The Impact of Place of Residence on the Sense of Coherence of Population Aged 60–89: Evidence from Poland

Place of living is one of the most important socio-demographic factors which characterizes the lives of older people. The importance of with whom and under what conditions older adults live to a large extent determines their health and standard of living. The goal of the study was to find the relationship between the place of residence and housing condition of older adults in Poland and their sense of coherence and health problems. The 29-item Antonovsky SOC questionnaire was used. In the research 303 people (76% women and 24% men) aged 60–89 were evaluated: 158 lived in their own houses/flats, while 145 resided in Daily Homes of Social Assistance (DPS). The overall result for the sense of coherence was 129.65 for older adults living in their own homes and 126.48 for these living in DPS. Statistical dependence between the place of residence and sense of manageability and meaningfulness was found. There is no dependence between gender and the overall score, nor the three components of the sense of coherence. Statistical dependence was determined in the criterion of age. A higher level of meaningfulness was observed in people aged 60–74. Taking into account the place of residents, 52% of the respondents living in their own houses/flats experience loneliness and among the people living in Daily Homes of Social Assistance, 46% experience loneliness. The type of place of residence is one of the most important personal factors affecting the sense of coherence, chronic health problems, and sense of loneliness. The last factor, especially, can adversely affect community sustainability and undermine social cohesion.

Harnessing the Power of Stories for Rural Sustainability: Reflections on Community-Based Research on the Great Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland

Stories have the power to shape understanding of community sustainability. Yet in places on the periphery of capitalist systems, such as rural and resource-based regions, this power can be used to impose top–down narratives on to local residents. Academic research often reinforces these processes by telling damage-centric narratives that portray communities as depleted and broken, which perpetuates power imbalances between academia and community members, while disempowering local voices. This article explores the potential of storytelling as a means for local actors to challenge top–down notions of rural sustainability, drawing on a community-based research initiative on the Great Northern Peninsula (GNP) of Newfoundland. Five of the authors are community change-makers and one is an academic researcher. We challenge deficiencies-based narratives told about rural Newfoundland and Labrador, in which the GNP is often characterised by a narrow set of socio-economic indicators that overlook the region’s many tangible and intangible assets. Grounded in a participatory asset mapping and storytelling process, a ‘deep story’ of regional sustainability based on community members’ voices contrasts narratives of decline with stories of hope, and shares community renewal initiatives told by the dynamic individuals leading them. This article contributes to regional development efforts on the GNP, scholarship on sustainability in rural and remote communities, and efforts to realise alternative forms of university-community engagement that centre community members’ voices and support self-determination.

Community/Social Action Groupwork in Indigenous and Rural Communities Zimbabwe Summer 2019

In June 2018, I was fortunate enough to attend and present at the IASWG Symposium at Kruger National Park in South Africa. It was a truly amazing experience. However, in July of 2019 I was once again able to return to the African continent. This time to visit Zimbabwe. For the past four years, my friend and School Principal Chris Labbe, had been visiting and working with the IMVELO organization to raise funds for the following three schools: Ngamo Primary School, Mlevu Primary School and St Joseph’s Primary School.These three schools are located in the indigenous and rural rural villages of Hwanga National Park. During the course of the visits to these three Schools, my wife Peg McGovern and I were able to observe the incredible work that was being done between IMVELO and the local communities. The overarching theme of the IASWG 2018 symposium had been “Groupwork in Communities.” On my visit to Hwanga, I witnessed the impact of Groupwork in these indigenous and rural communities. On my return home, I reviewed the Groupwork literature, and it reinforced what I observed and encountered in Zimbabwe. The wonderful sense of community, sustainability, cooperation, integration of programs, social action and empowerment. It truly was an amazing experience and a trip of a lifetime.

