James’ Settlement Community participation. Previously, if residents heritage of tong laus with mixed uses, Centre Services. had to use bathroom facilities or take and share its architecture, living culture a shower, they walked down flights of and history with the next generation. Email: [email protected]

16 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 17 4. To raise public awareness on “cherishing with the recycling system In sum, the program is food and reducing waste” and the by offering suggestions for characterized by user People Service Centre – serious problem of food waste in Hong changes and collaborated participation, a self-help Kong; and with us through open and community, a donor network 5. To collaborate with community groups, frequent communication. of local merchants, “The Food Friend institutions and volunteers to meet environmental protection community needs, conduct community- The current distribution network is based education, and share the concept now extended to the 5 districts of and sustainable development. of a mutual help community. Sham Shui Po, Wong Tai Sin, Kowloon Our program does not assess the level Action” Food Recycling City, Tuen Mun and Yau Tsim Mong of need of the users, but focuses instead In the last 6 years, the People Service with 20 venues, which serve a total of Centre has become a large food recycling on alleviating their food expenditures as 3,920 members and 1,600 families. We service provider which ofers both well as reducing the food waste problem recruit food users through community Program recycling and distribution of food in Hong in Hong Kong. Even though the recycling centres and non-profit organizations, Kong. Our recycling services are extended services include diferent components and and they are good assets for identifying Chan, Wai-yee to 15 wet markets, 70 bakeries and large concepts, but each of them, such as the others in need in the community. When chain stores, and sometimes, there are the corporate responsibility of enterprises, food is collected, we then inform the urgent situations where a large volume community resources, self-help and users through phone messages so of food is discarded and we are there environmental issues, is interlinked. that we can redistribute the food to to rectify the issue. Moreover, our food them immediately through on-the- In reviewing the services, there are three donation network includes more than 100 spot distribution or home visits. In main strategies for program development, venues, and networking is established addition, the recycling process is mainly including implementation and evaluation of through visits to local leaders, street managed by our staf members, but the recycling system, community advocacy vendors, and district councilors to lobby at the same time, we encourage our for poverty related to the issues of food them to become a member. users to participate in the process, for expenditures of the grassroots residents, The key element that instance, by setting the recycling time, and community education. Lastly, general identifying families in need and also promotion, community communication and started our work was evaluation. Through participation and relations, media advertisement, internet organizing local merchants, discussion, users are the link in the social media and community education, are who are also the residents of relations among the recycling services, all important in contributing to the holistic the local community, to government policy and mutual help in ongoing work of the recycling services. the community. These practices aim to become donors. They helped Chan, Wai-yee, Service Coordinator, build cohesive social capital and self- to identify community People Service Centre. help capacity of the community and

needs and became involved transform the role of the “users”. Email: fl[email protected]

Redistributing the recycled food to the residents in need

“The Food Friend Action” food All in all, the goals of the Service objectives: recycling program has been operating program are as follows: in the Sham Shui Po district since April 1. To establish an individual contact system 2011, extended to the Wong Tai Sin, 1. To mobilize the organization of local for those who wish to donate unwanted Kowloon City and Tuen Mun districts residents and merchant groups; yet still consumable food, and create a donor network; in 2013, and then extended to the Yau 2. To target unwanted yet still Tsim Mong district in 2014. The program consumable food to reduce 2. To assess and screen needy residents aims to collect unwanted yet still wastage, and redistribute the food and organize a user network; consumable food or randomly donated to the poor; 3. To continuously review the system of food, and then, redistribute them to 3. To raise consciousness of food collecting and redistributing unwanted people in need in the districts so as wastage through increasing the yet still consumable food including to make good use of food and reduce self-awareness of individuals and the logistics, distribution principles, landfill volume and food wastage. As community issues of the target and implementation details, as well as well, the program establishes a mutual groups; and determining those who are more needy, network of elders, individuals and and coordinating with the relevant families to develop linkages between 4. To promote the meaningfulness of groups and government departments to diferent classes of people in the food and environmental protection ensure the smooth implementation of districts. through recycling services. the services; Food donation by the stores in the wet market

18 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 19 liberation and social movements increased, and civil society, including diferent ethnic groups and groups of diferent (Figure 1) The System of Community Building in Taiwan Community Building Social network linkages through multiple parties communities or regions, continually advocated for civil rights. and Civil Society – After reform of the political democratic system, the people in Taiwan began to Practices and fight for both economic and social democracy. Therefore, the ‘Community Building’ Experiences of Taiwan policy did not just appear Lu, Szu-yueh from nowhere, but was created under historical and critical conditions in Taiwan in the 1990s.

