Frozen community theory entry according this theory

Best practices in community entry to

exit by external change agents.

• According to this theory, it is assumed that
communities have potential for self- mobilization for self- development but will often fail to realise potential because of inertia ( apathy, disinterest, inaction }.

• Conflict and competition within families and
among community members has tended to usurp the energies that could have been utilised for constructive purpose and common good.

• Local initiative, when taken at all, has evolved into a dismal shadow of its true potential.

People have become accustomed to
petitioning those in authority, or donors with outside resources, to do something on their behalf.

Frozen community theory cont’

• The external change agents may include groups such as scholars (idealists), social activists
(protagonists in search of a more just society), or civil society activists, technical bureaucrats,
sector specialists, managers, church workers, NGO workers.

Frozen community theory cont’

• You only need to quote the legitimizers or be seen with them to be accepted by the people. Once the new change agents and their ideas are legitimized by the local structures the process of community ‘mobilization’ can now begin.

• Some of these are traditional top-down
structures which need to be given orientation into participatory and democratic forms of leadership.

• The process will include the formation of new groups within a framework of new value
systems

• Early adopters gradually emerge into internal change agents or internal animators as a result of consistent and concerted capacity building training and formation programmes.

• Ultimately, internal animators also acquire new skills as para-technicians (such as local mill operators or local pump operators), Community health Workers, para-Vets, and Traditional Birth attendants.

• Training individuals is likely to reinforce the undesirable phenomenon of monopoly of skills and knowledge in a few hands therefore concentration of power.

• Once community mobilises are trained and appropriately equipped, it is believed that the ‘frozen’ community starts to defrost and
locally driven community development
process begins to take place.

The 3c’s theory cont’

• Co-operating group- willing to undertake the issue and see it implemented.

• The first step is to identify who are in each of the 3cs categories in any given case of new
community initiative. For those who are co-
operating, plan how to get them actively
involved.

• Plan a campaign of awareness for the apathetic or passive group. The campaign aims at
encouraging them to agree and co-operate, as they get more and better informed on the facts.

boycotting purchasing from business of
individual members of the opposition group).