Empowered and resilient communities; key to development

When community members participate in every stage of their development process, it gives them a sense of ownership of the development projects, creating the desire and commitment to ensure sustainability.

Kwasi Addae, a community located in the Afram Plains North District is an example of an empowered and resilient community steering its development. Through education and capacity building by World Vision in Ghana, the community has come to understand the need to champion initiatives to achieve development. As a result, the community members have instituted the Community Care Coalition Group led by the Chief of Kwasi Addae community.

The Community Care Coalition Group has members representing health, education, Community Voice & Action (CVA), faith and child nurturing, and child protection and participation.

The purpose of the group is to mobilize dialogue and identify issues hindering development in the community with the well-being of children at the core, thereby finding solutions to address them.

The group has been able to mobilise funds to construct a Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound. World Vision in Ghana has also provided them with a mechanized water system to provide residents and the health facility access to clean water, preventing the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Through Citizen Voice and Action (CVA), the group has constructed a school block to provide quality, equitable and inclusive education for their children.

The leader of the Care Coalition Group communicates his values and appreciation for his people and vigilance in promoting the right attitude and belief systems that encourage others to succeed. His ability to impart commitment, a sense of belonging and dedication in the people, as well as mobilize them to attain a common goal towards the development of the community is an example of true leadership that must be modelled by other communities.

World Vision in Ghana believes this approach of development empowers communities to make informed choices about how their public resources are managed. More importantly, it enables communities to independently meet their needs for essential services and build independence, enabling real and lasting change.