An ethnographic study of Kalhor nomads in Iran showed that the government's top-down approach to development and weak local institutions obscure the impact of technology on women and poor people. Despite rhetoric about participation, these groups are not consulted about their needs, priorities, and interests. (SK)

Contrasts activities and organizational structures of two Canadian community development initiatives: the Antigonish Movement and the Family of Cape Breton community development corporations. Finds ideological differences in the view of property and profit, governance and accountability, and role of education. Concludes that Antigonish is more…

The Australian state of Victoria has adopted a privatization approach to human services that is destroying the infrastructure of community services. Without a dynamic community services core, it is difficult for social citizenship to flourish. (SK)

Information and communications technologies have the potential to address community development issues, but initiatives to connect communities do not automatically ensure benefits. Social inclusion, identity, and power issues must be considered in design and implementation of initiatives. (SK)

Research was conducted on a British housing estate where children had opportunities to comment on their neighborhood and develop a voice in local government. Results suggested that barriers to adult participation might be avoided if they are encouraged to participate when young. (SK)

A training course about nutrition and immunization for the people of a poor section in Madras was developed by the Community Development project. It was felt that it would be good to train a few of the community members who in turn would teach others. The trainees found this program very pleasant and satisfying. (Author/RR)

Discusses the concept of public health education and its affinity with the development of the community. Presents the opinions of various authorities or the fundamental opinions of the development of the community. Underlines the importance of these principles for the direction and evaluation of programs. (RR)

Attempts to discover how and why community development has been used in the past, and to formulate some ideas on prospects for community development in the future. (CT)

Examines the perspectives and dimensions of social change and community development in rural United States. Argues that the causes of poverty must be reconceptualized, and emphasis placed on long-range institutionalized programs of community services, training, and citizen participation. (SK)

An internal learning system (ILS), created for a development organization operating savings/credit programs with poor women, is used for data collection, monitoring, and evaluation. The ILS is participatory, pictorial, decentralized, and flexible; it documents socioeconomic impact and supports action planning. (SK)

A remote Australian town's initiative to develop an Internet cafe was based on a foundation of community empowerment and capacity building. The project's failure illustrates factors that inhibit community control: overstretched local resources, failure to understand impact on existing social infrastructure and social networks, and lack of…

A survey of 100 farmers and 120 government development workers in India showed that farmers felt seeds, fertilizer, and relief employment were inadequate, while livestock feeding and soil/water conservation were helpful government interventions for drought. A large gap appeared between farmers' and government workers' perceptions of the…

Two approaches for evaluating community development are: community stories--locally developed ethnographies for community-led change; and sponsor-backed evaluation using coproduced indicators and standards. (SK)

Nongovernmental organizations in developing countries tend to depoliticize citizens. They must change their perception of their role, stop portraying themselves as nonaccountable, stop creating community businesses that do not incorporate the market, and admit a role for private industry. (SK)

Despite contrasts between capitalist Hong Kong and socialist Guangzhou, the two cities' community work is similar in terms of superficial emphasis on citizen participation, maintenance of status quo, and consensus orientation. The imminent changeover in Hong Kong's sovereignty will change social welfare services in both cities. (SK)