Moreover, the ‘Community Building’ policy started at the local level and was bottom-up, and involved the daily life issues and other personal matters of citizens. Compared to the intense social movements, it was more conducive to citizen participation Universities/ Civil which was moderate, positive and Schools Organisations progressive. Chen Chi-nan, founder of the community building policy and Local now Vice-Chairman of the Ministry of enterprises Culture, claimed that the community policy is a “local re-rights movement”. Community building in Taiwan was defined through objectives that

Ecological community building project with focus on agriculture in indigenous community in Kaohsiung ‘Community building’ has been agents, but lacked any legal foundations This policy coincided with the authoritarian proposed and promoted by the or support from the government. Due to rule of the Kuomintang (KMT) Party for Taiwanese government for the last this top down policy which did not have about 30 years. In the early 1990s, the 22 years and is often regarded as ‘a any concrete inspiration or support, the government encouraged grassroots villages social project that envisions a civil primary outputs at the local level focused to establish the Community Development society’ or ‘a social movement towards on the infrastructure, such as construction Association in accordance with the Civil a peaceful revolution’. However, the of roads, repair of drains, initiation of Association Act. At the end of 1994, a concept has not been clearly defined or community centres, construction of village committee of the Ministry of Culture, the archways, emergence of community grafti Executive Yuan, proposed the ‘Community fully discussed. After its promotion by walls, handwriting of spirited slogans and Building’ policy and started to make government agencies, the civil sector so on and so forth. community changes. In light of the political, which includes community experts, economic and social contexts at the time, academics, practitioners of civil At the time, the policy was it is found that first, politically speaking, society organizations and grass-roots known as ‘community the martial law had been lifted for seven community organizations gradually years, so it was the end of social unrest, enriched the concept through their own building’ by the village representatives, but the which released bans on political parties reflections, dialogue and feedback, and and publications, established limits on the continual amendments to the version of projects did not involve the term of representatives, and implemented a the concept put forth by the state. participation of the comprehensive national election process. community residents, and In fact, before implementation of the Economically speaking, the economy community building policy, Taiwan ‘community development’ experienced rapid growth; national income introduced the ‘Community Development was not based on increased substantially, middle class Policy’ obtained from the United Nations community ‘characteristics’ increased in size, stock market boomed, in the 1960s, and the ‘community so that every community but the disparity between the rich and council’, which was composed of village looked similar. poor increased. Socially speaking, the representatives and their designated as authoritarian system collapsed, social Using cultural assets in a fishing village in Changhua for a new tourism spot

20 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 21 empower citizens by using strategies In relation to civil society, but no funds for stafng are made of ‘building communities’, and one of the community policy has available. Therefore, all the cadres, the pathways towards a civil society two practical aspects. First volunteers, and residents voluntarily as well as democratic and social contribute their labor. If in-kind labor movements. is bottom-up intervention. is taken into consideration in terms The main focus of community of stafng costs, materials, and In view of the public administration projects is community other expenses addressed through eforts of the government to resolve fundraising by the diferent parties the issues around the community participation and community involved, the expenses and labour of policy, the Executive Yuan proposed practitioners emphasize the third sector may not be less than ‘the core values of communitarianism’ community-led practices those of government agencies. in a policy address in 2005, which that incorporate community was the most representative in: assets – bottom-up, In addition, it is important to clarify that (a) identifying the community as the community building policies and a fundamental policy unit of the operations by citizens practices in Taiwan are not the same as government and emphasizing and their creative input. ‘government procurement services’, but community identity and autonomy; rather, the introduction of intermediary They start by using strategies that (b) raising community consciousness organizations (social organizations, involve ‘humans’, ‘culture’, ‘history’, through self-interpretation and universities, specialized companies, ‘the economy’ and ‘landscape’. The building capacity of communities etc.), and establishment of long-term second aspect is community based for problem solving; and (c) building training and services programmes, collaboration. Local cadres, volunteers, community assets and emphasizing which then form social network and residents are all crucial parties the importance of empowerment. linkages through multiple parties, as in community policy planning. shown in Figure 1. As a result, the ‘ Six Star Plan for Community based collaboration for Healthy Communities’ was launched by building partnerships needs to involve The so-called ‘democracy’ can be in the Executive Yuan in 1994. Then, the all local parties before and after the diferent forms. From the viewpoint of ‘New Hometown Community Building implementation of community projects. voting, democracy consists of three Project’, which started in 2003, Policy and practical supports in the categories: 1. representative democracy, expanded from 9 to 13 government areas of civil education, environmental 2. direct democracy or referendum, agencies, and now oversees 60 and ecological protection, local and 3. participatory or grassroots projects with a budget that exceeds economic development, social welfare democracy. Community building in NT $ 10 billion. In these 22 years, there and community safety by diferent Taiwan has been partial to the third kind have been no changes in community levels of government are important. of democracy for many years, and its policy guidance by the government focus is not on the ‘equivalent number Meanwhile, one of the keys of but only continuous invested resources of votes’, but rather to determine the community building is that all in the community, despite three participation level of each person in community programme expenditures changes in the ruling government. grassroots activities. That is the role Check out our new website: are provided by government agencies of community organizations or non- profit organizations (NPOs) and non- governmental organizations (NGOs), www.iacdglobal.org which should be properly understood Autumn 2012 and valued. Issue 6

Issue 7 Spring 2013 Compared to the widest democratic Building bridges in Maharashtra: a dual approach to tackling poverty 03 Passage from India: movement, social movements challenge Re-imagining self-interest Community and common good through ownership: Self-Reliant Groups a catalyst for (SRGs) in Scotland 06 community-led regeneration Community development 04 and poverty: reflections Community that existing system and conventional on experience in Scotland 08 to community empowerment: the story of the Tackling poverty AusCongo Network in Scotland: a local view 10 06 Community leadership Asset building in Europe: and empowerment in values need to pay for the high Portugal: a community approach 12 a brief summary of a Brazil and the struggle research project against poverty 14 08 World ComicsVisual Network voices: Celebrating 10 Editorial co-operatives: social costs of conflict, bloodshed, ...... a global movement Good Cents Reflections on 03 makes good sense Sustainabilityto build a better world 16 Can we expect a successful ...... implementation of SDGs 12 Without Community 04 in Iran? Involvement,Community there is organising: no ...... One Village

