Definition of Terms

Community

Community is used to depict more than geographical location. For

the sake of community project planning, Volunteers' communities may

be any of the following:

the village or neighborhood of the town or city where they live;

institutions, such as schools, or subdivisions of those institutions,

such as a class of students or the faculty;

professional groups, such as secondary and university English

teachers, small business advisors, extension agents, or farmers,

among others;

affinity groups from one or more locations, such as a woman's

group, youth club, or an income generating group.

During the workshop, Volunteers and their Counterparts focus on

one particular community with whom they work. With this group in

mind, they work through the process of designing a community

project that the group might want to do. After the workshop, the

Volunteer and Counterpart are expected to return to that community

It is important to

and engage the community members in the same process of

understand how the terms

identifying and planning a project that they wish to accomplish, and

then assist them to carry it out.

are used in this manual in

order to present the

material and to help

Community Development

participants clarify terms

Community development is a process that enables individuals,

families, organizations, businesses and government agencies to come

as needed.

together and draw upon the community's collective skills and abilities.

This group will learn, develop a vision and strategy for the

community's future, make well reasoned and collaborative decisions

about that future, and work together to carry out those decisions.

Community Facilitator

In their communities, Volunteers and Counterparts serve as

facilitators. A facilitator assists  the community in deciding what it

wants to do and then partners with the community to get the work

done. A facilitator often participates in community activity settings;

sets up learning situations, discussions, and meetings; and draws on

the expertise in the group to create action plans that address the

community's interests or concerns. He or she models good leadership

and stewardship but makes sure the decision making rights and

responsibilities remain with the community.

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