Asset- Based Community Development (ABCD) Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum (GLSJF) Asia Region Jan 25 – Feb 2, 2008 Khon Kaen University Thailand Thailand Philippines Vietnam Indonesia India China Asset- Based Community Development (ABCD)

40 GLSJF participants from 6 countries have been working in Development related fields: rural, agricultural, water resource, forestry, urban planning, community development, organic farming… Social Work: with orphans, HIV-AIDS patients/families Public Health, Sexuality & Reproductive Health Environment related Arts and culture Education: teacher, school administration Business/Finance Human Development: work with persons with physical disabilities Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) Governmental Organizations (GOs)

Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) Approach What are Community Assets? Anything that can be used to improve the quality of the community life. A person Formal institutions: business that provides jobs and support local economy, banks, schools, libraries, universities, hospitals, parks, social service agencies. Natural resources: land, rivers, trees, roads The skills of its citizens, from youth to disabled people, artists, professionals The dedication of its citizens associations: culture groups, clubs, neighborhood associations Healthy families Hopes and dreams of the community… … …. 

to secure what you have not!” “Use what you have to secure what you have not!” Moses Coady, 1930 Dell Image

Asset-Based and Community/Citizens-driven Development (ABCD) Approach Differentiate externally-driven development from community-driven development; Understand how our own behavior and attitudes, and the culture of the institutions we represent, affect our capacity to facilitate community-driven development; Understand the theoretical influences from various disciplines that are integrated into an asset-based approach to community development; Apply tools for communities to identify, and mobilize their own assets and to link them together to obtain what they need.

Asset-Based Community Development approach is an essential tool for Sustainable Development ABCD as a force for economic development at a micro and macro level an effective tool for inclusion of people with a disability enable Indigenous communities building on their strengths and culture bring marginalized people into the centre of community A positive approach to development—every person/community has assets, people are citizens, not clients/beneficiaries

“How do you know what you need, if you don’t know what you have” John McKnight Dell Image

when the group applied the ABCD tools to their stories Case studies Case studies Case studies Alumni sent in success stories in advance and were resource for their stories when the group applied the ABCD tools to their stories

Practicum in a local community

Practicum: applying one of the ABCD tools

idea Idea IP In-country Alumni Activities Logistics Vietnam ABCD Training for Vietnam Alumni idea Idea Alumni resource Outside resource/facilitator: Coady Int’l Institute Alumni as local resource: - Determine Training Topic - Practicum places - Take care of local logistics International Partner (IP) IP Alumni and CEEVN Logistics IFP Secretariat Vietnam

idea IP ABCD Training in Vietnam, invited Thailand alumni to join resource Alumni Outside resource/facilitator Coady Int’l Institute Local resource people: - IFP Vietnam Alumni to connect w/ local community - case studies for practicum Training for Thailand & Vietnam Alumni IP funds Managing Logistics Int’l Partner Alumni Logistics IFP Secretariat Vietnam

IPs IPs Alumni participants International Fellowships Program Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum (GLSJF) – Asia Region Jan 25 – Feb 2, 2008 facilitators Alumni Coady Int’l Institute & local Khon Kaen U faculty Resource/Co-facilitators IFP - ABCD Alumni (Thailand & Vietnam) Int’l Partners Logistics GLSJF Responsible for Proposal & Overall organization; IPs IPs Int’l Partners Thailand China India Indonesia Philippines Secretariat Vietnam Alumni participants

IFP Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum (GSLJF) In Home countries GLSJF ABCD theme Philippines Indonesia India China Thailand Vietnam shared info with non- alumni, got further training, Applied ABCD at work Vietnam Thailand Theme ABCD Conducted workshop for other alumni; applied ABCD approach at work Vietnam Conducting workshop for new Alumni applying ABCD at work Conducting trainings for alumni & non-alumni—GOV & NGOs. Alumni, Gov & NGOs applying and testing ABCD approach ABCD theme IFP Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum (GSLJF) Asia Region - January 2008

A planning Themes Where is the fire? Common Social justice issues alumni dealing with in home countries Alumni participants from 2 or more countries 1.Conference 2. Workshop >>>>>> 3. Training 4. Exchange Observable outcomes/ follow up activities & Networking to share experiences/ challenges A planning group for each theme (from 2 >>>>> countries, one being host) As agents For social change What changes are we fighting for? Themes Where is the fire? Connecting IFP alumni as leaders for social justice, agents for social change