SOCIAL STUDIES- BASIC 8

Sub-Strand 1 :THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY
Our learning in this sub-strand is going to be guided by this content standard
below;
Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the individual in the community

INDICATORS:
SENSE OF PURPOSE
By the end of this sub-strand, you will be able to;
1. Examine the role of the individuals in the community
2. Discuss the relevance of volunteerism to community development

Starter
1. ACTIVITY
Many Ghanaians have failed to understand the fact that a community is made
through the concerted efforts of its members. We as a result tend to expect too much
from the central government. There are many individuals who have refused to
contribute their quota to the development of their communities. Such habits are
detrimental to the community.
Create a poster on the role of the individual in community development.
 In groups learners create a poster on the community decision and come out with
factors to be considered in community decision making

COMMUNITY

A community is a relatively large group of people living in a well-defined location with
common values, enduring ties, frequent interaction, values and a sense of closeness.
A community could also be defined as a group of people who are united by interest,
characteristics, association and behavior patterns. A community could be small like a
cottage, village, and town or big like countries of the world.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Community development refers to a positive change in attitude, values, interest,
physical structures which help in raising the standard of living of the people in a given
area. Community development is most often initiated and executed by individuals,
groups and members of the community and must be expressed in the improvement of
the people s socio-economic life and infrastructure.

LEVELS OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

A community could be identified according to interest for example, education, work,
social activities etc. Community levels differ in many ways. Some start from the family
and expand through neighborhood, village, and town, district, regional and national.
(FAMILY—– NEIBOURHOOD——-VILLAGE——-TOWN——DISTRICT—-REGIONAL——NATIONAL). While the international community starts from
Africa
the sub-region, regional and international. West Africa, East Africa

FACTORS THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
DISTRICT
Community development can be promoted when the following are in place;
• There is a change in attitude of the people: Development of any community can
be promoted if the people have a positive attitude towards community life. A
positive change in attitude will imbibe patriotism and concern for making them
devote their resource, time, energy for the socio-economic development of the
community.
• Protecting and maintenance of community property and projects:
Development of every community is promoted only when members of the
community protect and maintain the already existing projects. Resources which
would otherwise have been used in replacing broken properties would be saved
and used for other relevant social amenities.
• Effective leadership and organization: There is also the need for leadership and
followership among the people. Once everyone in the community can be a leader
there must be a person who should have extra ordinary abilities to organize and
carry his people along with a high sense of foresight to create and initiate ideas and
plans for the development of the community.
• Education and training of local people: To allow for full and active participation
and the provision of efficient and good leadership for the development of the
people, they should be given the needed education and training on leadership
roles and skills, ideas, sanitation, child care and maintenance of public property.
e Mobilization of funds and resources: Community development involves the use
of resources and funds. Leaders in the community should be able to organize their
people both home and abroad to mobilize cash and material to facilitate the
development of the community.

• Proper utilization of resources and funds: One factor key to community
  development is the mobilization of proper resources and funds. Development of
  the community will be possible when members of a community are disciplined and
  make sure that every bit of resource is put to a proper use by avoiding stealing and
  pilfering, nepotism and tribalism, putting round peg in square holes as well as
  proper accountability procedures.
  • Participation in community development projects; Citizen’s participation in
  Communal activities help them provide more social amenities needed to improve
  their socio-economic conditions and also to ensure quick and efficient decision and
  implementation of development projects.
  • Avoidance of divisiveness; Development in every community is ensured when
  everyone is brought on board. Activities and actions which are likely to bring about
  divisiveness, conflicts, general intolerance and clashes should be avoided and
  eliminated if any as they have the potential of creating disunity and confusion.

THE ROLE OF THE INDIVIDUAL IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

• The contributions of the individual to the development of the community are many and
  These contributions among others include the following;
  • A major role of the individual in the community is the Payment of levies and
  rates: The development of every community depends on the revenues paid by the
  citizens. When levies and basic rates are paid by the citizens’ money will be
  accrued to undertake developmental projects and amenities to enhance the living
  conditions of the people.
  > Offering of voluntary service is another role of the individual in then
  community: Individuals in the community should be prepared to offer voluntary
  services or communal labour. Voluntary service leads to socio-economic
  development of the community because of the beneficial nature of the projects
  which are undertaken. Example schools, hospitals, water, toilets etc.
  The individual can also offer Expert knowledge and technical advice: One
  major way the individual contribution to his community is by offering knowledge
  and expertise on projects initiated in the community freely.
  • Patriotism and positive change in attitudes: A way by which the individual
  contributes to the development of the community is by eschewing all negative
  tendencies which have the capacity to destroy the community. When this is done
  the individual will become more patriotic- thus be more concerned and places the
  interest of the community above self.
• Identifying and articulating the problems of the community: When the problems of the society are identified by the individual and well-articulated he or she will be able to collaborate with others in finding solutions to these problems. He/she can co-operate with others to pressurize the government to solve these problems which will lead to the development of the community.
• Protecting the environment: one contributes to community development when he/she helps to keep a healthy environment. This can be done when bushes are cleared, water bodies not polluted, avoiding indiscriminate felling of trees and bush Burning
• The individual can also offer Expert knowledge and technical advice: One major way the individual contribution to his community is by offering knowledge and expertise on projects initiated in the community freely.

An initiative refers to the act of making decisions and implementing them without the
support and help of others at the work place or in a community.

