The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Optentia research focus area will be hosting a virtual launch of a book Does Community Development Work? – co-written by Prof Lucius Botes – on 20 April from 10:00 to 11:30.

Prof Botes, a professor in development studies and the director for research development in the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, wrote the book along with Prof Peter Westoby, an associate professor in social science and community development at the School of Public Health and Social Work at the Queensland University of Technology.

Does Community Development Work? uses South African history and community development practice, dealing with issues such as housing, land, cooperatives, education, community protests and urban farming.  It combines story, conceptual insight and theoretical discourse, illustrating the global and South African history of community development.

In the book the two authors answer various questions, including what makes community development effective, and how to ensure that community development is responsive to the decolonial turn, the call for effectiveness and the need for justice.  It also puts useful practical frameworks that community development workers can use in the spotlight.

The publication also provides both citizens and professionals an opportunity to navigate an increasingly uncertain world. It calls for fresh reflection and reflexivity, and lays out a post-structural, deconstructive and decolonising viewpoint on community development.

The authors also share the vision of several distinguished individuals including Steve Biko, Mahatma Gandhi, Es'kia Mphahlele and Neville Alexander, whose writings and actions contributed to community development practice.

Click Here to register for the launch