COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AIDING DEVELOPMENT OF A NATION

Introduction

   Jean Vanier said "One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn't as individuals. When we pool our strength and share the work and responsibility, we can welcome many people, even those in deep distress, and perhaps help them find self-confidence and inner healing".
   What is a community? I belong, you belong, we all belong to a community. The family is man's first community but a family is also surrounded by other families and together they become a large community.

Participation

   This means being involved in an action or process, particularly doing something with other members of a group, family & community, there are numerous ways to participate in the activities of your community.

Where to participate

   We participate through schools, sports team, groups, friends, church and mosque. 

A-Z Of Community Participation Aiding Development Of A Nation

   A lot more can be done when everyone in the community is involved in some way from the beginning of a project to the end. Individuals should continue to think of ways to improve the welfare of the community through community development projects. For example, you and your neighbors can organize a cleanliness drive in your building, your neighborhood, your town or you can take some of the necessary steps to reduce the number of negative incidents in the community or render financial assistance for the purchase of new equipment and supplies needed for the growth, efficiency & effectiveness of a learning institution, health institution,etc.
   These are some of the few projects that you can take on, what is important is that the project is done together for your community. We don't have to call upon or wait for the government to solve all problems and i dare say that when community development project are embarked upon, it calls for help from government to address needs of such communities. 
   If community participation becomes the watchword on the lips of individuals in various communities, i believe that everyone will help in making the project succeed & all will be pleased about their participation in the success and would probably agree to take on other projects as well. Sometimes, its hard to get all this started but as you get going, others will assist to join in as well, so don't be discouraged if you are involved in community development project.
   In conclusion, do you know?
1)   The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual; the impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community - WILLIAM JAMES
2)   A community is like a ship, everyone ought to be prepared to take the helm - HENRIK IBSEN
3)   When the individual feels, the community reels - ALDOUS HUXLEY
4)   We live in a community of people not so that we can suppress and dominate each other or make each other miserable but so that we can better and more reliably satisfy all life's healthy needs - WILHELM REICH

I PRAY TO ALMIGHTY GOD TO CONTINUALLY HELP US SO THAT WE CAN LIVE AS AN HEALTHY COMMUNITY IRRESPECTIVE OF OUR DIFFERENCES, AMEN.