Developing Individual and Family Resilience Through Community-Based Missions: Three Examples

Abstract

This chapter illustrates how individual resilience can be facilitated by involving the community, and how that, in turn, likely builds a more resilient community. The author argues that by addressing three basic human needs—the need to consume adequate and nutritious food, to occupy safe and decent shelter, and to have reasonable access to basic health care—individuals and families will be allowed to thrive and be resilient, even in the face of sudden or chronic adversity. This chapter describes three projects the author has help spear-head that address these three basic needs locally and abroad: Habitat for Humanity, Our Daily Bread, and Mozambique Development in Motion. The process of establishing these programs is described, and community involvement—including individual volunteers, faith-based groups, advisory boards, social service agencies, and local business and civic organizations—is highlighted. Additionally, the role of attitude and commitment are emphasized as necessary underlying personal qualities needed to affect and sustain community, family, and individual resilience.

Questions for Thought and Discussion

• 1. Why should citizens of financial means, sufficient to meet their daily basic needs for living a life with dignity, be concerned about the welfare of families in their communities who cannot afford to purchase nutritious food and/or occupy decent and safe housing?

• 2. Identify the most likely consequences for children (infants through adolescents) who are members of a family that cannot provide:

  • (a) consistent occupancy of safe and decent shelter, forced to move from place to place frequently due to a lack of financial means?

  • (b) sufficient nutritionally-balanced meals on a daily basis and/or cannot provide any food for one or more meals?

• 3. Should we, who live in a country of amazing resources, express concern about and/or act upon the lack of respectable housing for millions of citizens in underdeveloped countries, conditions which dramatically and negatively affect the health and education of the overwhelming majority of children?

  • (a) If so, what is our moral obligation, if any, to change such conditions, and how to do so?

  • (b) If not, what is the rationale for ignoring the plight of individuals who must live without dignity, without decent shelter, in unsafe and unhealthy conditions?

• 4. In approximately 30 countries worldwide, it is required for youth to spend a year or two in non-military (or military) service to their countries (Omondi, 2017). In the US, we have Americore and Teach for America programs, but only a small proportion of youth participate.

  • (a) Do you think the US should consider making a year of youth service mandatory for all citizens? Why or why not?

  • (b) What could be done to encourage voluntary youth service in the US?