Community Diagnosis Community Resources Interests Intervention Design Opportunities Projections

External authors:

• Marianne Daher ( Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile )
• Camila Cordeu ( Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile )
• Antonia Rosati ( Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile )
• Elisa Fritz ( Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile )
• Macarena Monje ( Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile )

Abstract:

Community diagnosis has generally focused on the problems of communities. This approach often highlights the needs of communities, failing to recognise their resources and thus reducing their strengthening capabilities. The aim of this article is to present a new tool for community diagnosis: the interest model. This model seeks to diagnose the resources that already exist in the communities in order to complement the problem model. This article presents the reasons behind its conceptualisation, followed by the interest model as a methodological proposal, exemplified through the diagnosis stage of the project 'Expressive-Voice and Meaningful Music', a university social responsibility initiative implemented with communities living in poverty in a district of Santiago, Chile. The diagnosis process was conducted in December 2022 and January 2023 with 20 key community actors, including community leaders and neighbours. In addition, the use of the model is linked to the design of social interventions. This is a way of generating an integral diagnosis to orient intervention designs, taking into account the needs and problems of communities without overlooking their resources and interests. Lastly, the article advances theoretical, methodological, and ethical reflections related to the topic.