A case study of an official organization's attempt to organize Dutch rural women who had already formed their own informal groups illustrates issues of knowledge, power, and control. The resulting conflict demonstrates the wisdom of following local organizing practices when attempting development interventions. (SK)

Cross-site observation of Lifting New Voices, a national initiative to involve youth in community development, indicated the following: (1) youth participation has multiple impacts; (2) facilitating factors are youth as leaders, adult allies, and intergenerational bridges; and (3) obstacles include conditioning, withdrawal of disadvantaged…

A development project in a poor east Indian community used community development and sustainable livelihoods methods that understated the critical importance of rank, caste, and power relations. Implemented out of context, these models became obstacles to survival and development. (Contains 16 references.) (SK)

Emphasis on creating job-related skills for employer needs and linking training to the development of entrepreneurship has raised fears in Wales about its effect on depressed communities. (JOW)

Interviews with 72 volunteers who participated in community development activities over 9 years showed that (1) all increased existing knowledge and skills; (2) on average, women learned more than men; and (3) the greater the level of involvement, the greater the learning. (SK)

Reviews community development in Latin America (self-help local improvement projects, popular education, nongovernmental organizations). Identifies challenges--increasing the participation of all levels, reorganizing priorities, and supporting the development of economic democracy. (SK)

An information-based rather than a knowledge-based approach to evaluation of social development programs has two advantages: (1) relative objectivity and (2) equity. Increasingly equitable flows of information are one indicator of social development. (SK)

A survey of 23 chairpersons of town unions (rural sociocultural organizations) in Nigeria indicated that self-help projects in education and rural development were concentrated in areas lacking infrastructure. Recommendations were made for an organizing framework, leadership training, government assistance, and efforts to encourage active…

Summarizes competing approaches to the role of culture in community development and use of community media--as top-down dissemination of messages or as participatory action research. Presents a case study of the use of video for community participation and empowerment in Burkina Faso. (Author/SK)

In Iran, community mosques have been decentralized institutions of local power. Mosque leadership was influential in the overthrow of the Shah. However, the resulting Islamic Republic dominated and used mosques as agents of social control. (SK)

Responses from 565 of 1,200 former urban residents who moved to a simpler rural lifestyle show that they hold progressive views on environmental and social issues. However, their levels of community organizing and activism are much more modest. (SK)

Reviews animal contributions to fulfilling human need worldwide, including food, shelter, protection, labor, and many others. Identifies inputs into the animal husbandry process. (CH)

The authors describe the city farm movement in Great Britain. This movement promotes the redevelopment of urban waste areas as working farms and community gardens. (CH)

The Village Polytechnic Movement consists of setting up training centers for the purpose of teaching locally-needed skills to primary school dropouts in rural Kenya. In addition to explaining the philosophy of the movement, the author comments upon its organization and future. (AG)

A report by the Regional and Community Development Section of the United Nations which states that community development has to give close attention to the strategy and tactics it considers using and the time needed to realize its goals. (Author/DR)