Sustainablethe Chicago Development experience 19 The Limitations of the 18 One Product: technology transfer approach empowering You, Me and the SDGs ...... 08 for community development one woman imprisonment and public disorder. Victory Village ...... Forum: in rural Peru Strengthening Community-based10 Veterinary aExtension partnership Systems approach ...... at a time Community Development for 20 WITHOUT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 14 using the “Paravet”to transformation Model in 21Sustainable Development: THERE IS NO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Smallholder Farming Areas of Placing Community Development Reflections Zimbabwe on two decades ...... About IACD 23Values and Practices at the When life gives you apricots Heart of the Sustainable of ‘community 12 Development Goals empowerment’ Strengthening literacy and .... 14 IACD’s Position Statement ...... 16 Community building policy guides the numeracy through community 22 reading champions in northern on Community Development International Nigeria and the U.N. Sustainable ...... Development Goals (SDGs) perspectives on www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ empowerment 16 Issue 1: Poverty and and check out our website ...... 25 Issue 2: 18 www.iacdglobal.org/about Community Community Development Empowerment use of diferent resources, challenges Challenges and opportunities the Sustainable Development Goals and public service reforms present for the operations of the current system community developers and participates in local public issues to create new value. Therefore, it Download previous is one of the important means for Taiwan to move towards a civil society, Practice Insights issues strategies and practices that encourage New features: New resources participation and empowerment and maintain stability (reducing conflicts and social costs).

Lu, Szu-yueh, Chairman of Taiwan Community Alliance (corporation Find us on Facebook aggregate) and Chairman of the Association of Community-Activists We want to provide you with contemporary news and information about what is happening in the world of community in Taiwan. development on a more regular basis. Since April 2016 we have been utilising our main Facebook Page much more, to post daily updates on events, resources and news. We have been covering news from Alaska to Mongolia, Hungary to Email: [email protected] Brazil, from the United Nations to the smallest grassroots community development agency. If you have not yet looked at the IACD Facebook Page, please do. facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Community building training by Lu for community organization members

