From campus to community building: changing perspectives and programmes of development agencies

Abstract

The perspective of development of many non-governmental development agencies underwent a change in the 1970s. Consequently, there was a shift in their focus, a way from themselves to the communities they were assisting. However, a preoccupation with operations made any strategic change in programmes a difficult proposition. The paper analysis the experiences of two development programmes, a hospital and a women's handicraft centre, and presents some ssuggestions for action. IT appears that an experimental approach to programme alternatives, learning about the large system from changes in the sub-systems, initiation of participatory planning processes are possibilities for action.