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CELEBRATIONS

Completion and a New Beginning

by Phil Bartle, PhD

Training Handout

A party is not a vacation from your work, but a vital part of it

Organizing and implementing community celebrations are hard work, and are important and vital parts of mobilization.

Once you might not have realized this; for pupils and most workers, a celebration is an exciting break from the monotony of work or study. For you, the mobilizer, it is part of your job description.

As well as the obvious time for a celebration (ie the completion of a community project), you should encourage other celebrations through the process: fund raising harambee, laying a foundation block, cheque handing-over, finishing a key phase (walls, roof, painting) and other key turning points.

Drumming, dancing, plays or skits, parades, talent shows, and other entertainment or semi-entertainment, should be included in every celebration. Invite local amateur culture groups and school groups to perform. Ensure some "big-shots" attend, to make speeches of public praise (but not to politically hi-jack the celebration), and invite the press and media.

Why?

The celebration adds public recognition, validation and legitimacy to the whole developmental process, not just the project.

It is a good venue for raising awareness, improving transparency, and making the community project a more high profile activity.

With the executive, plan and organize well. Do not do everything for the executive.

Encourage, praise and advise, –that they take charge. See "Celebration."

Enjoy.

Project Completion; Ceremony & Celebration:

© Copyright 1967, 1987, 2007 Phil Bartle
Web Design by Lourdes Sada

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Last update: 2011.09.25