Community Alphabet is a capacity-building program for three national-level community development NGOs in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region.
WHY NOW?
The Community alphabet program responds to the growing fragmentation between different groups in society. As people close themselves off in bubbles where they confirm their own opinions, they become less willing to engage in constructive dialogue about common issues with people from other bubbles. On the local level there is then little will to work collaboratively to improve the community.
WHAT WE OFFER
Through Community Alphabet we are guiding program managers and community development practitioners from three organizations from Serbia, Hungary and the Czech Republic (TRAG Fondacija, Via Foundation and Közösségfejlesztők Egyesület – Hungarian Association for Community Development) in learning and applying asset-based community development and community resilience analysis principles. Up to 30 staff and affiliated practitioners will take part in the program from 2020 to 2022, which includes online and in-person meetings, mentoring and practice.
KEY PROGRAM CONCEPTS
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Asset Based Community Development, (ABCD), which is centered around using a community’s existing experience, capacity and skills as the basis for change
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Community resilience, meaning the long-term ability of a community to use available resources to manage adverse situations, respond adequately and recover.
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Using the potential of diversity, in order to help people who work with and in communities engage a broad spectrum of residents and groups with respect and understanding for their differences.
The long-term program goal is to help strengthen key aspects of how communities function. In the context of Community alphabet these aspects include use of local assets, bridging social capital, shared identity, respect for otherness and trust in others, and the capacity and willingness to work together towards shared goals.
Read our initial assessment report, which details how the three organizations support communities now: Changing the paradigm: Reflections on Community Support in Three Central and Eastern European Non-profit Organizations.