22 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 23 hand slowly created new value and its own Gaga through communal living as well as collective operations, and on the other From Social Service to hand, implemented and passed on certain values accumulated by a group of tribal workers resultant of years of practice and introspection. These include: ‘mutual helping Solidarity Economy – Local and sharing’, ‘more haste, less speed’, ‘people are always more important than matters’ and ‘just enough is the best policy’. Tribal Communal Kitchen in We have deeply reflected on what we had been advocating for empowerment all these years. Is it allowing more tribal people Da’An Basin of Taiwan to become familiar with the format and content of government proposals and plans Huang, Ying-hao so that they can continue to receive (rely on) government resources? Is it focusing on The original inhabitants of Taiwan When social work was first carried out members, i.e. youths and mothers, and the workstation as a turning point for tribal are the indigenous people who have in accordance with the government’s established the Da’An River workstation for youths so that they are empowered to enter neoliberal policies, opportunities for the Tayal tribe where a mode of stationed lost their culture due to rapid societal the public system? What makes a good implementing community work were at work commenced right away. The tribal The traditional clothing of Taiwan’s indigenous people changes as well as the long-term community worker or tribal worker as far as first marginalized and social initiatives communal kitchen of the Da’An River Basin establishing local organizations, and (2) is reminiscent of the ‘eat together, work government policy of assimilation. The tribes are concerned? What competencies and union actions were oppressed. This was later established and has now been lend the impetus to encourage the tribes together’ tradition and further extended indigenous people are now considered and indicators could we have proposed collective predicament for social workers operating for 17 years. to provide mutual support. The Da’An River to communal caretaking so that the one of the minority groups in terms of if we had not wanted the tribal people to in Taiwan seemed to produce certain gaps tribal communal kitchen discussed in this needs of the marginalized within the the economic and social structures in merely fit established mainstream social in what they could do, which led to the The Da’An River Basin is article has undergone a transformation from tribe can be met without reliance on Taiwan. Consequently, indigenous social work criteria? re-emergence of community work and the original social work project conducted outside resources; work has emerged as a response to located in a mountainous provided social workers with opportunities by the workstation through continuous issues related to the indigenous people. area in central Taiwan. 2. Coping and exchanging labour: The In terms of ideology, the to acquire experience from local practices modifications, ongoing perseverance and Along the river are more food and services provided by the and reflection while being employed in a introspection and local reflection, adopting mainstream social work communal kitchen can be traded for Starting from 1999 a group of social disaster area. than ten Atayal tribal the orientation of anti-oppression work. system very often justifies its workers entered regions with indigenous villages which originate something other than money, e.g. services by problematizing people and were stationed to work with Development of Communal from the Atayal indigenous Ideas behind the actual labour (helping with cleaning or cooking in the kitchen), bartered (for indigenous tribes. Therefore, indigenous tribes after the Jiji or 921 Kitchen in Da’ An River Tribes group. Communal Kitchen Earthquake hit Taiwan. This article aims to home-grown vegetables), and so on. In the matters, which can be left addition to delivering meals to senior share the experience of both driving a tribal After the 921 Earthquake hit Taiwan in The objectives of the workstations were The core of the spiritual culture of and continued in the name of tribe members, there are other activities, communal kitchen in the Da’An River Basin 1999, a group of social workers from to: (1) empower young tribe members traditional Atayals is ‘Gaga’, which are not social work within the tribes including home visits, providing credit and implementing a solidarity economy. various places teamed up with local tribe by increasing their competence through only teachings of their ancestors but also a in question, are neither common code of conduct. All Atayal tribes services, communal procurement of food projects developed by local items, communal cleaning activities, share the ‘eat together, work together’ organizations nor tribe- Gaga tradition, i.e., they farm and hunt land-friendly farming, etc.; and together and share this with each other. In oriented working conditions, 3. Self-care: Since a sustainable community Atayal, ‘UTUX NIAN’ means sharing food but needs and services welfare model should not be entirely with each other, e.g. if one is away from dependent on government funds fabricated by various home, one’s child can visit any home in the or subsidies, the development of national and social tribe simply with a spoon in her/his hand tribal enterprises can be regarded as welfare organizations. because one’s child is also the child of the another way to support the caretaking entire tribe. The same applies to the elderly; necessities of tribes. Consequently, it is likely and easier for one’s elderly relative is also the elderly social work conducted within indigenous relative of the entire tribe. Since the primary operational mechanism of tribes to adopt other national and the mutual caretaking system is collective This philosophy used to underlie the [professional social welfare] organizational participation and eating together, communal fundamentals of a strong traditional objectives (political, religious, etc.) and to cooking and procurement of food items caretaking system, but unfortunately create welfare colonialism. Through a local can both reduce the cost and increase the has been slowly eroded following the economic practice, that is, the communal afordability of delivering meals to older tribe sinicization (the process whereby non- kitchen of the Da’An River tribes, we have members in need. The produce (perishable Chinese come under Chinese influence) found new directions for social workers and vegetables) and protein (chickens) from the and modernization of the tribes, and the communities to take into consideration, in communal farm are used in the kitchen and implementation of a so-called professional addition to providing both the value of a also sold in markets. The profits of the sales caretaking system. After the establishment traditional indigenous knowledge system are then put into the funds for communal of the communal kitchen in the Da’ An and the importance of cross-cultural social caretaking. In addition to preparing lunch River Basin, tribal enterpirses developed work, which include ongoing introspection for communal meals, the kitchen has also and the profits are used to support a on the efects of professionalism, culturally- adopted certain business strategies to sell mutual caretaking system in the tribes. oriented caretaking and the eforts of a Atayal specialties, such as Atayal gourmet solidarity economy. The elements of this system include: food, specialty cofees, millet wine, traditional woven and knitted crafts, local tours, etc., to 1. Mutual caretaking: Since a tribe is Huang, Ying-hao – Assistant Professor increase profits and contribute to the funds communal, a mutual-helping network of National Dong Hwa University. for communal caretaking. is facilitated when there are senior Email: [email protected] tribe members who live alone. The Culture needs to keep pace with the times establishment of the communal kitchen and the communal kitchen has, on one The communal kitchen of the Da’An River tribes

24 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 25 community service has realised four major activities home”, “women’s home”, and social work services projects through achievements. other services, and the street ofce includes outsourcing, to make up for insufcient “community service centre”, “community of community services. For example, in New Development of First, the neighborhood committee has library”, “community culture station”, Guangzhou since 2007, the accumulative become the core of the organization “children service centre” and “employment investment in financial resources by the network. This includes the enterprises and rehabilitation station” for people with government to buy social work services within the jurisdiction of the district, the Urban Community disabilities. In addition, some street ofces has reached 1.77 billion RMB yuan, and volunteers or enthusiastic residents in the in Shanghai provide the civic hall, and in it has employed 13,755 certified social buildings, and the small groups through Guangzhou, there is “family integrated workers for the elderly, young people, QQ, WeChat, APP and other social network service centre” in all street ofces people with disabilities, migrant workers Service in China interactive platforms. In March 2013, the and other groups to provide high-quality State Council announced to release the Third, the content of community services and then, 2.9 million person-time LU, Xiao-yuan, LIU, Xue-yong, CHEN, Xiang-jun limitation of the registration of four types services has been much richer. are served every year. of social organizations, such as industry Neighbourhood committees, social and business associations, science and organizations, informal organizations LU, Xiao-yuan, PhD, Associate Professor, technology, charity and urban and rural and volunteers have provided more than Department of Social Work, South China community service, and the number of 200 services, both physical and personal, Normal University. community organizations has started to in all areas, including social assistance, proliferate. For the case of Guangzhou, domestic service, property management, LIU, Xue-yong, PhD, Lecturer, where social services is relatively well- employment intermediary, psychological Department of Social Work, South China developed, there are 417 non-government counseling, and health care, etc. Normal University. social work service agencies in 2016. Fourth, social work services have been CHEN, Xiang-jun, PhD, Lecturer, Second, community welfare service professionalised. In order to respond Department of Social Work, South China facilities have been scaled-up. At present, to the special needs and to solve some Normal University. every urban community generally includes special community problems, some a “community service station”, “elderly local authorities in the cities have set up Email: [email protected]

The Guangzhou Baiyun Jingxi family integrated service centre. It is a community activity centre, street ofce and also a service centre for migrant workers.

