The human local community is one of the greatest agents of change in a society. Few things are as powerful as the teamwork of a passionate community. Each member of the team brings their own expertise and other unique contributions and together make a powerful whole.
The purpose of a politician is not to pamper community members with handouts. Rather, the politician is an agent of the community. He or she is there to help motivate them towards joint action and also to help ensure that they get the support of the institutions of the states that they are due. This includes amenities such as good roads, adequate water supply, electricity as well as education and health services.
Sometimes for various reasons, the state may not come through adequately, but nevertheless, a progressive community will focus on self-help and cooperation to help ensure the fulfillment of their needs. This is what the people of Epworth in St. Ann have done.
We see where over the last quarter century, a senior teacher thought of quitting due to the poor state of the roads. Some of her colleagues actually had to leave their vehicles and walk part of the way. Fortunately, the people of Epworth did not give up. They were able to develop a partnership with community-oriented organisations such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF), as well as putting their own collecting money into the project. The Epworth community development group sought to work together to maintain the repaired roads over time.
The partnership was not about fostering dependence but through collaboration the community made their input to sustain the future of their residents. Other benefits from community action included access to agricultural supplies as well as sales of produce to outsiders. I hope that whoever reads this can seek to become part of empowerment through community action.
Open the link to read more about the people of Epworth from the Observer newspaper.
Here is a touching story account about community mothers coming together to till the soil in order to ensure adequate education for their children.
They work hard to produce a significant range of products.
They believe in community self-help which is the secret of national transformation.
Working together is the gate to community success. Hence the mantra of the women of Beersheba says “they are our children”.
Partnership is built with development agencies.
Nevertheless the parent prefer to use their own “meagre earning”.
They provide both emotional as well as financial support to children that are not attending school.
The parents regularly meet to discuss and participate in training sessions.
They also involve the wider community in fundraising activities such as fish fries and food vending.
It is no wonder that school absenteeism as shrunken to the extent that there is 85% attendance. A wonderful example of empowerment of individuals, families, a community and an education institution.
Here is a link below to view the full article:
This is an excellent article about overcoming economic inequalities using Social Entrepreneurship.
All For Empowerment!