ASSET BASED ASSET BASED COMMUNITY COMMUNITY

DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPMENTAn Asset-Based An Asset-Based

Approach:Approach:

““Communities have Communities have never been built upon never been built upon

their deficiencies. their deficiencies. Building communities Building communities has always depended has always depended upon mobilising the upon mobilising the

capacities and assets of capacities and assets of people and place” people and place”

Kretzman & Kretzman & McKnight 1993McKnight 1993

‘ ‘Building Communities Building Communities

from the inside out’from the inside out’

Asset Based Community Development (ABCD): looking for the positive things/strengths in a community and making the most of them.

It’s not about making lists of what’s missing, identifying ‘problems’ and trying to fill the gaps; it’s about seeing what’s there, and using it.

What is an ‘Asset’ “Capacity, competence, capability,

‘know–how’, aptitude, talent, gift, propensity, faculty, endowment, force, authority, wisdom, enthusiasm, creativity, resourcefulness.”

Harrison et al (2004) Assets for Health and Development European Programme: Developing a conceptual framework, Geneva: World Health Organisation.

•

GLASS HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY

• Asset based community development is not a tool you whip out of your, ‘tool bag’ when Asset based community development is not a tool you whip out of your, ‘tool bag’ when you cannot seem to solve a problem with which you are faced. It is a complete shift in the you cannot seem to solve a problem with which you are faced. It is a complete shift in the way you approach the work that you do, the people with whom you are working, and the way you approach the work that you do, the people with whom you are working, and the

communities that you are trying to organise. At it’s most basic level, it is like the half communities that you are trying to organise. At it’s most basic level, it is like the half full/half empty glass. When you look at a glass what do you see? The normal answer full/half empty glass. When you look at a glass what do you see? The normal answer

would be half full if you are a positive thinking person and half empty if you are a negative would be half full if you are a positive thinking person and half empty if you are a negative thinking person. thinking person.

• The real and true answer would be a bit of both. The glass is both half full and half empty. The real and true answer would be a bit of both. The glass is both half full and half empty. We all have a ‘full’ side: Our gifts, skills, passions and talents. But we also have our half We all have a ‘full’ side: Our gifts, skills, passions and talents. But we also have our half

empty side: Our deficiencies, problems and bad habits.empty side: Our deficiencies, problems and bad habits.

• Imagine you were asked to write down a note on a card displaying the one thing that you Imagine you were asked to write down a note on a card displaying the one thing that you hate most about yourself, something that you couldn’t even tell your family members. hate most about yourself, something that you couldn’t even tell your family members. Then imagine if you were asked to walk around all day with that note strapped to your Then imagine if you were asked to walk around all day with that note strapped to your chest!! Not interested? No because we all know that one thing is not what defines us! chest!! Not interested? No because we all know that one thing is not what defines us!

There are many things that would probably define you as a ‘whole person’ yet how often There are many things that would probably define you as a ‘whole person’ yet how often have you judged or been judged on just one aspect of self? Would you define someone have you judged or been judged on just one aspect of self? Would you define someone

who is blind…based on their inability to see, no I ‘m sure you wouldn’t!!who is blind…based on their inability to see, no I ‘m sure you wouldn’t!!

THE ASSET MAP• AN ASSET MAP IS

BROKEN DOWN INTO 5 KEY AREAS.

• 1. INDIVIDUALS• 2. ASSOCIATIONS. • 3. INSTITUTIONS.

• 4. LAND.• 5. EXCHANGE.

INDIVIDUALSINDIVIDUALS

• The centre of every community are the people who live there. They should be the focus of any work that is carried out within

that community in order to bring the community together and address the stigma that may be evident within that

area.

ASSOCIATIONSASSOCIATIONS

• An association is any group of people that come together because of a shared

interest or because of a common cause. What are some of the associations that

are active within your community.

INSTITUTIONSINSTITUTIONS

• These could be businesses, local government, large and small non-profit

organizations, schools, hospitals, libraries, etc. All of which could have space,

expertise, buying power, employment opportunities and many more things to

offer your community.

RESOURCESRESOURCES

•Kevin.jaffray@canpartnership.org.uk•http://www.abcdinstitute.org/

•http://abcdeurope.ning.com/

•http://abcdinaction.ning.com/