Monday, 5 March 2018

The Concept of Community Building Models and Social Services Models



We were given the task to look at two very interesting concepts, community building as well as social services. This are not just concepts but are two concepts we are exposed to but never really know that we are exposed to them hence resulting to failure or rather ignorance as towards going an extra mile in researching what these two concepts mean.

Well, this is indeed due to ignorance in our perspective though. We think people, especially youth never really go deep as to knowing what precisely is happening to the community even if something very interesting is going to be built for them or maybe there’ll be a community activity or social service going on in their area that is going to benefit the community. All they think about are phones, laptops and all these modern gadgets and the #hashtag who did this and that in the world of entertainment.

All the gratitude goes to the Primary Health Care assignment. Yes, we finally got to know what these two concepts basically mean. Not just the meaning but to even distinguish between them. Don’t worry if you have no idea what’s going on between these two. After reading this blog we’re pretty sure you’ll be more than excited to pass on the knowledge to everybody else who is as lost as you were before reading this blog.

Okay let’s stop beating around the bush. Community building is a field of practice, directed towards the creation or enhancement of community among individuals around within a regional area such as neighbourhood or with a common interest. Community building includes activities such as gardening, technology centres and community organizing. Very different from Social services which basically means the benefits and facilities such as education, food subsidies, healthcare and subsidized housing provided by the government to improve the life of the poor, children, disables and the elderly in the community.

 With all this clarity being stated, we came to conclusion that the article attached is the community building model due to the facts it is based on. It builds from the opportunity, for example; they will turn the open space into a family friendly space consisting of an organic garden. It also focuses on assets, for example; there will be installation of extra benches and lighting also the outdoor gym equipment will be installed as well as the multipurpose court. It also focuses generally on the community and not just on individuals.

The goal on this article is empowerment and not just service. Empowerment is a management practice of sharing rewards and power with employees and is based on the idea that giving employees, skills, resources, authority, opportunity, motivation as well as holding them responsible and accountable for outcomes of their actions which is what’s going to happen on the project on this article because they will definitely employ the citizens and that brings us to the point that in the community development, people are citizens not clients.