PROPOSED TEACHING NOTES FOR SOCIAL STUDIES
THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Objectives
By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:
i. explain the term “community”
ii. identify the levels of community.
iii. explain what community development involves.
iv. explain the factors to be considered in community decision making process.
v. explain the value of vision, initiative and drive in the process of community development.
vi. identify various ways by which individuals can contribute to the development of their community
Community refers to a group of people who have common values, interest, enduring ties, frequent interaction
and a sense of closeness to one another and living in a defined locality. It also refers to a group of people who are
united by interest, characteristics, associations and behaviour patterns. The term community can also be used to
describe a group that does not necessarily live in the same locality. Examples are the Muslim community and
Christian community.
LEVELS OF COMMUNITY
The levels of community start from the family through to the village, town/city, district, region, nation, sub-region
of a continent and the world. International level (international community) include sub-region such as West
African sub-region, East African community etc. Communities can also be identified according to work, education,
social activities etc.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Community Development refers to the positive change in values, attitudes and physical structures which help in
raising the standard of living of the people in a given area. It can also mean the process of providing social and
economic facilities for raising the standard of living of individuals in a community.
FACTORS THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) have the constitutional responsibility of developing
communities in their districts. The MMDAs in collaboration with the chiefs however cannot solely develop our
communities due to resource constraints. To salvage this situation, some factors must be considered such as:
Leadership with foresight or vision: A community that has visionary leaders is bound to progress and develop.
Visionary leaders are able to make projections into the future. The policies that they formulate today will still
remain relevant to posterity. For instance, the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah which led to the construction of the
Akosombo dam for several decades is still relevant today.
Ability to initiate valuable projects: If members of the community are able to initiate valuable projections which
stand the test of time, their communities will develop. Such projects which are beneficial to community members
include schools, health facilities, good roads, potable water, irrigation schemes etc.
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Citizens participation in community projects / Communal labour: Members of the community must participate
in community projects in order to help promote community development. This will help them provide more social
amenities. It will also ensure that projects are carried out quickly and effectively.
Change in attitudes: Community members must positively change their attitudes before they can develop. This
positive change will make them show some level of concern for the community and devote their time, energy and
resources for the improvement of standard of living of community members. Positive attitudes include hard work,
regularity, punctuality, dedication to duty etc.
Harmonious and regular interactions / Cordial social relationship: Leaders and members of the community
need to interact freely with one another in order to promote development. These interactions will enable people
bring on board beautiful ideas in finding solutions to social problems such as disease, poverty, crime etc.
Mobilization of funds and resources for projects: This is where members of the community who are within or
without make contributions in cash or kind for the community to undertake developmental projects.
Protection and maintenance of community/public property: Members of the community must protect and
maintain community property. This will save the community from spending its resources in repairing, replacing
or fixing the damaged properties. These resources can then be channeled to cater for other projects.
Knowledge of community needs: As good members, we must have empathy for community members who are
deprived. We must take notice of the things that make life comfortable in society and are lacking in our
communities. As concern citizens, we must know the needs of our communities, form concerned citizens group,
hold regular meetings, keep records and make arrangements as to how to get valuable projects for our communities.
Prioritization: Since resources are scarce and we cannot solve all problems at the same time, it is required that
we prioritize the needs of the community. In this way, one major project could be undertaken at a time.
Mobilization of resources/Funding: There will be development in the community if members are able to mobilize
funds, materials and human resource to undertake projects that will inure to the benefit of the people. They can
appeal for funds from benevolent individuals and organizations for the construction of schools, hospitals, drainage
systems, markets and places of convenience.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN COMMUNITY DICISION-MAKING PROCESS
Identification of community needs
Sensitization of community members
Study of alternative solutions
Mobilization of community support
Mobilizing funds and resources
THE VALUE OF VISION, INITIATIVE AND DRIVE IN THE PROCESS OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
Vision is the ability to see far ahead into the future. A person with vision sees farther than most members of the
community and can correctly forecast the future needs of the community.
Initiative is the ability to take action to correct an existing problem without being asked to do so.
Drive is the passion with which one tackles a job and maintains the momentum till completion.
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Community initiative is a collective social action that enables a community to tackle a wide range of socio-
economic issues with or without support from the central government.
Benefits of Community Initiative
Community initiative is beneficial to the members of the community in the following ways:
Provision of social amenities: Through community initiative, members are able to provide themselves with social
amenities such schools, health facilities, potable water, places of convenience, etc. These ensure socio-economic
development and raises the standard of living of community members.
