Community Work : Theories, Experiences and Challenges 252 Community Work in the Context of Uncertainty: Challenges and Opportunities (original) (raw)
In this last chapter, the authors intend to provide a snapshot of the main discussions, themes and issues that have emerged for us. As has been evident from the previous chapters, community practice takes places in a wider sociopoliticalcontext and social workers/community development workers are urged to 'work with people rather than for people'. We appreciate that we live in a world of uncertainties and we do not know what the future holds for us either. This is true for several communities across the globe that are deprived of basic necessities in life and are dependent on the NGOs or Government interventions to find a solution to their everyday concerns. This poses a question about the approaches and underpinning theoretical foundations in community practice,that is, how can we possibly work with people in the ever-changing socio-political situation and when governments slip and slide away from their commitment to welfare because of emerging neo-liberal considerations, heavily influenced by globalisation? In this concluding paper, we attempt to revisit these aspects, namely, globalisation and uncertainty, and their impact on communities. Emerging literature, our practice experience, and our challenges are presented to the reader in a community development perspective.
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In this last chapter, the authors intend to provide a snapshot of the main discussions, themes and issues that have emerged for us. As has been evident from the previous chapters, community practice takes places in a wider sociopoliticalcontext and social workers/community development workers are urged to 'work with people rather than for people'. We appreciate that we live in a world of uncertainties and we do not know what the future holds for us either. This is true for several communities across the globe that are deprived of basic necessities in life and are dependent on the NGOs or Government interventions to find a solution to their everyday concerns. This poses a question about the approaches and underpinning theoretical foundations in community practice,that is, how can we possibly work with people in the ever-changing socio-political situation and when governments slip and slide away from their commitment to welfare because of emerging neo-liberal considerations, heavily influenced by globalisation? In this concluding paper, we attempt to revisit these aspects, namely, globalisation and uncertainty, and their impact on communities. Emerging literature, our practice experience, and our challenges are presented to the reader in a community development perspective.
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