The social transformation in China In 1986, the Ministry of Civil Afairs put organizing welfare services since 1978 could be described as the forward the “urban community service” on such a large scale; second, disintegration of “danwei system”. The concept, and hoped that neighbourhood there were no residents’ committees could replace the “danwei” as “danwei” (danwei refers to the main self-help groups experienced administrative and integrated system the providers of social welfare. Three years in giving assistance to the of the departments of the government later, the Ministry of Civil Afairs requested and the Chinese Communist Party) neighbourhood committees to provide neighborhood committees to reduced in the cities, and even stopped comprehensive community services, to organize their services; in facilitate support services for residents, and supplying social welfare services. That addition, people were used to to provide social assistance, social welfare, had a serious impact on the daily life of seeking help from “danwei” and social security services for special urban residents and because the units groups in need and re-employment services rather than acting together had been forced to convert or close, and social security services for laid-of as a community to solve the pensioners and the laid-of workers workers as well. difficulties. often sufered. Urban communities were not As a result, in 2000 the Ministry of Civil At the same time, rapid industrialization has ready for the policy. First, the Afairs adopted “Community Building” in attracted a large number of rural people as neighbourhood committees did all cities to develop a well-managed and migrant workers, but the cities could not comprehensive social life system. After provide enough resources for their needs. not have enough experience in more than 10 years eforts, the urban The Guangzhou Liwan District Changhua Street family integrated service centre, and the department of elderly service provides integrated service for elder people, such as hostel service, day care centre and community care service.

26 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 27 Community Reconstruction Projects in China: The empowerment of a dysfunctional community in Pearl River Delta LEUNG, Kin-hung In recent years, ‘social work’ has been developing rapidly in China under the advocacy and support of the Chinese central government. Due to the special political, economic and cultural contexts, some of the service projects in China are incomparably unique. For example, the community reconstruction projects that are found in the Pearl River Delta, which emphasize rejuvenating dysfunctional farming communities by rebuilding neighborhoods and local businesses.

In contrast to Hong Kong, community development projects in mainland China did not emerge to address problems that resulted from rapid urbanization. In fact, under the planning and management strategies of the government, the steady pace of urbanization in large cities like Guangzhou have not given rise to unmanageable community problems. Community reconstruction project in Lunjiao（倫教） , Foshan Even though there are issues like reduced neighbourhood support and less public The changes in production activities I was one of the authors of the security, these can be addressed by and profile of the residents have report, and we designed the primary increasing community activities and police resulted in disruption of the balance components of the project and invited resources so that community development of life in these areas. The elderly social work agencies to facilitate the projects are not yet vital for maintaining villagers feel sad about losing their work. The aim of all of the projects social stability in highly urbanized areas. simple lifestyle, local history, culture was to enhance the social wellbeing of and strong neighbourhood ties, the villages by rebuilding community Yet in second-tier or even third-tier cities while the younger residents do not capital, like trust, neighbourhoods, local like Foshan and Zhuhai, community feel that the community cares about economic activities and cohesion. The problems are more obvious and alarming Diferent cultural activities in diferent villages them, or accepts or supports them. operating agencies and social workers at the county / sub-district level. What are The complaints and grievances were required to accomplish several called ‘community problems’ refer to the soon resulted in requests for more tasks including but not limited to: deteriorating function of traditional farming increase the productivity of the village, The GDP has significantly grown and civic much priority as economic development, government intervention in providing all communities, which used to be stable and 1. Developing and cultivating cultural, attract investment and encourage power has substantially increased. The the lives of people should be less lonely round services. self-sufcient with high capacity output. sport, art and self-help organizations in locals who are working outside of the Siban people, whether they are local or and alienated while the government will Although farmlands and villages are still very In witnessing the community the village so that the villagers would village to return to the village, and not, now see themselves as one entity with not be held accountable for solving almost prevalent in most counties, most people do have various means to enjoy leisure the same identity. Recent interviews with every problem. This is what I have learnt dysfunctions in these counties and 5. Advocating for the preservation of not farm nowadays. activities and take part in village afairs, the Siban people indicated their pride as from my involvement in the community village areas, some of the sub-districts unique local sceneries. attempted to transfer the community Sibanese. reconstruction projects in China. Most of the original villagers 2. Identifying and mentoring both formal development model in Southern After three years of implementing the In highly urbanized cities like Hong Kong, and informal community leaders to LEUNG, Kin-hung, Chairman, Hong are now working outside Taiwan to their own old communities, project, Lunjiao is now well known rapid development has created a place become real civic heads and steer Kong Chinese Civil Servants’ the village or even in other with the desire to rejuvenate them in Guangdong for its community without a soul. Stores are identical and improvements in community functions, Association, Social Work Ofcer cities, while many non-local through preservation eforts and self- reconstruction projects. One of the buildings are cold. New districts do not （仕版） Grade Branch. residents including mainly help. For example, in Lunjiao（倫教） , 3. Helping locals to inherit and validate villages, Siban , has established have the power or ability to solve problems local businesses (operated by local factory workers from other a sub-district in Foshan, Guangdong, their local and traditional culture so as at the neighbourhood level. People tend Email: [email protected] the local authority decided to to rebuild a common identity among villagers) that focus on eco-tourism, to rely on formal services, including those provinces have moved into and branded with their ancestral implement community reconstruction the villagers, provided by social workers, to address the village. projects in all of its ten villages in 2014 temple (Chenghuang Culture 城隍文化). their pain and difculties. If priority could based on the recommendations of a 4. Helping locals to establish local There are cultural activities and related be given to building trust and community research report. businesses with local characteristics to organizations everywhere in the village. identity and strength, or at least given as

