Older people who suffer from a sense of powerlessness, helplessness, and low self-esteem are inadequately helped by existing services. A community work approach can help them become active and empowered individuals with stronger contacts with the community. (SK)

The article describes the contributions of social work in two areas, in grass roots community organization and in social planning. As a partial response to the growing connection between the two areas, the writers have attempted to adapt the community organization curriculum of a professional school of social work. (Author/AG)

Discusses the Gulbenkian Rhetoric (which sees the purpose of community work as inducing and enabling people to adapt to changed circumstances), outlines different models of change in respect to policy, social relations, and politics, discusses middle-range factors which influence change, and outlines the relevance of the 'social movements'…

Describes projects of the School of Social Work at Central America University, Nicaragua: (1) development of a postgraduate course for professionals; (2) discovery learning and participatory action research in a fishing village; and (3) application of participatory approaches to rural development. (SK)