HWC's Community Development Programs' Philosophy 

The concept of the Community Development Program (CDP) is based on a group of foundations and mechanisms that enable the local community to examine its needs, problems, development opportunities, and resources. It also enables the community to classify those needs according to their priorities, size, and response methods to fulfill them. This is based on thorough investigation and study of each site in order to identify points of strength and weakness so as to be able to make use of available resources at those sites with other national and international resources.

 

The concept of CDP is based on a development philosophy that believes local communities are the most capable of identifying their needs and resources and therefore have the right in classifying their needs and identifying procedures to fulfill those needs. This requires organizing and activating keen potentials in the society in order to create a state of activity and engagement that will push the community to move forward to achieve self development. It is a developmental philosophy based on actual community participation and involvement.

 Through our experience, we found that the most appropriate work mechanism is through communications with representatives from the local communities; such as in village councils, political and social activists, and through discussions as basis to build on further collaborations in a clear and credible way. This includes forming elected committees representing all community sectors; women, farmers, health, education, elderly, and children.

 

 Work Procedures

• Focusing resources and materials in targeted areas will lead to bigger use of inherent capabilities.
• Commitment to long term vision, comprehensive planning, partnership with local institutions, flexibility in program's implementation.
• Decentralization of work and improved exchange of information.
• Advocacy and lobbying for continuous support.
• Donors' participation and support for local resources.

 

Work Strategy:

 

• Building comprehensive relations: develop bilateral relations, for the benefit of the general public, with local committees, ministries, official institutions, NGOs (local & international) as a basis for exchange of expertise, information, and potentials serving the development process.
• Discuss project's ideas through social dialect: the idea is based on understanding the history, current status, and culture and future aspirations of targeted communities through continuous dialogue with all different sectors. This reflects our belief in communities' abilities for change and the ability of individuals for continuous learning and their role in changing and affecting their communities. This program helps strengthening local regimens and increase community awareness of the development process.
• Support and building local institutions: strong social institutions are necessary for the development process. Our program supports local community institutions in targeted villages; such institutions include those for women, youth, and agriculture focusing on local leadership and community awareness and involvement. This is a long process that requires times, energy, and resources.
• Community activation: societies should not be recipients only, but actively participate with its choices, thoughts, and decisions. This helps in setting work standards and accountability and pushes for higher ethics for social officers and encourages community organization to seek resources, supports decentralization and right of self determination which will all result in opening new horizons for community development.
• Importance of community participation: refusal of dictations and working as coordinators and facilitators for communities to express their needs and visions on how to achieve their aspirations and fulfill their needs. Working together to find solutions.
• Response to needs, support the poor and marginalized, especially women and children. Full integration with communities in response to their needs.
• Fund raising and monitoring: seeking funds to support activities. Local and international support is sought ; money, human resources, in kind contributions, materials, food, technical support, and training. Outside resources are not substitutes for local ones, they are for further support.
• Complementary activities: vertical and horizontal activities are planned. Horizontal ones involve special needs as water, health, agriculture, and literacy.  Vertical ones involve work procedures and different activities. Correlation between them strengthens work and allows for working with and coordination between different sectors and builds a base for sustained development for long term effect.
• Strengthen sustainability: tangible effects sustainability and continuous development based on society and community participation and abilities of self dependence, correct use of resources and technology in accordance with the environment.
• Commitment to long term partnership: work on long term commitments for 10-15 years, working with local communities through open dialogue and workshops that set the basis for mutual understanding and unified vision that is not bounding with time or with society pressures.
• Listen, learn, watch, and evaluate: these four elements are basics for community development and are active through the whole process. As work moves forward, new objectives, work procedures, elements, ideas and ways to accomplish them will come up. All these we consider part of the dynamics of the development process. This program is not static, but will continue working with local and international consultants (as needed).