COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE ON THE IDEA OF COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT, A CASE STUDY OF BAN PLAYKLONG BANG PHO NUEA, MOO 3 BANG PHO NUEA, SAM KHOK DISTRICT, PATHUM THANI PROVINCE

Abstract

          These objectives of this Research were: to investigate the definition of Community Empowerment and its characteristics in the community’s view; to study methods for creating community empowerment. And to find solution for creating community empowerment. This research also commended several Community empowerments - making approaches. The tools used in the study were in-depth interviews on three issues along with the objectives. Quality of research tools were determined by the experts in terms of appropriateness of the interview structure and the questioning items. The questionnaires were tried out with key informants to determine the appropriateness of the language used in interviewing and the data analyzing in order to improve it appropriate and be able to answer the objectives.
          The major research method was the in-depth interview of 15 key-informants, the formal community leader, leader of local government, the religions’ leader, some senior citizens of community, the female group leader and those who is active role in the community. In order to analyze data, the logical analysis in comparison with concepts, theories, relevant researches and social context was utilized In addition, descriptive statistics were used to further analyze the data.
The research results were: In the dwellers’ point of view, the definition of Community Empowerment refers to the community of which the dwellers experience well-being, independent community resource management, debt-free living; hold community rights; and are free from external influential factors. Moreover, the dwellers in a Community Empowerment need to have unity and trust among one another to collaboratively take part in solving community problems. They also need to develop a conscious mind, a moral sense, and confidence in enhancing the community potential in solving the community problems. They need to be mindful of helping, sharing, and sacrificing themselves for the sake of the whole community and be able to rely on other people in the community when in need.
          In the dwellers’ point of view, characteristics of Community Empowerment indicators include, 1) The community members believe in their own potential and that of their community and are ready to solve and enhance their living standards. Furthermore, they need to broaden the active participation in promoting public awareness and putting knowledge into practice in order to bring about positive changes, 2) The community dwellers need to develop Community Empowerment engagement, have potential in self-reliance, and promote collaborative learning. This will lead to the establishment of a learning community where its members are active to learn and aware of current social, economic, political, religious, and cultural changes.
          In the dwellers’ point of view, the establishment of A Community Empowerment refers to 1) the exploration of their potential and the development of local wisdom; 2) the restoration of natural resources in the community, the promotion of participatory community development through the process of learning and exchanging for career and community economic development; 3) the implementation of local wisdom; community natural resources; and the environment to yield benefits, promote community gathering or coordination, and modify the attitude and working process of governmental sectors so as to modify their roles as an initiator to a supporter.