- Description
The community of Boghada, near Ismaelia, Egypt, is a community that is relatively income poor, yet is "capability rich," demonstrating this by building and attracting basic services and institutions. The leadership of two young men, encouraged by village elders, first encouraged young people to build a soccer field, using innovative and ingenious techniques. Building on this success, the leadership and the community that stood behind them were able to effectively advocate for the creation of key institutions -- an early childhood education centre, and a local government service unit, for example. Traditions of volunteerism, the capacity to mediate conflict, and astute powers of negotiation with the authorities are blended with deeply held values promoting a strong sense of responsibility to others in the community.
