Invictus
The movie Invictus is a very well done movie about the influence that Nelson Mandela had on the country of South Africa. Before his release from prison that day in February, South Africa was a country torn apart by fear, prejudice and crime. Mandela's first action as President was to address his staff and allow them to be themselves within the government. He ensured them that there would be no change and that everyone would get along with each other.
In relation to community development, Mandela had to overcome the poverty and crime within the citizens of South Africa. He improved the nations pride by involving the sport of rugby. Rugby was sought at by everyone as being disgraceful and "enemies" of past events (they even tried to have the name of the team and emblem changed). Mandela made it known to the country (even when people didn't believe it would work), that this country needed the Springbok emblem and name more than ever now.
By using rugby as a focal point to his success (As well as the Rugby World Cup being held in South Africa), Mandela was able to create a new sense of community with everyone. Mandela was a person who "enaged others to particpate" if we relate him to the Community Development Framework. He forced people to get along with each other, no matter the color of their skin or the previous fear they had, but not by physical force but by using his words and power. Mandela had a team of people that helped him through this process, giving him information and strengths of his country and other nations. He knew that no matter what rugby was going to be the way his nation was going to turn itself around. It was shown at the end of the movie in the final game of the World Cup, how the whole nation shut down to watch the game. People gathered around that normally in the past wouldn't have gotten together to watch a game (ie. the police outside the stadium and the poverty stricken little boy). A nation came together that day and celebrated their victory with parades and parties on the street.
What I find the best quote of the whole movie is at the end, when Mandela is driving in his car after the victory of the Springboks and his driver tells him he will be late to a meeting, he responds with, "There's time, lots of time". This just was influencial to me because of the work Mandela put into his nation to become one, that it was time to celebrate, just like a community would according to our framework we looked at in class.
Therefore, in conclusion the movie Invictus showed that by influencing a whole nation, with words not force, can develop it into a thriving community full of greatness that may have not been possible earlier. The movie puts all the steps of the Community Development Framework into play.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Blog #1
My article is called "Barriers to Citizen Participation: the missing voices of people living with low income" by Frances Ravensbergen and Madine Vanderplaat.
Found on: http://cdj.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/4/389.full
Summary
This article is very educational in the fact that it deals with many different views of low income communities. The authors portray these communities as having no say within their decision-making process. The authors believe that in order to acquire a sense of community, the people within it must speak up and say what they want and what they need. Instead, many governments in North America are taking control of these low income communities and telling them what they need and want. They believe that people in these communities must interact better with government and non-government agencies in order to hear their voice.
Analysis
This article has meaning behind it because it is important for a community to speak its voice and be heard by people of higher power. Community development is more important towards these lower income communties because they desperately need a "confidence boost" so to speak. This mean that they are just following the rules set out by the government to keep them happy, but in reality no one knows if they are happy except the people within the community. Therefore, their voice needs to be spoken.
These communities would definately benefit from using the community development framework. By using the 10 topics, they could possess a very strong community. Assigning people to engage others, interact with outside people (ie. government), celebrating, speaking about their strengths and research would make these lower income areas better. It will give the people empowerment, and as the definition of community development is stated as, "People helping to help themselves" this would work to their advantage.
I feel that after reading this article, these low income areas must incorporate a community advisor, someone that the city or town could hire to help them become a better community. From the article it states that, "Participants talked about their physical marginalization within their communities. For example, not having access to cultural and recreational opportunities because they cannot afford them" this is sad and unfortunate because everybody should have access to a recreation center or even a facility where the community can come together and enjoy themselves (ie. rec center). Therefore by allowing the people to speak their minds it will allow for the community to grow and get stronger as one.
There will be no need for discouragement because they will have had their voice heard and hopefully with have better implications to help their lives in the long run.
Found on: http://cdj.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/4/389.full
Summary
This article is very educational in the fact that it deals with many different views of low income communities. The authors portray these communities as having no say within their decision-making process. The authors believe that in order to acquire a sense of community, the people within it must speak up and say what they want and what they need. Instead, many governments in North America are taking control of these low income communities and telling them what they need and want. They believe that people in these communities must interact better with government and non-government agencies in order to hear their voice.
Analysis
This article has meaning behind it because it is important for a community to speak its voice and be heard by people of higher power. Community development is more important towards these lower income communties because they desperately need a "confidence boost" so to speak. This mean that they are just following the rules set out by the government to keep them happy, but in reality no one knows if they are happy except the people within the community. Therefore, their voice needs to be spoken.
These communities would definately benefit from using the community development framework. By using the 10 topics, they could possess a very strong community. Assigning people to engage others, interact with outside people (ie. government), celebrating, speaking about their strengths and research would make these lower income areas better. It will give the people empowerment, and as the definition of community development is stated as, "People helping to help themselves" this would work to their advantage.
I feel that after reading this article, these low income areas must incorporate a community advisor, someone that the city or town could hire to help them become a better community. From the article it states that, "Participants talked about their physical marginalization within their communities. For example, not having access to cultural and recreational opportunities because they cannot afford them" this is sad and unfortunate because everybody should have access to a recreation center or even a facility where the community can come together and enjoy themselves (ie. rec center). Therefore by allowing the people to speak their minds it will allow for the community to grow and get stronger as one.
There will be no need for discouragement because they will have had their voice heard and hopefully with have better implications to help their lives in the long run.
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