Roles of the community worker Matra Project Croatia 2009 Training of Croatian community workers HAN University Nijmegen Netherlands Drs. Hay van der Sterren

Roles of the community worker Organiser Advocate Challanger Developer Supporter Source: Alison Gilchrist (GB)

Roles of the community worker  A role is a work function with a particular approach or a set of tasks  Others can reasonably expect the worker to perform this role  The community worker has, as every professional, a variety of roles  Here categorized in (five) main functions: from directive to nondirective approach  Which role the worker plays depends on more factors, but mainly on how he/she can help other people to get things done

Organiser  In the first to set up a group: directive role of c.w.  Arranging meetings, sending out publicity, organising positive actions with concrete (small) results, etc.  Often tasks “behind the scenes”: making new, contacts, administrative tasks, facilitating meetings, making newsletters, ensuring that the group members have contact with each other  Focus is on the PRODUCT, concrete results

Advocate  Should be a rare role for a c.w.; aim is to enable people to speak for themselves  Sometimes there are pressures which justify a c.w. to speak on behalf of others, but this should be based on a degree of consultation and consensus  Decision-making process can be before a community group have confidence and and skills to articulate their own views

Challenger  One of the main goals of c.w.: change of inequalities in the distribution of power and resources  C.w. has a role to play in challenging practices and policies of discrimination of some groups or sections of society  People often hold themselves in a situation of disadvantage and oppression;  The c.w. should challenge this in a variety of ways: private discussion, open debate, emancipating practices  The c.w. has to deal with conflict and resentment  This role can be both uncomfortable and controversial

Developer  This is usually the role that a c.w. should play: encouraging people to participate in community life and take action  Key aspect is: enabling people to acquire new or to improve their capabilities, skills, knowledge and understanding  But also to use the strengths the already have: most important resource in community development  Focus is (more) on the PROCESS, on learning

Supporter  This role involves more interpersonal methods of working: counselling, advising, building self-esteem  Encouraging and motivating people (individuals and groups) to work through difficult situations  A lot of talking, listening to problems and grievances, being present in the community, walking around in the neigbourhood or village, staying in touch, being friendly and easy to access  Enablinge people to use the facilities and resources that they need in their work, for example a meeting space, telephone, photocopier

More roles of the community worker  Activator, Stimulator of initiatives of citizens, individuals, groups, institutions  Enabler, Facilitator of possibilities, conditions  Broker between need or demand and offer or service  Organizer of activities with or for citizens  Intermediary between citizens and government or between individuals and organisations, or …  Designer of new projects and services  Networker between organisations, institutions  Spider in the web  Balancer between different interests