In the opening sessions on Success Stories and Community Assets

and Deficits, we identified characteristics of successful projects and

affirmed the use of community assets to bring desired changes. Based

on your experiences with your communities, you have learned

firsthand that effective community projects require several key steps

to make them happen, and that when some of those steps are left out,

the project suffers and sometimes even fails. In this session, you will

have an opportunity to put your knowledge to work by looking more

closely at the discrete steps needed for planning and carrying out

projects.

STEP II. Footprint Activity Steps in Project

Design

(25 minutes)

A. Ask participants to form small groups, according to your previous

decision. Give each group a set of footprints, sheets of blank

flipchart paper, and markers, and explain their task as follows:

1. Talk among yourselves and determine what the steps are for

designing and carrying out a project. Someone in the group

should take notes.

2. Once you have determined what the steps are, write the name

of each one on a different footprint and lay the footprints out

in a time sequence on the flipchart. Use the glue stick to fasten

them down.

B. Give the groups about 20 minutes to complete the task. Circulate

around the room, observing their work and offering suggestions

if some groups get stuck on a particular step.

Trainer Note: Time saver option 

Give each group a set of footprints with the steps already preprinted.

See Optional Step IV for suggested steps (for example, identify

community strengths, identify community priorities, make vision,

develop goals and objectives, and so on.) Include two to three blank

footprints so the group can add in a step they think may be missing from

your model. Ask the groups to put the steps in the appropriate sequence.

This option would save 5 to 10 minutes.

STEP III. Report Out and Group Agreement on

Major Phases

(30 minutes)

A. Ask each group to report out, using their diagrams to illustrate

their thinking. After all have finished, discuss the project design

and management process with questions, such as:

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