Agenda - 03-06-1996 - X-C - Laserfiche WebLink

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t Sister Comm' 'unit ?'ro ect� Y. J_ News and Reports pmt= 1994l199S r ` Community Leaders Arrive Soon! The Sister Community Project is delighted to announce the arrival of twelve South African community leaders who will be working in U-S.city governments across the country. This training and exchange pro- gram was developed in response to the ur- gent need in South Africa for public admin- istration skills and builds on the links we've established with communities in South Af- Former St.Paul City Councilman Bill Wilson speaking with Lawaaikamp community rica over the past eight years. The visit represents n leader Pumi Boaysens. St.Paul has helped Lawaaikamp tnise funds for housing,office re pm an exciting new direction for the equipment and was instrumental in identifying funding for a community center, SisterCommunity Project,as we expand our ties of solidarity with South African com Towards a Global Village m>innities- By Michael H.Shuman Ong Experiences The U.S. South Africa sister community nition of development—namely,"Meeting The Public Administration Exchange Pro- network is part of a growing movement of the basic needs of all and extending to all the gram will provide local government training people attempting to solve the planet's eco- opportunity to fulfill their aspirations for a to 12 South Afiicans who will be officials or nomic, environmental and security prob- better life." central figures in the country's new local lems through local action. In literally thou- authorities. The interns all have long histo- sands of cities,towns,and villages,commu- This broad conception of development ries as leaders in their own communities,and nity groups and non-government organza- grows out of the failures of earlier develop- will soon be in positions of authority in the lions (NGOs) are teaming up with local ment efforts, when Northerners imposed first democratic local governments. They authorities to remold international relations, inappropriate economic models throughout will have the opportunity to observe and particularly relations between the wealthy the South. The costs of these earlier Ws- compare the broad stray of city functions countries of the North and the poor countries takes are now well known_ a S 1.4 trillion and day-today activities of municipalities. of the South. debt thatcountries of the South may neverbe This will strengthen their own efforts to able to repay;"structural adjustment"pro- crzatedemocraticlocalgovernmentinSouth These local initiatives,most of which be- gram that increased poverty, unemploy- Africa upon their return. gan in the 1980s,rarely grab national head- ment, and suffering throughout the South; corn on p.6 lines. Indeed,most communities are only and trade-based economies that are destroy- dimly aware of the international wo-k being ing communities,families and the environ- InSides done in their own country, let a e by ment virtually everywhere. Sig Community Development Ex- communities in distant parts of the ortd. periences in SA and the US. p.3 But they may well represent the future of The practitioners of CDls are interested in Milwces in SA an the South Africa North-South relations. • whattheycallpeople-m6Wreddevelopment. Work p•94 p.7 They are less concerned with traditional Berkeley Science and Math Exchange People-centered Development measures of development like income and wealth,and more concerned with the requi- Program p'7 Most of the organizers of community- sites for a good life,such as literacy,techno- based development initiatives, or CDls, logical know how.self-reliance,healthy eco- ]RUS embrace the Brunddand Commission's deft- systems, demilitarization, and—most im- • South-South Exchange Program p.8. cant.on p.4