Community sustainability and environmental quality improvement on studentified area in Malang City, Indonesia

Studentification occurs in a college town so that the large number and activity of students and those related to universities affect the condition of the city. The impact of students consists of socio-cultural and economic changes that can be seen in physical changes. In the previous research, these changes often result in conflicts between students and residents, less service for residents, and a worsening physical environment. This study aims to find the contributions of the studentification model in Malang city as one of the college towns in Indonesia that occurs in the area adjacent to the campus Brawijaya University Malang City. The method used in this research is Structural Equation Model Partial Least Square. Data were taken through in-depth interviews and online surveys to 32 neighbourhood leaders as respondents. Some of the findings show additional thought contributions to studentification theory, namely: community sustainability and environmental quality improvement.

Building Community Resilience via Developing Community Capital toward Sustainability: Experiences from a Hakka Settlement in Taiwan

Developing community capital is widely viewed as a way to address community resilience-related issues toward sustainability. Based on a Taiwanese, peri-urban, Hakka settlement, this article presents findings on the practical factors in the development of community capital via farm-to-table and community care, and their implications for a resilient, healthy community. It shows that community capital arising from the pond farming, pond education, and community service systems can interact to support its diversity and linkability. The pond-based social network is identified as the key to mitigating the impacts of community challenges regarding food safety concerns, environmental degradation, and aging population. It argues that the pond-based food landscape, communal network, and a borderless campus can enhance community capital as well as play significant parts in achieving community sustainability by promoting residents’ health and well-being.

The Three E’s Revisited: How Do Community-Based Organizations Define Sustainable Communities and Their Role in Pursuit of?

A sustainable community seeks to protect and enhance the environment, meet social needs, and promote economic success. On average, local governments lack meaningfully connecting their environmental and economic sustainability efforts to equity and social justice. Community-based organizations (CBOs) have emerged as local leaders with a growing capacity for pursuing community sustainability. Based on data from a national survey National Community Action Partnership member organizations, this study explores (1) how CBO leaders define sustainable communities; (2) how important each of the three pillars of sustainability are to their mission; and (3) with what organizations do CBOs collaborate in their pursuit of sustainable communities. A content analysis of responses to an open-ended query to define sustainable communities revealed a significant focus on the social equity pillar of sustainability which is closely linked to economic sustainability. Similarly, CBO leaders ranked social equity and economic sustainability as the highest priority for their core mission. Lastly, CBO leaders heavily engaged in local collaboration in their sustainable community efforts. Therefore, serious pursuit of sustainable cities and communities must shift from a go-at-it-alone, centralized government approach to more inclusive, collaborative efforts that take advantage of the economic-social equity sustainability focus of CBOs in both planning and implementation.

The Socio-economic Vulnerability and Villages Community Sustainability Within Tourism Development of Kepulauan Anambas Regency

Coastal and small islands identified as one of the most vulnerable region due to climate change impact. The household socio-economic vulnerability need to be capture as baseline of development. Furthermore, assessment on sustainability of coastal communities are needed as a benchmark for development goals. Aside having development challenges, archipelago ecosystem also keeps capability to shift their community from vulnerable to resilient. The sustainable development goals are:achieve sustain economic growth, social inclusive and promote sustainable natural resources management. Community based tourism development consistent with sustainable development goals. Kepulauan Anambas located in South China Sea, suitable to conduct socio-economic vulnerability and community sustainability research. The objectives are: (1) to analize socio-economic vulnerability, (2) to provide assessment on community sustainability, and (3) to determine community-based tourism development strategies. The study was located at Batu Ampar and Putik villages, Matak Island, Kepulauan Anambas regency, Indonesia. Livelihood Vulnerability Index method implemented to estimate household socio-economic vulnerability and Community Sustainability Assessment questionnaire used to generate community sustainability. SWOT analysis use to determine tourism development strategies. The results are: (1) The socio-economic vulnerability identified as Vulnerable (LVIBatu Ampar: 0,337 and LVIPutik: 0,362). (2) The village community sustainability assessment categorized as Indicates a good start toward sustainability (CSABatu Ampar: 720 and CSAPutik: 934). (3) S-O strategies (progressive/aggressive) are promote as main strategies on Community-based tourism development.