Action for Healthy Communities

Action for Healthy Communities uses a community development model that implies a dynamic of involving people through different methods (See Diagram 1). Led by the AHC vision and mission, staff and volunteers engage with individuals and groups to continue reflection and learning to eventually sustain actions that create community health and well being (see Diagram 2). This process allows people to connect across cultures and ability levels to collectively identify community issues and create strategies as effective solutions to those issues. By using this model, AHC facilitate for the following to happen:

Diversity and Inclusion

Individuals from different backgrounds break their isolation and connect with services and people. Within the process, people not only learn to acknowledge issues, but their talents and values as well, usually leading to changes in behaviours to build healthy relationships with others. By learning to tolerate, accept, and love themselves, people usually end up accepting, tolerating and loving others. By learning to work on their own issues, people get ready to think collectively to work with and for others.

Citizenship Participation

Program participants relate to AHC as partners rather as beneficiaries. People increase awareness about their role as citizens or residents of a community. They accept that they not only have a say, but also a responsibility to address community issues. Moreover, they realize that solutions can start by using assets and talents available in their communities and that by starting, they can more likely get attention and support from external resources.

Community Capacity Building

Small groups (minimum 3 unrelated individuals) increases individual and small group's capacity, using their current wisdom, talents, and resources, and by doing so, they build collective capacity to create the community environment they need and want. By sharing skills, knowledge, talents, beliefs, and cultures, as well as acquiring new ones from external sources, community members are empowered to create a community development continuum where all members can grow and develop.