Community projects are often a touchy subject when it comes to local politics and debate. Most politicians want to ensure that they do as little harm to the neighbourhood as possible whilst at the same time ensuring that the projects help boost the local economy and add to the general well being of the area.
Understanding Community Projects
There are two sides to every community project: those that wish to benefit from it and those who wish to see it fail. Many community projects fail simply because the participants do not take the time to assess whether they need the money and energy that the project would bring. Before signing up for a community project, community members should make sure that they understand the pros and cons of its success and possible failure.
A community project is also a term used to describe any group of neighbours who pool their resources and time to work on various projects. This encompasses a very wide range of different projects within a community or an established set of neighbourhood groups. Projects could cover the most obvious aspect of concern to a neighbourhood, the safety aspect, while others tend to be more aesthetic in nature. Some of these projects would involve volunteers from the neighbourhood, while others require professional expertise from a professional group such as volunteers who have a high level of decision-making ability.
One of the main roles of these projects is as a way of creating social interaction, as well as the opportunity for citizens to spend time with each other. Most of the time, these projects attract people who may have otherwise never had a reason to mingle socially. As well, there are usually a number of activities and events that take place during the summer months. For example, a neighbourhood could organize a BBQ on the weekends to help senior citizens and their neighbours get together and talk. Usually, the events include some form of music, dancing or an event quilt. As well, some community projects to help with the construction or renovation of affordable housing units and this can often lead to some very valuable networking opportunities.
How Community Projects Can Help People
However, the main reason behind community projects is to enhance a person’s soft skills. In many ways, the goal of volunteering is to not only make a difference, but also to enhance one’s soft skills so that they will be able to contribute positively in their future endeavors. Community volunteers have the opportunity to help out in a variety of ways. While some are just doing basic things like painting walls, others can be much more involved. For example, some volunteers may be asked to run errands and help at the elderly’s centre or perhaps help with fundraiser drives at the local store.
There are also opportunities to be involved with the community projects in a specialized role. For example, some volunteers may be asked to organize events such as an art gallery opening or farmers market so that they are helping to promote economic activity in the area. At the same time, they can help to coordinate special needs programming for seniors, or even help to build homes for those in need. Whatever the role, special skills such as organizing or working in teams to achieve goals are very important for successful volunteers.
Long Term Impact From Community Projects
The most exciting part about community projects is the sense of pride you get involved with. As a lifelong resident of a small town in Eastern Canada, I know that the sense of community is one of the most precious things in the world. When I was growing up, my neighbours and friends were all very different from me – some of them with advanced degrees, some of them with regular jobs, some of them with blue-collar jobs and some of them with nothing in their lives other than a deep love for Canada. Volunteering in the local community projects will allow you to get involved in such a loving way while making a real difference in your community.
