COMMUNITY ORGANIZING FOR ACTION Engaging Your Community Presenter: Hilary Binder-Aviles, Independent NGO Consultant [Video Transcript]

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I am a member Young African Leaders Initiative 

 In this lesson, will gain an understanding of what community engagement is, and why it's important, become familiar with different ways an NGO or a Team can foster community engagement, and learn some of the benefits and challenges. 

   NGOs exist to serve the public good, to make people’s lives better and communities stronger. Too often, we think of community members only as people in need of our help.

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   Community engagement is about involving the people you serve, not just as beneficiaries of your projects, but as partners in accomplishing your mission. Almost everyone whether young or old, rich or poor, with or without formal education, they all have something they can contribute to an NGO’s Or a team's work. Some might have special knowledge or a unique skill to offer. Others might have the means to donate money, materials or supplies. Others still can give their time and bring their enthusiasm. 

   When people are actively engaged in efforts to improve their own lives and their neighbors’ lives, they become more aware of and committed to solving problems. They also learn new skills and gain confidence in their ability to effect change. In short, engagement is empowering. 

  So how can an NGO or a team actually practice community engagement?

   We can start by involving community members in our projects. We might already conduct some sort of needs assessment where we ask, through surveys or focus groups, our target population about their needs. That is a great start, and we can take that one step further. 

   Consider creating a community advisory committee that meets regularly to provide input feedback on project plans and progress. A group like this can be a bridge between the NGO and the community, bringing valuable insights to our NGO or team and serving as champions of the project in the community. We should take time to learn more about members of the community we serve, both those who participate in our projects and their families, friends and neighbors. 

  In addition to doing a community needs assessment, we can also conduct a community “assets” assessment. Through surveys, focus groups or community meetings, ask people what they know and what they know how to do. Finding people with all kinds of knowledge, skills and experience they can contribute. For example, if someone likes to talk to their neighbors, they might be just the right person to help us carry out a survey or join our project advisory committee. 

   When the people we serve are involved in our NGO or team, our NGO or team will be more successful. Not only will our projects be more relevant to their needs, but we would build collective ownership of our NGO’s or team's mission. Oour community members will be more willing to support our NGO or team and its work in the future. When NGOs or team do not engage community members as partners, it would make us miss opportunities to develop the assets that exist right in our own backyard. 

  Photo taken during our studies at Center for Christian Bible College with our fellow students.

   Over time, we can invest in building the skills of community members who are most engaged and provide them with opportunities to step into leadership roles. By cultivating new leaders, we would expand the pool of talent to help us carry out the mission and ensure that our NGO’s or team's work go on long after the founders are gone. 

  The leaders we cultivate, have got the ability to amplify our NGO’s or team's work in any number of ways. They can educate others in the community about the issues. They can serve as messengers in public education campaigns.They can mobilize others to get involved, speak out and take action. 

   Think of community engagement as an investment in the NGO’s or team's future. By building the capacity of the people we serve to be more involved in efforts to improve the community, we might just find our next capable staff members, volunteers, board members, even donors to our organization or team.

   NGOs are humanitarian in nature, but they also can be empowerment organizations that facilitate the ability of people to realize their own visions for better lives and communities.

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