Real development is one which is successful in bringing about a shift in the consciousness of people at the grass root level. This shift must be positive to name it development. Capacity Building therefore is an intrinsic aspect for those in the developmental sector. I often wonder- What is Capacity Building?
Theoretically, Capacity Building by means of enhanced communication skills, knowledge sharing and value addition – seems like an easy goal to achieve, however, being pragmatic is the key to binging about any change in the society. Contemporary as we are, the generation has done away with clichés, classics are no more hit, and this is the era of simple words and simple writers as simplicity is so much easier to assimilate. I have tried to present therefore, succinctly my understanding of the term ‘Capacity Building’, this write up is totally based on observation and has nothing to do with theories, charts and surveys.
Human Resource Development, Organizational Development, Improvement of Legal Framework and Polices – these are the things that strike one’s mind if a conversation is going on Capacity Building. We often use these words as an answer to the meaning of ‘Capacity Building’ and there where we go wrong, as these are simply tools of ‘capacity building’, authentic meaning of ‘capacity building’ is far beyond these management jargons.
Change is the only constant in this world. Provoking change is the law of nature. Change leads to development only when it’s well channelized this process of channelizing change leading to development of a society and an environment is what I would like to name as ‘Capacity Building’. Here, channelizing means guiding and nurturing, society means people and environment means our surrounding and whole eco system.
Channelize and climb
Change can be positive, it can also be negative. But only positive change leads to development. We can also say that the other name of positive change is development.
Let’s understand it with the help of following example:
Arvind and Ashok were kids of same age with same level of intelligence and smartness. They used to go to the same school and live in the same locality. As teenagers both of them were repellent in nature only difference was that Arvind expresses his rebellion attitude by questioning Physics and Chemistry teachers with loads of ‘Why ’ and ‘How’ and Ashok expressed it by arguing with his mother on what to do and what not to do. Soon Ashok indulged himself into loads of negative activities and Arvind kept on questioning things around him. At the age of 30 Arvind was happily working with a leading organization in the capacity of a Manager and Ashok turned out to be a person who is unsatisfied and unwanted.
Question here is- What went wrong with Ashok?
Answer: His energy and level of intelligence was not channelized properly at the right time. No one ever built his capacity. He probably never received the required motivation. Changing phase of his life never got a shape. As a result our society lost one human resource, which could otherwise be of great capacity and help. On the other hand changing phase of Arvind’s life got a direction, a shape and that helped him to increase his capacity as an individual and is now contributing to GDP of the nation.
So my friends, Capacity Building only needs:
a) A ear to listen to you
b) A hand to train you
c) A mouth to motivate you
d) A brain to think for you
e) A person to share your success.
“Think about it, understand it and encourage it, you might end up being a life saver of another Ashok”
* image taken from Google engine.
