Community-Based Projects Are Resource Intensive. How Do You Raise Local Resources?

The word “community” conveys a sense of togetherness or a collective force. A community is a group of people united by common virtues, values, causes, or even enemies. It could also be an ideology, a social media group, or a geographical location.

Every community has its unique challenges. These could be security, education, health, infrastructure, finance, employment, and so on. Some of these challenges are so widespread, communities need help from neighbours or international organisations to overcome them. Often, these organisations come with mind-blowing promises; professing their willingness to help. They begin laudable projects that get abandoned halfway.

The reasons for abandonment can be complex; it may be a lack of cooperation from the leadership of communities, or the lack of empathy for the people in the community (as some projects are mere PR stunts), or a genuine lack of funds or resources to continue the projects (as community-based projects can be very resource intensive). Other times, it may be a result of technical or innovative barriers.

In some situations, the community will have to mobilise resources to execute their projects. But how can this be accomplished? If international organisations could not bear the burden, how can a group of 5,000 to 20,000 middle-class citizens?

As you read, you will find how communities can mobilise resources locally for their projects.

One major reason organisations either fail to start projects or abandon them halfway is the lack of an element that powers and drives people, EMPATHY.

When empathy remains the foundation and driving force, individuals or groups leading the project can cover grounds and accomplish a lot. How does this happen?

Raising Resources for Community-Based Projects

1. Gather the community and identify the challenge(s) TOGETHER:

This strategy will enable you to win over the hearts of the people. You will be appealing to their emotions, making them see the challenge and how it affects them.

2. Proffer a solution or solutions TOGETHER:

Having identified the challenge, it is easier to proffer a solution. When the solution comes from members of the community, it gives them a sense of ownership. They now know that solving this challenge is their leap to take. This sense of ownership goes a long way in helping them release their resources (energy, time and money) freely to the project.

3. Convince them about their capacity to solve the problem:

Many times, people don’t know they are capable until they are told. Help members of your community see that they have all it takes, all the resources required to carry out the projects. Another way to build capacity is to empower members of the community to act.

4. Seek the help of professionals and businesses within the community:

These professionals and businesses may have been victims or endured hard times in their career or business due to the challenge facing the community. Or they have a deep connection with the community and can feel its pain. So they will be more willing to help through donations and every kind of resource at their disposal.

5. Seek support from elected representatives within the community:

Many elected representatives have lost their ability to empathize with others. Hence, getting them to be part of your community-based project requires a bit of selling. By all means, show them what’s in it for them.

6. Seek support from influential people within the community:

In every community, there are people whose voices matter. They are well respected and honoured. They range from religious leaders, public office holders, judges, the wealthy and benevolent, etc. Winning these people over to your project is a huge win. Channelling their resources and leading others to do the same will breathe life into the project from start to finish.

7. Documentation and Application

The process must be transparent and honest. Hence, the project requires brains for monitoring and evaluation as well as expert writers who can document the process.

While the entire community cannot captain the ship, key members who will be responsible for mobilising resources must carry everyone else along. Raising resources locally is not impossible but it requires a lot of work and cohesiveness among members of the community.