Fragmented community image

Disrupted patterns of village identity
Unstable images of rural community identity
Disjointed community character

Nature

Confused and complex understanding of community identity is emerging from the shifting roles and images required to cope with rapidly changing world patterns. Decision-making structures and organizational forms seem inadequate in the face of modern complexities, as individual concerns and actions are being replaced by corporate community endeavours.

Incidence

Patterns of village identity are disrupted by encroaching urban areas, resulting in the interests of the residents being directed toward the city. The lost traditional family and village systems are not replaced by new structures; traditional occupations are looked on as demeaning; skills from past trades are by-passed for modern expertise; education in other areas has greater recognition; young people look to the city for jobs; and adults go to the city for consumer goods and other urban conveniences. The loss of village identity and pride is exemplified by the untidy public areas: although the inside and outside of homes are often immaculately clean, litter and trash lie between living areas and in public spaces.

The community itself may be unaware of basic population data and therefore of the skills and talents of its residents. In many traditional villages, bloodline allegiance and family-focused lives conflict with the group commitment necessary to bring a livelihood above subsistence level. Some residents may seldom take part in community life because of jobs in distant places, poor local transportation even for children attending schools a few kilometres away, or physical isolation in widely-scattered houses or small clusterings of families; all of which contribute to a sense of fragmentation. Powerful national identification is not reflected in a local community pride which would enhance the national pride already present. The songs and rituals of the nation find no supportive local community counterpart, but only in individuals or small groups. Residents see themselves as dependent on remote outside assistance which appears unresponsive because of a lack of overall understanding of procedures and available services.

Claim

It is vitally necessary for every local community to be conscious of its unique worth, especially in contemporary large cities, where this awareness will deeply affect every aspect of public and private life. At critical moments in a neighbourhood's history, as when new housing estates appear which dramatize radical, rapid transition, a new role and emerging identity must be created or the community will cease to be a place of significant personal engagement for its residents and of creative service for the rest of society.

Many small villages do not realize their potential as uniquely attractive places to both live and work; but as long as people continue to accept the inadequacies of their environment, development of such villages will be hindered.