Name of the project / activity:
Community mapping
Origin of the project / activity (country, town, etc.):
Has worked well in some developing countries in Africa, but also used in the USA and the UK. Now also introduced in the Netherlands.
Please try to define max. three catchwords that describe your project / activity:
Has worked well in some developing countries in Africa, but also used in the USA and the UK. Now also introduced in the Netherlands.
Specific target group? For whom is the project / activity designed:
It is for everybody in a community (neighbourhood or village)
What is the project about? Short but precise description of the local project / activity:
Community Mapping is an inviting method to work on communal challenges in a village or in a city district. What is very important, is that problems are not the starting-point, but the wishes, powers and resources of a community. This is very different from the usual approach where the problems get the main focus. When you do this, people will sit back and wait for help. On the other hand, when you start with the assets that are there, you get positive vibes that people will more easily embrace. With Community Mapping the assets are literally placed on a map or maps.
Is there anything that needs to be considered if the project / activity is to be copied to another rural area (good practice experience, things that went wrong, etc.):
You need a positive mindset to start with the assests that are available. And be sure: everywhere there are assets, even when people think that nothing ever happens in a community.
Are there more sources available for additional information (website, e-mail-contact, etc.)?:
For further information there is some information on the internet. Also mr. Jaap Ikink of NHL/Stenden in Leeuwarden knows a lot about it. You can contact him on j.ikink@nhl.nl