28 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 29 Future expectations Neighborhood Community The “Mutual Aid Network” is another component of the community project which aims to form community networks through the internet electronically and Project in Macau partnerships among housing estates, merchants and social welfare organizations Leung, On-i in the community zone. The community networks provide platforms to share and reuse community resources in several ways, including “giving room”4, barter exchange, and volunteer services (such as free rides, home maintenance, etc.). All of these diferent forms of community sharing aim to reduce waste and the living costs of families, as well as also achieve a “sharing economy “.

Meanwhile, the community networks also provide platforms for residents to interact of the community, as well as the voices and participate in the community and build trust and networks within the needs of Taipa residents to provide better through volunteer activities community. In the long run, the community services for this community. and different community networks will rebuild neighborhood The first phase of the project was to activities. They can serve the relations and enhance the social develop a community zone3. The Complex vulnerable in the community participation of residents to achieve ‘good was established as the starting point and to broaden their horizons, neighbourliness’, ‘community cohesion’, a circle that is a 15-minute walk was drawn and “sustainable community development” to establish the community zone, which develop leadership skills. in the Taipa district. Finally, the community was divided into ten smaller districts. The Thus, young people have networks promote and build mutual aid for community zone is about 0.75 square become the new impetus for everyone in Macau. kilometers in size, or 10.14% of the Taipa community development that Leung, On-i, Program Worker, Pou Tai district. Moreover, the key strategy of the will revitalize the community Youth and Family Service Complex. community zone was to build partnerships and drive sustainable among the housing estates, merchants, Email: [email protected] schools, government agencies and civil community development. organizations which are located within In general, the community project applies the community zone. The project requires the concept of ‘good neighbourliness’, workers to reserve at least 2 hours a 1. The administrative divisions of Macau had been and works with neighbourhood families, following the seven parishes of the Catholic Church week for outreach work with the project regardless of their religion, sex, age, race, and the district planning of social services and housing partners, such as managers, residents and fall within the boundary of the parishes. etc., to rebuild a mutually recognized merchants, for project promotion and also 2. Professor Tit-wing Lo of the City University of neighbourhood culture, so that families “Vintage Bazaar” – utilizes concept of a ‘sharing economy’ in which residents obtain goods through bartering or at low price community assessment. Hong Kong is the consultant of the agency can work together and even build 3. Community zone: 15-minute walk circle Youth participation is one of networks with other neighbourhood groups to achieve the goal of good- 4. “Giving room” allows residents to donate their Dual-career families are common which In this regard, our agency’s consultant, unwanted but still in good condition goods, and Background the characteristics of the neighbourliness. means that due to work, Professor Lo2 has suggested that “we acquire desired items through barter, volunteer project. Young people service hours, or money donation. The Catholic Church in Macau has should combine the development of seven parishes as well as administrative Macanese have fewer social, environmental and economic divisions1. The Pou Tai Youth and Family opportunities to interact with aspects, such as housing, buildings, Service Complex (hereinafter referred others in their neighbourhood transportation and other construction to as the Complex) has served Taipa community. In contrast to the and software such as environmental protection, cultural conservation, and for many years. The total population of solid community relations of the Taipa district was 101,200 in 2016, even neighbourhood relations.” which accounted for 15.72% of the total the old Macau, the city has population of Macau. Compared to 2011, now become inhospitable due Neighborhood relationships the population of Taipa back then was to the rapid population are therefore an important 79,200, which means an increase of increase and other changes in part of community sustainable 22,000 people in a period of five years. the city. development.

Most of the households in the Taipa district With economic and social development, are young families. The flourishing of the “Neighborhood Community changes in the demographics of Macau, gambling industry in Macau means that Welfare Project” housing, and lifestyle greatly afect more and more people and even young neighbourhood relationships. In light of people are working in this sector. This In its 1987 report called “Our Common this, the Complex, as a neighborhood- industry involves shift work, which results in Future”, The World Environment and based service centre, has implemented less time for interaction with family, friends Development Committee put forth the the ‘Community Neighbourhood Welfare and the community. As well, the economic concept of sustainable development Project’ in the Buddhism spirit of being development in Macau has resulted in to meet current needs without putting ‘compassionate, joyful, and detached’. The changes in the work life of the Macanese, into jeopardy the capability of future purpose of the project is to gain a better “Giving room” allows residents to donate and exchange items. which has now become more diversified. generations to meet their own needs. understanding of the current circumstances

30 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 31 Educational Tourism and Community Development: An Insight for Malaysian Practice Maryam Ahmadian and Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah

