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Research Journal of the University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka- Rohana 11, 2019

conduciveness where active social development action initiates, takes momentum
and thrives.

The connection-centered volunteering approach instigates reaching out to people
believing, that they are capable people, are not simply “objects” on behalf of whom
2
decisions are taken. “We don’t develop people, people develop themselves ” (quoted
from Schenck and Louw: 1995). People have confidence and potential to exert their

power in planning and decision-making processes at community and society levels
that affect their lives (Payne: 2005; Kenny: 2006; Ife, 2006).

According to Payne (2005) true empowerment needs to be a process that enables

ordinary people to gain power of decisions and actions over their own lives and

increase capacity and self-confidence to show that they can influence social and
personal blocks that exercise existing power negatively over them. Kenny (2006)

indicates that people are not objects, in an empowerment approach, they cannot be

merely recognized to be studied, rescued, corrected, or controlled. If they are treated
in that manner, it does not accept that people are “a package of capabilities”. If their

capabilities and resources are recognized and helped to be used, they will be capable
of realizing their own potentials, increasing self-confidence and, transferring it to

other individuals, groups, and communities to exert a positive community
transformation that is required (Kenny, 2006; Ife, 2006). Action of local social

development recognizes that the power of human beings and their subjective

development as being equally important as their material development (Ife, 2006).
This fundamental appreciation of connection-centered volunteering approach

ensures the strong adherence in the process of outreaching and engaging every

2 An inspiring statement by Julius Nyerere, renowned thinker, political theorist and writer on
“African (Ujamaa) Socialism” and former President of Tanzania

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