Goals and actions
Community-led development (CLD) is underpinned by a philosophy of empowerment. It starts with the people in a community coming together to identify shared ideas and dreams – as well as issues and concerns – then creating goals. The community then works together in ‘action groups’ to achieve those goals.
Community-led development uses and develops the community’s strengths and assets, and builds local leadership.
Inspiring Communities have developed a te reo Māori term for CLD: Te Whakawhanake ā-Hapori. This reflects the weaving and inter-relationships of everyone who contributes to the whenua/place.
Principles
Inspiring Communities have developed five core CLD principles:
- Grow from shared local visions
- Build from strengths
- Work with diverse people and sectors
- Grow collaborative local leadership
- Learn by doing.
Facilitation
The Fab Feathy facilitators aim to work with – rather than for – the community. When people come to us with an idea for a project, we often help them get started – but then step back and allow the community to lead and do the ‘doing’.
Throughout a project we are available to help with tasks like funding advice and applications, and can pick up some of the admin and support work, to take the pressure off busy project team members.
