We believe that true transformation must come from within.
Our highly effective community engagement model supports communities as they transform themselves into empowered change-makers, ready to work on the challenges they face with transformative, community-led solutions
Here’s how the transformation happens.
1.
We forge
relationships
COFHED never enters a community without first being invited. We spend time to foster bi-directional relationship with community members to build trust, listen, break bread together and laugh and learn from one another. We do not impose our agenda. We see our role not as experts but as catalysts.
2.
We recognize local
strengths and assets
We use our proven community engagement process to learn about their history, local resources and trends. We also use other tools to help identify their strengths and build on existing community skills, achievements and assets. We do this knowing they are the ones with the true knowledge of their realities and the ability to make change happen. All of this contributes to a shared vision and strategy to community-led solutions
3.
We strengthen
capacity
We mobilize citizens at the grassroots level to drive the process of development at their own pace. We facilitate. We allow time for community members to construct knowledge, while also bolster local education, leadership and mobilization so that rural citizens can effectively sustain their communities beyond our partnership.
4.
We train community engagement Catalysts
Our Train the Trainer (TTT) approach brings COFHED’s transformative model into new communities far and wide.
It equips cohorts of Community Engagement Catalysts with the tools they need to effectively engage their communities and others who are ready to work for transformation. The program consists of classroom, hands-on agro-technical skills and community internship. Once commissioned, these cohorts, as catalysts, provide on-the-ground support while communities work in identifying their issues and developing their own lasting social, economic and environmental solutions.
5.
Our partner communities take the lead
Our model puts partner communities in the driver’s seat of their own future.
COFHED’s vision and mission has always prioritized the importance of ideas and dreams of the community. As we work together, these dreams inevitably come to life based on the hard work and vision of the local people who we partner with. This focus on putting them in a position of power is what we call, “community-led innovation and initiatives” and it’s very different than the status quo in the development world and something that sets our organization apart.
Poverty affects every part of a community.
That’s why we enable them to take a holistic approach to fight it.
Agroforestry and environmental restoration: Community farming, fruit trees, plans watershed restoration
Community engagement and training:
Build individual and collective capacity for transformation
Disaster preparedness:
Community planning, designated shelter areas, emergency distribution channels
Economic development:
Microcredit, local market initiatives, livestock program, plans for grain silo and bakery
Gender equality and justice:
preventing gender-based violence, vocational training for women
Health and nutrition:
Community clinic and health program, women’s health, school based nutrition and meal program
Community-led Schools:
Community-built and run Pre K-6 grade school; support for secondary and post-secondary
Rural access and local infrastructure:
One footbridge over Cavaillon River, 1 health clinic, 1 preschool and 1 elementary school, 13 homes built
Water, sanitation and hygiene:
34 latrines, a piped water system, water purification
Our work drives community-led economic sustainability
In our long-standing partner community of Lougou, a group of women stepped up and launched a powerful microcredit program. Its long-term success and incredible growth demonstrates how our model helps communities take charge of their destinies and grow their collective economic power. MOFADEL -- Microcredit Organization of Active Women for the Development of Lougou -- is an organization led by Lougou women who started out with a dream of being entrepreneurs. It provides low-interest loans to rural families with limited access to financial resources especially women, so they can start their own businesses, cultivate wealth, and ultimately fight poverty.
MOFADEL’s SUCCESS AT A GLANCE
Borrower repayment rate of 94 percent
45 percent of borrowers invest in business, and 33 percent in agriculture
505 members as of the end of 2023
192 active loans, with members eligible for up to $1,500 USD
100 percent led by members of the Lougou community
“It’s the training that’s going to help us make thorough change as a community. I have been a pessimist, now I am becoming more of an optimist. The community engagement training is the best gift, the greatest of riches that COFHED could ever give our community, even if we were never to receive anything else.”
— Motler from the Marc community