Improvement of sanitation: Community initiative helps in improving sanitary conditions in our communities.
Regular cleanup exercises by community members keeps the environment tidy. This prevents the outbreak of
diseases such as malaria, typhoid and cholera.
Provision of jobs/employment: As communities carry out such as lorry stations, markets, public places of
convenience, some community members are employed to mane these facilities. Through this, they earn income at
the end of every month.
It ensures peace and order: This is done when members of the community come together to form watch-dog
committees to clamp down on criminal activities such as stealing, armed robbery, smuggling etc.
WAYS BY WHICH INDIVIDUALS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR
COMMUNITIES
Active participation in communal labour: Communal labour or voluntary services will help the community
undertake projects that will bring socio-economic development to the community. These projects include clinics,
schools, drainages, public places of convenience, water supply etc.
Change in attitude: Community members must positively change their attitudes before they can develop. This
positive change will make them show some level of concern for the community and devote their time, energy and
resources for the improvement of standard of living of community members. Positive attitudes include hard work,
regularity, punctuality, dedication to duty etc.
Payment of basic rate and other development levies: The individual as a member of the community must pay
his/her basic rate and other levies. This will be used to provide basic amenities that the individual will enjoy.
Providing expert advice: The individual wit expertise should offer expert or technical advice freely on projects
being undertaken in their communities. This will help reduce the cost of projects and help save money for other
needs.
Contributions in cash or kind: The individual is expected to contribute money for the procurement of materials
or provide materials such as cement, stones, sand, etc. for the construction of community projects.
Developing a sense of patriotism: A patriotic citizen is the one who places the interest of the nation above his/her
personal interest. Patriotic individuals protect public assets or properties, check and report on wrong-doings or ills
in our communities among others.
Be an informed citizen: Read newspapers, listen to radio and television to get the latest information on our country
and parts of the world. This is the only way to stay up-to-date on contemporary issues.
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Vote in elections: Adulthood starts at age 18. Individuals who therefore turn that age are required to register and
vote at all elections to elect the political leaders of the country.
GROUP ASSIGNMENT
1. Identify and describe four factors that promote community development.
➢ Leadership with foresight or vision:
➢ Ability to initiate valuable projects:
➢ Citizens participation in community projects / Communal labour:
➢ Change in attitudes:
➢ Harmonious and regular interactions / Cordial social relationship:
➢ Mobilization of funds and resources for projects
➢ Protection and maintenance of community/public property:
➢ Knowledge of community needs:
➢ Prioritization:
➢ Mobilization of resources/Funding:
2. Identify five facilities needed for the development of communities in Ghana and explain why these
facilities are important.
➢ Potable water supply
➢ Public places of convenience
➢ Good roads
➢ Schools
➢ Health facilities
➢ Electricity
➢ Market centres
3. Advance four reasons why important community projects sometimes fail.
➢ Inadequate funding
➢ Lack of commitment
➢ Inadequate participation
➢ Failure of leadership
➢ Lack of supervision
➢ Improper planning
➢ Inadequate sensitization
➢ Etc
4. Development is a process. Discuss how a community can use the development process to raise their
standard of living.
➢ Having leadership with foresight
➢ Having knowledge of community needs
➢ Prioritization of community needs
➢ Financing of community projects
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➢ Ability to conduct meetings
➢ Mentoring of younger one by adults
➢ Networking to establish relationship with people who could be assistance
➢ Participation of community members
5. Discuss five ways by which leaders can contribute to community development.
➢ Exhibiting foresight/vision
➢ Planning of community development project with community opinion leaders
➢ Displaying democratic style of leadership
➢ Involving the youth in planning and decision making
➢ Identification of priority areas of development
➢ Encouraging communal labour and self-reliance
➢ Fund raising activities
➢ Effective and workable implementation of projects
➢ Judicious use of development levy
➢ Assigning the youth to responsible positions
➢ Leading by example
➢ Listening to grievances of the people
➢ Appreciating the effort of people who made contributions
➢ Promoting good inter-personal relations
6. Select two NGOs in your locality and describe the services they render for the community.
(i) World Vision
(ii) Action Aid
(iii) Etc
Services rendered include
➢ Awarding scholarship to brilliant but needy students
➢ Providing educational materials to schools
➢ Providing health care and sanitation equipment
➢ Providing humanitarian services to the needy e.g. food, clothing, shelter
➢ Providing vocational training
➢ Providing water to distress communities
➢ Providing campaigns for peace
➢ etc
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