Does community development work? Stories and practice for reconstructed community development in South Africa

Abstract

To depart from a structured, colonial approach in community development to a creative imaginary vision, subjected to processes, procedures, and technologies, requires both an epistemological and practical change in praxis. The authors acknowledge that there is no pre-determined single framework or modus to promote as the perfect trajectory towards a renewed vision. Cues are rather taken from civil society, community projects and initiatives in understanding community development in a decolonised context, “they worked with people from ‘inside out’, based on the particularity of place and context”.