Human Capacity Development (HCD)

Supporting communities as they make decisions for change

There are many issues in the world such as HIV/AIDS, drugs, suicide, violence to name a few, which require us to think about what we believe in, our attitudes and behaviours and how this impacts on our lives, our families lives, our friends lives and also our wider communities life. In many situations we are able to navigate decisions and actions for ourselves or with the support of others. Sometimes however we are not aware of our own strength to do this, or of the different choices available to us, in such situations additional support can be helpful.

The Salvation Army over the last 20 years has developed a network of teams that can support individuals/families/communities as they identify the key issues affecting them, discuss the root causes, make decisions for change and take action. There are some key beliefs and ways of working which is the foundation of how the teams form and function:

Key belief:
Decisions for change have to be taken and owned by those making the choice. If someone tells you to change, you may change of a short time as a mark of respect, but will it be lasting change? Change has to be wanted. People have strengths within them – this is sometimes called capacity. People have the capacity to talk with each other. They have the capacity to think through their options, they have the capacity to care for each other; they have the capacity to change. In this context, change is an internal process that comes about through knowing that you are not alone in facing the issues and have people that can be a source of support if required, that is, care leads to the hope for something different, and change.

What makes you own the decision to change/want to change?
Ø The issue relates to me personally
Ø I feel motivated to do something about it
Ø You ask yourself the question – what can I do? What are others doing?

Are there people who can support me as I look at what is really going on and what I can do?

Ø A supporting team may visit and open up discussion around the issue – they may go home to home and talk with people, talk to the leaders and ask people whoa re interested to gather to discuss the issue together

Ø The people running the discussion invite those who are interested to be involved and be part of ongoing support within the community, they suggest the volunteers could visit house to house and coordinate future community discussions. They offer to help the volunteers feel more confident in asking questions that open up issues that are affecting people beyond the physical, and listening to the responses.

Ø The team believe that the people involved can make a difference and can change – they support those involved to also believe this about themselves

Ø The visiting team keep visiting and letting the volunteers and community know they are supported and not alone

Ø As the decisions and changes occur, the volunteers are invited to come and share their experiences with other people and other communities to motivate and encourage others to also change.

This process is termed HUMAN CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT