Building Communities by Focusing on Strengths
“Go to the people.
Live with them, learn from them, love them.
Start with what they know, build with what they have.
But with the best leaders, when the work is done,
The people will say,
‘We have done this ourselves.’” – Lao Tzu
These words, written more than 2,700 years ago, are more than philosophy for Chartered client Janine Ward, they are the foundation of her life’s work.
For nearly four decades, Janine has dedicated herself to community development across Africa, guided by the principle that people are their own best experts. This approach, known as Asset-Based Citizen-led Development (ABCD), turns traditional development thinking on its head. Instead of focusing on what’s missing, ABCD begins with what’s already there: skills, passions, relationships, land, and resources.
As Janine explains, “The key principle of ABCD is to focus on what is strong, not what is wrong.” Asking people “What do you have?” rather than “What do you need?” creates a shift in perspective that is powerful and liberating. Time and again, Janine has witnessed the light bulb moment when people realise they already hold the tools to shape their own future. “Once people reach this point,” she says, “all I do is step back and watch them fly.”
Today, Janine is helping to spread this philosophy across South Africa through Love Cities, a movement that began in her hometown of Howick and has since grown to 11 towns across the country. Each community decides on its own projects — from clean-ups to coffee shops to housing initiatives — drawing on the unique strengths of its people and resources. By uniting municipalities, businesses, faith-based organisations and residents, Love Cities creates collaborative, home-grown solutions that build pride and lasting impact. In Gqeberha, for example, Love Nelson Mandela Bay runs a “One House a Month” campaign, renovating homes, dormitories and schools, while Love Paarl has created a coffee shop that trains baristas and doubles as a community meeting place.
Janine has also reached a milestone she has dreamed of for years. Together with a group of ABCD colleagues, she has just registered the ABCD Africa Association, a platform to connect practitioners across the continent. The Association will provide a space to share ideas, success stories, resources and work opportunities, and will officially launch soon with a virtual event. You can already follow their updates on Facebook.
And there is always room for more hearts and hands. Visit www.lovecities.org.za, explore the initiatives near you, and reach out to Janine or Matt to see how you can play a part in building a stronger, more connected South Africa
Get in touch:
Janine Ward – jwinspace@gmail.com | 082 956 0048 | LinkedIn
Matt Hogarty (CEO, Love Cities) – matt@lovecities.org.za | 082 882 2019