Postsecondary Community Development Program: Career Prospects Community development work typically includes helping communities in bringing about social changes and improving the quality of their lives. The professionals work with individuals, families as well as the entire community aiming to enhance their economic and social wellbeing. Community development is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates economics, politics, cultural diversity and social psychology. The professionals more often act as a link between local authorities and communities while addressing the issues related to inequality, injustice, health and sanitation, education, employment, general administration and community development. Career Prospects Community development workers are employed with government, NGOs, international communities for social development, national or regional corporations or voluntary organizations. They can build their careers in the fields of public administration, politics, urban studies, social work, healthcare, anthropology, sociology and other related fields. More specific careers in community work include fundraising, administration, human rights, consultancy, advocacy, environment, gender equality, sanitation, forced migration, relief work, planning, economist roles and negotiation and liaising. The typical work activities include:
Promoting social and economic justice
Challenging oppression and discrimination
Managing and directing community economic development initiatives
Identifying the needs of communities
Raising funds for community development
Ensuring that the locals have their say
Mediating and settling matters of conflict
Encouraging locals to fight for their rights
Empowering locals to enhance their economic and social wellbeing
Community development work can be generic and specialised depending upon your qualifications and the organization you work with. However, to seek entry level positions with organizations in community development, you need to undergo formal education and have worked for the community. Community Development Programs in Canada A community development program in Toronto prepares students for careers in public, private and non-profit sectors in a variety of entry level positions. The program gives students the opportunity to gain in-depth understanding about society as a whole along with other related subjects including economics, politics and social psychology. The two-year postsecondary diploma helps you build strong theoretical foundations in community development while providing you a lot of opportunities to work in “real world” field settings. Although there is no particular roadmap to serve the community but the program is aimed at helping students acquire the basic knowledge necessary to work effectively in this field. Centennial College