Educational tourism has been and the estimated potential revenue from Tourism is turning into a vital industry study fundamental academic subjects which are rapidly becoming a preferred Dr. Maryam Ahmadian, Researcher, acknowledged as a new industry tourism in the nation. for community development in Malaysia. and majors to a high standard and to destination for foreign visitors, especially Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran and the in Southeastern Asian countries, Therefore, there is a need to build on develop their professional skills, abilities, from Muslim communities. IACD Director. Malaysia has been witnessing the forward-looking policies towards a and knowledge. To our mind, educational particularly in Malaysia. Educational We also emphasize the need for decision increasing socio-cultural, environmental, harmonious relationship among local tourism, not only benefits local people Email: [email protected] tourism programs were established makers’ to ensure comprehensive and economic impact of educational communities, students, and possible in a short term, but also it is a platform by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and management which are relevant to the tourism on local communities in recent learners, the private sector and for developing international research Associate Professor Asnarulkhadi Abu Tourism and the Ministry of Education actions to protect nature, climate change, years. In fact, we believe that dealing government regarding educational collaborations between local researchers Samah, The Director of Institute for fifteen years ago. economic growth, and cultural heritage with international students from other tourism development. and foreign students after they graduate Social Science Studies, University Putra while being sociable with foreigners and Further, the Ministry of Tourism and countries is a way of working with host and travel home, which would sustain Malaysia (UPM), Selangor, Malaysia. If tourism is still Malaysia’s second largest visitors. This initiative is about enhancing Culture is aiming for 29.4 million foreign communities in a bottom up approach. human capital too. earner of foreign exchange, practitioners and sustaining tourism benefits which is tourists to come to Malaysia with an In line with this, the relationship allows Email: [email protected] and policy makers should pay attention With a powerful tourism infrastructure part of community development work estimated revenue of RM1 89 billion, and the local communities to learn other to the link among potential stakeholders and a multi cultural environment in and is crucial to help achieve sustainable 63.7 million domestic tourists who are cultures from foreign students. Positively, in educational tourism and maintain Malaysia, this country is able to attract development goals in Malaysia. anticipated to make RM43 billion for a better perspective of residents toward the balance amongst them. Above and visitors not only in search of quality the country. In order to popularize the learners supports sustainable tourism 1. The Malaysian Ringgit is the currency of Malaysia and its beyond, local communities’ wellbeing education but also healthcare facilities symbol is RM. university, the “Edutourism” packages and community development practice in can be impacted by this link, together at low prices. Malaysia has already which is part of the government’s eforts the region via developing social capital. 2. Samah, A. A., & Ahmadian, M. (2013). Educational with the stakeholders’ awareness and started to have international standards tourism in Malaysia: implications for community were generated so that people are able Previous studies revealed that acceptability of the importance of of services and private medical amenities development practice. Asian Social Science, 9(11), 17. to experience the research and education educational tourism encourages a educational tourism. Service industries system in Malaysia. https://www.pata.org process of local participation in job such as the local food operators, Educational tourism brings potential opportunities and provides a better stationaries outlet, convenience shops learners to Malaysia with the aim of community’s quality of life in Malaysia. and stores, and taxis drivers can also learning a new knowledge and applying For instance in a study by Abu Samah & benefit from the educational industry. GCDEX IS LIVE! to a graduate or postgraduate program Ahmadian (2013)2, the local community’s The social capital is here considered as The Global Community with regard to their discipline. This positive attitudes influenced the a social relationship between the local Development Exchange is a place activity/journey helps to empower educational tourism development and communities and the foreign students students and host communities residents acknowledged the socio- where community development which is a pull factor to uplift the social simultaneously. By implication, this cultural and economic impacts of well-being, and for some, the economic teachers, practitioners and learners sector of tourism creates a platform to educational programs on their life. wellbeing of the local communities. can share their teaching and sustain the development of career paths Nevertheless, little practical studies have learning approaches, tools for workers and host communities in been done on leaners and students’ In the same way, policy and decision Malaysia. However, host community or attitudes towards hosting and studying makers and higher education should and resources. local people’s perception and attitudes in Southeastern Asia, particularly in provide an environment in which there may afect educational tourism practice Malaysia. is potential for students and learners to Visit https://globalcommunitydevelopmentexchange.org

32 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 33 concepts and processes as well as the development programs,” Prof. point for “more participatory and rationality behind those initiatives, which Emmanuel Luna, UP Professor of empowering perspective of community “Balik-Tanaw” Revisiting are detached from the real issues and Community Development wrote. Even development. The ‘learning from and needs of people and are devoid of President Ramon Magsaysay utilized CD living with communities’ highlighted sensitivity to social stratification and as a comprehensive counterinsurgency the importance of integration with the innate capacity of people to organize strategy against the HUKBALAHAP or masses and trusting in the people,” he Community Development in themselves. They decried the heavy the Hukbong Bayan Laban sa Hapon shared. Even if the ISWCD became a dependence of these programs on the (People’s Army Against the Japanese). college, it continued to strengthen its proponent’s goals and resources and He organized the barrios through the partnership with various communities. the Philippines their lack of substantial contributions to Presidential Assistant on Community Apart from supervising CD students the improvement of people’s lives. Development (PACD) to coordinate the through the Link-COD program and By Excelsa C. Tongson Because of these observations, delivery of basic services from the field instruction, the faculty of DCD government and private organizations, also engaged in participatory action San Juan Barangay Water and Sanitation Association (SJBAWASA) Prof. Ferrer added. researches and direct extension services members doing reforestation/tree planting within a 1 km radius through the support of the University, Drawing from his long CD practice, Prof. from the water source so that they have a sustainable supply of water. communities and other organizations. Ferrer continued relating the history of This tripartite function of teaching, CD and narrated that across the globe, research and extension provided a solid the period between 1960 and 1975 was ground in shaping development work as considered the apex of social action, a career and a profession in the country which was highlighted by “the resistance with its own set of concepts, theories, of the Third World against Western tools and methods drawn from a rich Imperialism.” According to him, in the and vibrant local practice, he added. Philippines that period will always be remembered as the “time of mass The contribution of CD in enhancing insurgence, radical politics and youthful participation and mobilization for experimentation, which is marked by the development can no longer be ignored. First Quarter Storm.”

