Tanzanian grass root communities mobilizing to own tools for development
Introducing Foundation For Human Rights and Community Development
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Community Development and Human Rights Issues we deal with
1. Association and freedom of meeting
2. Addressing poverty through social-cultural themes
3. Addressing HIV/Aids and other debilitating diseases without isolating the community.
4. Accountability and allowing leadership roles to be shared.
5. Documenting progress and disseminating this information.
Grass root Activities
The grass root community is such that it is made up of people who know each other well or are nearer each other. They can call on each other for support.
Grass root communities could come about because of geographical location or identity.
Identifying as grass root communities
This could be as result as:
1. Isolation because of distance
2. Isolation because of beliefs and way of life
3. Isolation because of politics
4. Isolation because of skills and sophistication.
6. Isolation because of income inequalities.
Engaging grass root communities
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Deep Analysis of needs met at identified grass root communities in Tanzania
1. Isolation because of distance
Knowing how distant from the main city our identified community was, we rented a building and established an office nearer to our beneficiaries.
We engaged communities in choosing their own mobilizers who were trained in leadership skills. This training included: participatory planning skills; organization development; simple book keeping skills; documentation; Organizing and planning meetings.
We set out to use meeting/venue spaces within the area. We identified community mobilizers whom we asked to call on other members to attend our community dialogue sessions. the sessions were both free for all as well as mentored and guided.
In free for all approach we allowed politicians/ community leaders to use the opportunity to talk to the people they led. We also allowed participants to ask questions which were answered. The questions which needed further referral were set aside to be dealt with.
The mentored approach was an opportunity to follow the planned activities and talks.
2. Isolation because of beliefs and way of life
Some community groups were designed along religious beliefs or name of village. We allowed this to happen and it helped us know how people organize around what they believe in.
3. Isolation because of politics
Politics in many African countries still influences how many organize. We tapped into this as well and were able to reach a wider sector of people.
4. Isolation because of skills and sophistication.
Skills to perform tasks, skills to read, skills that enable one engage in activities that put one in different categories and standards are important and remain as some of the qualities tat make people move up or down different scales. This influences incomes and therefore income inequality.
6. Isolation because of income inequalities.
Inequality from income differences is one aspect that divides people. We hoped to use our spaces to encourage as many people as possible to engage in work or income generating activities. This remains as one enduring need we shall have to deal with even as we move on in the years.
Conducting Participatory Training Sessions in Tanzania
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Tools of Development
1. Human-Social Tools
a. Human Resource
b. Identified communities
2. Geographical Tools
a. The cities
b. Utilities and Social Service points
3. Machinery and logistical tools
a. training tools
b. Transport means
c. Public address systems
d. Office buildings
e. Computers and stationery
Training charts and using appropriate Tools of Development in Tanzania
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Conclusion
This is what we did:
1. We identified, trained and encouraged formation of groups
2. The formed groups were taken through training in organization development and basic administration skills
3. Each group went through a unique community needs assessment and devised means to address them
4. Each group formulated its own annual work plan as a strategy to address the needs.
5. A monitoring and evaluation task was planned and is now headed by our consultant who will come to Tanzania to follow progress.
We hope to show case this model to many others in Tanzania and beyond. Already our organizational model hosted visitors from Kenya who had come to do a study of our methods. Hopefully, we shall work with many more people and organizations.
Leadership and Empowerment Spaces
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