COMMUNITY DECISION

Community decision is a general consensus on matters of importance which is taken for the betterment of the community.

FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN COMMUNITY DECISION MAKING

⚫ Identification of the problem/needs: Decision making involves identifying the needs/problems that confronts the people. This is because decisions cannot be taken in a vacuum and once the needs are identified a decision can then be taken on them.

• Sensitization of the people: Sensitization is the process of making the people aware of the need for socio-economic development of the community Sensitization should be considered in decision making. This is because when people are aware of the problem they would be willing to devote their energy, time and resources for the good of the community.
• Prioritization of needs/problems: After the needs/problems are identified, the decision making organs should arrange the problem in their order of importance/magnitude so that the most pressing needs be solved first.

Study of the alternative solution: Another factor to be considered in community decision is the study of the alternative solution. The decision making bodies should also explore other alternative solutions to them since there is not one way of solving a problem.

Mobilizing support: The decision making body should get the support of the people for whom the decision is made before arriving at the decision.

• Mobilizing funds and resources: Another factor worth considering is the funding and resources. Decisions can only be taken when funds and resources are made available.

• COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
  Community initiative is the efforts made by both individuals and group in a community to help themselves and one another in order to better their living conditions through the provision of essential social amenities and other infrastructural needs without depending on an external body/institution.
  Community initiative could also be referred to a collective social action that enables a
  community to take a wide range of socio-economic issues/problems with or without the Support from the central government. It is a very important tool for development as the people are self-motivated.
• IMPORTANCE / BENEFITS OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVE
  Community initiative is important because of the importance that is attached to it.
  Some of the importance includes the following;
  Community initiative offer employment to people in the community:
  employment opportunities are created through community initiative. When
  projects such as lorry parks, toilets and markets are built as a result of community
  initiative. Some members of the community are employed to manage these
  facilities and are paid some amount of money as salaries helping to change their
  living conditions.
  2• Community initiative leads to the provision of Social amenities: Social
  amenities such as hospitals, schools, potable water, electricity etc are provided
  through community initiative which goes a long way to change and improve the
  socio-economic conditions of the people.
  3• Community initiative ensure peace and order: Peace and order is ensured in
  the community through community initiative. This is seen when watch-dog
  committees and other committees are formed to prevent criminal activities. By so
  doing peace and order is maintained thereby leading to development.
  4• Community initiative leads to improvement in sanitation: Sanitary conditions
  in the environment are improved through community initiatives which are always in
  the form of clean ups and such other related activities. Waste materials and filth in
  the community is gotten rid off during clean up campaigns there by leading to the
  prevention of diseases such as malaria, typhoid etc.

5. Community initiative strengthens relationship: Community initiative through
   communal labour strengthens relationship and bond of friendship between
   families, individuals and tribes. Three is a sense of togetherness, collective
   responsibility, we feeling and sense of belongings and support for one another.
   6. Community initiative leads to development: Community development
   builds/inculcates in the individual the spirit of patriotism. Each member of the
   community is always committed to help bring about the desired development in the
   community. Community initiative also brings about development in the life of the
   individual as well.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
Community leadership involves working with others for the common good/benefit of the
community members.

COMMUNITY LEADER

A community leader is someone who is appointed or elected and use the power
entrusted to him/her to help others and bring about positive changes in the community.
The aim of a community leadership is to encourage the empowerment of the people and
not lording over them. His/her main work is to;
(i) Draw up a vision of the community
(ii) Motivate individuals and organizations to act together for a common purpose.
(iii) Guide and help the people to achieve a desired goal.

CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
1. Effective community leadership leads to good use of resources: Community
leadership is about ensuring that community resources are effectively used to meet
local priorities. It is also about delivering the best for their people and actively
seeking new ways of promoting the well-being of the community.
2. Effective community leadership brings about having/building a vision and
sense of direction: A vision is a long term mental picture of what they want the
community to look like. The leader has to work with interest groups, individuals and
local organizations in drawing a long term vision for the community.
3. Effective community leadership results in empowering local communities:
Leadership is about creating the environment needed to empowering the local
people for the emergence of future leaders and also to foster active citizenship by
encouraging teamwork.

4. Effective community leadership must be a listening one and also involving
   local communities: The leader must be in touch with the community especially the
   youth, interest groups and minority groups in the community. The leader needs to
   visible and accessible to the community members.
   5. Effective community leadership must involve accountability: Leadership
   must be seen to be accountable to the local people. This is done through periodic
   elections and development of the active relationships with local people. A leader
   must be accountable to the concerns of the people through open forum and open
   discussions.
   6. Effective community leadership means standing up for the community: Local
   people expect their leader to speak out for the community on major issues that affect
   the people like lack of health facilities, potable water, good roads and electricity.

ACTIVITY 1.2
i. Learners brainstorm areas that they can offer voluntary service to the community
i. using the think-pair -share method leaners share their results with colleagues
ii. Learners in a group draw pictures of volunteerism and the benefits associated with
volunteerism to the individual and community

REVIEW QUESTIONS
What is the difference between
i a community
ii. Community development
Examine the factors to be considered in community development decision
making?
What is community initiative?
Outline four importance of community initative
3. a. Explain the term volunteerism
b. discuss the contribution of volunteering roles to the development of the society
4. Discuss the five roles of the individual to the development of the community