Our Story

The history of development aid policy and well-intentioned giving throughout the poorest parts of the world has been rife with problems, obstacles and outright failures. In response to the restrictive views that have guided protocol for decades, more recent development efforts have pursued an alternative community-focused model of development, placing a greater emphasis on issues of social development and human empowerment. FCDE’s story and approach arises from this ideal - that community development, when done properly, can have a significant impact on people’s lives and the welfare of entire communities.

FCDE’s founding members began their international community development work at the grass roots level working in financially impoverished communities from Africa to Eastern Europe to the South Pacific. They experienced firsthand the challenges facing these regions and partnered with community groups, organizations, and local visionary leaders to address these core issues of poverty, poor health, lack of education, and social inequity. As FCDE’s originating members’ work in the development field has grown and diversified over the years, each of us has remained steadfast in our belief in one aspect of development: Effective sustainable development must integrate an approach that empowers communities and increases the capacity of local organizations to address development needs. This model is comprehensive with notions of justice, dignity, and true community participation coupled with sound development practices, which attend to the basic needs of a region.

FCDE’s founding philosophy derives from the knowledge that local people, communities, and organizations are best equipped to guide development in their communities. Sustainable development has not successfully progressed in many parts of the world because traditional aid and development policy has not been able to develop consistent approaches that properly engage the intended recipients of development funds. The FCDE model advocates for a greater investment in people and their capacity for creating real change as a way of achieving the sustainability of development efforts.

Within this context FCDE’s approach has taken form - gaining a wider perspective on social struggles in development because it addresses root causes and is built on legal foundations with community participation as a core component. Our model is to deliver capacity building services to organizations that work in seven key areas; health, education, small business development, social justice, women’s empowerment, HIV/AIDS and the environment in order to enhance the more holistic set of support for a community.

At the same time we support and partner with the leaders, grassroots groups, and organizations that have already made strides towards improving their communities. FCDE's work aims to bridge the gaps, helping partner organizations overcome the obstacles that impede their initial community development initiatives. We provide resources, seed funds, technical training, and hire local personnel to create an environment where local people driving development come together and support each other. As community development strives to build upon the strengths and capacities of people, it is intimately connected to the needs, rights and will of the community in order to bring about structural change.

This is just the beginning of our story. We hope that it is one that resonates with you and that you’ll share it with friends and find a way to personally get involved.