Page 8 - BKCOB CSI Guide 2015

Recognising our Assets

The development sector is inherently The principle of: “start with what you
messy and complex. This presents a have and build on what you know”
challenge to many CSI practitioners, who is what guides our CSI activities. This
find it almost impossible to determine way of thinking reflects an Asset Based
what type of initiative to support: one that Community-driven (ABCD) approach to
will have a meaningful impact on those it development. It recognises that people
aims to benefit as well as on the company are not just passive participants in their
it represents. Any number of unintended development, but rather that they should
consequences can and will sabotage the be driving the process. LegalWise is in
greatest plans. partnership with the Eastern Cape NGO
Coalition in East London and with the
People are the key to the success of Ikhala Trust in Port Elizabeth, both of
the process. Through our experience at whom are driving transformation through
LegalWise, we have learned to invest in an asset-based approach. These learning
people and not in projects. Finding out partners have been instrumental in
what motivates people to drive their own assisting us with framing our CSI approach
development, despite numerous and and enabling us to share our learning with
seemingly unmanageable challenges, others in the development sector.
uncovers remarkable resilience and local
success stories. Lesley Haynes
CSI Manager
Unfortunately, there is a tendency to LegalWise
focus on deficits and weaknesses and on
finding solutions to ‘problems’, instead of
focusing on what works and then creating
an environment which will enable this to
flourish and multiply.

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