Community Development is a central theme that can be heard in almost every town and village in the developing world. EduVenture’s approach to CD is bottom-up and people-centered, highly dependent on the unique needs of local communities. We focus on transforming communities holistically by equipping people through discipleship, leadership, and training.  “Projects” are secondary to life change.  EV believes that CD combined with ministry/missions is powerful and essential in loving our neighbors.  It begins with humility and being a good learner and observer of people’s values and needs, and is carried through with long-term commitment and compassion. 

 

Students will learn the multiple facets of CD through field experiences, lectures, discussions, discovery learning, readings from books and various handouts, team projects, role-plays, and debates.  There will also be various field experiences and visit with people involved in different forms of CD.  Students will critically analyze CD in communities while maintaining humility, knowing that those who have gone before us are most often just like us and have the advantage of experience in that community.

 

Course Goals: Upon completing the course, students will be able to:

1.         Explain the complexity and interrelation of world poverty and non-poverty issues such as population, resource consumption, international trade, personal lifestyle choices, and political/religious power issues. 

 

2.         List and explain the key principles to practically partner with the poor to help solve problems and cross barriers to change lives and communities, such as: compassion, respect, ownership, leadership, empowerment, justice, simplicity, intentionality, sustainability, etc.

 

3.         Contrast the Biblical basis for Christian CD and how it is different than that in the secular arena.

 

4.         Identify, compare and contrast the different philosophies, principles, and effective strategies of transformational development as they apply to a specific community.

 

5.         Understand how to apply principles of adult learning and participatory training with CD.

 

6.         Recognize and generate ideas and practical solutions that are biblically holistic for communities to realize their hopes and values. Begin to develop the personal qualities of a "holistic practitioner".

 

7.         Anticipate the short-term and long-term effects of a specific change in a community and recognize the benefits and harm of the overall impact.  Identify various reactions and consequences.

 

8.         Recognize the importance and limitations of appropriate technology in transforming people and communities.

 

9.         Demonstrate how to use different transformational development tools learned in class.

 

10.       Discuss the role governing institutions and non-government organizations have in community development, giving practical examples of each.

 

11.       Refer to different practical resources of information and assistance for CD information and projects.