The despotic situation during the Martial Over the years, CD has Law period transformed the landscape become an in-word or a of social movements in the Philippines catchword for many where a large number of activists were initiatives. forced to go underground and wage an armed struggle against Marcos. Currently, there is a hodgepodge of Community organizing was seen as the programs and projects under the brand “rallying strategy” in tackling the of community development or structural roots of poverty, inequality, community organizing. Many and injustice, which could not be hidden organizations, individuals and sectors by community programs and projects including the business sector have espoused by the dictator. As repression already joined the bandwagon. continued and more human rights The challenge lies in the need to violations were committed, community recapture community development as organizing eforts grew exponentially a genuine people’s initiatives where across the country in both rural and democratic participation and self-help urban areas through the eforts of provide the mooring for the actions of Non-Government Organizations (NGO) community development workers. and cause-oriented groups. Excelsa C. Tongson is Assistant Professor of Family Life and Child Programs like education Development and Doctor of Social Today, many can bear witness to the and current dominant political, As a war-ravaged country, CD programs and health, economic multitudinous initiatives that have economic and cultural situation. In were first introduced in the country for Pagaduan (1997 in Luna, 2009) stated Development Candidate, University transformed Community Development addition, its unique topography with the purpose of promoting welfare and that CD has “indigenized” to enterprises and cooperative of Philippines College of Home (CD) in the Philippines into a field that its land area that sprawls to 7,100 reconstructing communities after the methodically address the authentic and development were used as Economics has its roots from simple “local self- islands, its mosaic of protected areas, Second World War. In the 1950s, CD practical needs of individuals, families entry points to harness the Email: [email protected] help productive and relief efort’s to small island ecosystems, geo-hazard initiatives started to flock in the and communities support of the masses multi-stakeholder comprehensive and spots, ancestral lands and distributed Philippines through the Alliance for against the dictatorship. References: integrated programs,” Professor Elmer populations have to come into the Progress. Meanwhile, the United States Numerous organizations and The Department of Community Ferrer, Elmer. (2017). Ang Paglalakabay ng Pagpapaunlad Ferrer, University of the Philippines picture in order to visualize community has also started its own brand of ng Pamayanan. An Overview/Appraisal of Community Professor of Community Development development in the country. community development approach movements devoted a substantial Development (DCD) of the UP Institute Development. Presented during the 50th Anniversary and Professorial Lecturer explained. He between 1953 and 1959. These initiatives amount of time and efort in improving of Social Work and Community of the UP College of Social Work and Community Development. added that the discourse on community Like in other developing eventually reached Philippine shores the life of the marginalized. Hence, it is Development (ISWCD) was not silenced not surprising if the CD practice in the by the imminent danger of the Martial Luna, Emmanuel. (2009). Community Development development in the country requires to countries, community through the United States Agency on as a Practice and a Discipline. In E. Luna, Community Philippines has “left diferent marks cover a host of significant details that development concepts and International Development or more Law regime and its attempts at Development Praxis in the Philippine Setting, pp. 1-29. characterizes the enigmatic situation popularly known as the USAID. among diferent groups… They found community organizing were not put to a Diliman, Quezon City: College of Social Work and programs in the Philippines Community Development, University of the Philippines. of Philippine society including its community development as a viable halt, Prof. Ferrer noted. In the 1970s, the have their roots located in Filipino CD scholars and practitioners approach in facilitating the delivery of Link-COD or Linking with Communities Pagaduan, Maureen. (1997). The Sense of Alternative colonial past, multi-ethnic background, Education. Communique, 38-39. Asian Regional Exchange profound social and political unrest, the West. questioned the pomposity of Western CD services and implementation of for Development became a turning for New Alternatives (ARENA).

34 Practice Insights | Issue 8 Read IACD’s Daily News on community development from around the world www.facebook.com/IACDglobal/ Issue 8 | Practice Insights 35 Join a global network

The International Association for Community Development (IACD) is the only global network for community development workers, researchers and activists. We support development agencies and practitioners to build the capacity of communities, to realise greater social and economic equality, environmental protection and political democracy. We are a non-governmental organisation accredited with the UN.

There are many ways that you can become involved in IACD. If you are a development agency manager, funder, fieldwork practitioner, academic, student or volunteer community activist, IACD can help you through our international practice exchanges, events and publications. If you have a passion for effective community development, then please make contact with us – we welcome your participation!

Join today and become a part of this dynamic network! www.iacdglobal.org/join-us

Publication produced with the kind support of:

www.iacdglobal.org

Registered in Scotland as a charity, number SC 036090 IACD has consultative status with the United Nations.

IACD, Scottish Community Development Centre, Suite 305, Baltic Chambers, Wellington Street, Glasgow, G2 6HJ, Scotland, UK Tel: 0131 618 8394 Email: [email protected]