Religion and community development : working with African Communities

Abstract

In this paper, I discuss the potential role of religion as an agent of community development with African communities. I hope to offer a greater clarity of the relationship between religion, personal wellbeing and social action within African worldview (Lunn, 2009).

My hope is that this presentation will be useful for practitioners working with African communities ­ for reflecting on ways in which we may be able to encompass religion as a factor in community development approaches. Particularly looks at a number of specific fields that are widely considered in the practice of community development to reflect on ways in which religious ideas may be relevant to community development processes.

This paper is drawn from direct experience, more than abstract analysis or research. I am a community development researcher and practitioner with a commitment to working with people at margins of society (particularly young women). I also bring to this article my experience of an African in diaspora (or migrant African). In some respects, therefore, this article recounts a personal intellectual and practical journey.