All About NYSC Community Development Service (CDS)
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| Medical CDS palliative during covid-19 lockdown in alimosho LGA, Lagos state |
Community development service (CDS) is one of the four (4) cardinal programmes of the national youth service corps (NYSC). It is like a secondary service to the community aside from the place of primary assignment (PPA).
Objectives Of CDS
As one of the cardinal programmes of the NYSC, CDS was envisaged among other benefits to:
1. Impact and improve positively on the rural community life.
2. Expose corps members to diverse traditions and customs of the host communities
3. Provide a forum for corps members to experiment with ideas and translate them into concrete achievements thereby relying less on foreign technology and encouraging the use of local raw materials in the execution of projects as well as on-the-job training and experience for corps members.
4. Harness the enormous talents and skills of corps members into an effective machinery of change in our rural communities.
5. Develop the spirit of entrepreneurship in the corps members.
6. Explore the challenges which rural development poses and inculcate in the Nigerian youth the ideals and capacities for leadership, endurance, selflessness, community service, national service, patriotism and creativity.
7. Instill in corps members the tradition of dignity of labour and productivity.
8. Complement the activities of government at all levels in the stride towards national development.
9. Providing complementary service in our National development activities, by ensuring that our under-privileged population learned basic techniques for self-help through the appropriate technology concept being promoted by NYSC.
Read Also: Groups in NYSC Orientation camp
Categorization Of CDS
NYSC CDS is categorized into to two main categories of:
a. Group Community Development Service (Group CDS)
b. Personal/Individual Community Development Service (Personal/Individual CDS)
Group Community Development Service (Group CDS)
Corps members are expected to use one day in a week for group CDS activities. They are not expected to attend duties in their PPA on CD days. Such days are dedicated to the execution of projects and programs that will improve the living conditions of their host communities. However, such days vary with different states across the federation. The CDS day for one group may be different in another state.
Various CDS Groups In NYSC Scheme And Functions
Corps Legal Aid Group (CLAG)
Purpose:
1. Provide free legal services to the less privileged and indigent prison inmates (victims of denials and violation of rights)
2. Sensitized the public on fundamental human rights
Activities:
a. Advocacy
b. Visit to prison
c. Legal service to inmate and indigenes of host community
d. Public lecture and awareness on fundamental human rights
Sports CDS Group
Purpose:
1. Creates an avenue for recreation and healthy rivalry among corps members and the community.
2. Arousing the consciousness of living healthy and purposeful lifestyles through participation in one form of physical activity or the other.
3. Identify talents among corps members
Activities:
a. Participation in sports competitions
b. Identifying and training members of the community
c. Organizing sports competitions
Environmental Protection And Sanitation Group (NEMA/NESREA vanguard)
Purpose:
1. To promote and sustain healthy environment
2. To create awareness on sustainable environment, management and regeneration
Activities:
a. Tree planting
b. Drainage Control
c. Erosion Control
d. Sanitation
e. Deforestation
f. Landscaping
Education Development Group (Mass Literacy, Adult Education, Extra Murals ICT)
Purpose:
1. Enhance the education standard of the host community.
2. Career guidance and counseling for students
Activities:
a. Campaign against Illiteracy
b. Organizing Extra-mural classes for Adults
c. Organizing of in-school programs
Cultural And Tourism CDS Group (Band, Dance, Drama & Tourism)
Purpose:
1. Promoting arts and Culture
2. Dissemination of vital socio-economic and political problems and prospects
Activities:
a. Identifying talents
b. Setting up of the schemes theatre groups
Road Safety Club (RSC) CDS Group
Purpose:
1. To contribute to public safety on our roads
Activities:
a. Sensitization and control of traffic
b. Rendering first aid to accident victims
c. Establishment of road safety clubs in school.
Editorial/Publicity CDS Group
Purpose:
1. Compliment the activities of the NYSC PRU in disseminating information to the community
Activities:
a. Making presentation on mass media to enlighten people on socio-cultural education
Disaster Management Group (NEMA)
Purpose:
1. To create awareness on disaster management
2. To disseminate information on how to manage disasters through Corps Emergency Vanguards (CEV)
3. Public enlightenment on disaster management and control through the emergency Vanguards
4. Liaison with NEMA on how to assist during emergencies
5. Formation of emergency vanguard club in schools
Medical And Health Service CDS Group (Red Cross, Breast Without Spot, Polio Plus etc.)
Purpose:
1. Promotion and provision of Medical Services
Activities:
a. Health outreach
b. First Aid administration
c. Establishment of Community based clinic
d. Setting up of clinic for the NYSC Secretariat
Service Delivery CDS Group (Attitudinal Change, Re- Branding)
Purpose:
1. Sensitization on Service delivery and good work ethics.
Activities:
a. Training
b. Sensitization
c. Group discussions on value re-orientation
Drug Free And Quality Control CDS Group (NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON)
Purpose:
a. Eradication of fake and adulterated foods and drugs
b. Create awareness on danger of drug abuse
c. Campaign and Sensitization
d. Establishment of drug free clubs in Schools
e. Ensuring linkages with the host Communities
Charity Service And Gender Group
Purpose:
1. To improve the living standard of the downtrodden
2. Charity outreaches to the public
3. Mobilize funds and other resources for less privileged
4. Visits of orphanages & prisons
5. Donation of materials to homes
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) CDS GROUP
Purpose:
1. To create awareness and actualize the 8 goals of MDGs
Activities:
a. Advocacy and Mentoring of the host community
Agro-Allied CDS Group
Purpose:
1. Support agro allied activities in host communities
2. To promote better food production and security
Activities:
a. Demonstration farms/extension services
b. Establishment of Farmers Cooperative Societies (FSC)
c. Advocacy
d. Teaching of new farming techniques to communities
Anti-Corruption CDS Group (EFCC & ICPC)
Purpose:
1. To help in eradicating corruption through Campaign
Activities
a. Sensitization
b. Creation of awareness in schools and organizations
c. Establish Anti-Corruption corps members in schools
Reproductive Health And HIV/AIDS Group
Purpose:
1. To train and mentor Students
2. To mobilize and strengthen community based responses on HIV/AIDS prevention
Activities:
a. Sensitization and Campaign
Note
However, some of these groups might not be found in some states, reason being that two to three CDS groups could be merged together if their function is interchangeable. For example, Disaster Management CDS Group (NEMA vanguard) is related to Environmental Protection and Sanitation CDS Group (NESREA vanguard). Thus in some states like Ebonyi state, these two groups as well as other environmental allies are merged together to form a mega environmental CDS group.
Personal/Individual Community Development Service (Personal/Individual CDS)
Personal/Individual CDS as the name implies, are projects/programs executed by individual corps members to meet a pressing need in their host communities. Corps members are encouraged in addition to the group CDS to look out for areas where they could make an individual footprint in the community. It could be construction projects like
building of toilets, incinerators, bridges, classrooms, games facilities for schools etc or social/educational project such as establishment of ICT laboratory, school libraries, extra-mural classes, campaigns, charity work, vocational training for empowerment of unemployed youths etc.
Collaborative Community Development Service
There is also a collaborative CDS, in which the NYSC partners National and Non-Governmental organizations as well as other establishments to implement development programs. In such partnerships, the scheme signs MOU with the partners, clearly stating each partner’s roles/responsibilities. Corps members are usually involved as volunteers on this program.
Recruitment into collaborative CDS groups like PET, MDGs, Red Cross, NEMA etc. often begins right in the camp. This does not actually make them superior to other groups. Every CDS group is extremely relevant. What matters is where you have the gifting and talent to serve the nation well.
Types of Collaborative CDS:
1. Road Safety Group
2. Reproductive Health & HIV.AIDs Group
3. Anti-Corruption (EFCC & ICPC) Group
4. Service Delivery Group (Attitudinal Change, Re-Branding)
5. MDGs
6. Medical and Health Services Group (Red Cross, Breast Without Spot, Polio Plus etc.)
7. Drug Free and Quality Control Group (NDLEA, NAFDAC, SON)
Identification Of Project Through Needs Assessment
To execute a project, the first step is to identify it. Project identification is done through a thorough assessment of the need for such a project.
The two basic techniques of carrying out needs assessment are:
1. By observation of challenges faced by the community (e.g. lack of potable water, medical facility, educational institution, link road or bridge) or prevalence of a common disease, illiteracy, non-basic skills, ignorance, drug abuse, etc.
2. By discussion with members of the community ranging from youths, market women, opinion leaders and elders through which several needs may be identified.
Programme/Project Selection
In the course of project identification, it is very likely that many projects will be visualized. This will then take you to the next stage in project execution which is project selection.
Two important factors to guide the choice of projects are:
1. The SMART test of project management. This means that the project must be Specific (defined), Measurable (visible outcome when completed), Achievable (is it possible), Rewarding (benefits) and Time-bound (deadline for completion)
2. The felt-needs of the community. A starving person is in desperate need of food. Giving him/her clothes to wear cannot help them at that material time. That is not his/her felt-need. A sick person needs medical attention. Giving him/her shoes to use makes no meaning. Similarly, carrying out a community development project, that is not the felt-need of the community amounts to a futile and meaningless effort.
CDS Schedule officers, Zonal/Local Government Inspectors should be consulted by corps members for guidance.
Execution Of CDS Project
Now that you have been able to identify and select a community need-felt amongst other things project, it is type for actual execution.
Here are steps by step approach to NYSC CDS Project execution:
1. Interaction between corps members and community stakeholders to identify the felt needs of the community which you have carried out under project identification
2. Identification of sources of funds and relevant linkages for the project.
3. Preparation of a viable proposal with the guidance of Local Government and Zonal Inspectors containing the following:
a. Introduction
b Name of project
c. Estimated cost of project
d. Source of funding
e. End time of completion
f. Proposed date of commissioning
The work plan should be attached and it should contain the following:
i. Activities and time frame
ii. Period of report submission and documentation, etc
4. Approval of project by the NYSC Secretariat after consultation with the Zonal and Local Government Inspectors
5. Mobilizing resources in consultation with community members from the community, Local Government Council, Government and Non-Government Organizations as well as public spirited philanthropists.
Note: On no account should Corps members write letters to government, parastatals and private organizations without passing through the State Coordinator.
6. Ensuring contact with linkages relevant to the execution of the project jointly carried out by corps member(s) and the community
7. Execution of the project
8. Submission of bimonthly progress report with documentary/pictorial evidence
9. Submission of completion report to the NYSC State Secretariat
10. Commissioning and handing over to the Community; and
11. Giving of feedback to persons that donated towards the execution of the project.
The community participatory approach built into the aforementioned steps allows for decision making on projects to be jointly taken which ultimately leads to sustainability of such projects and community ownership.
Criteria For Consideration Of CDS Project For Approval
a. A written proposal must be forwarded by the corps member addressed to the State Coordinator through the Local and Zonal Inspectors.
b. Relevance of the project to the Community must be stated in the proposal.
c. Sustainability and benefits of the project to the Community after the departure of the corps member must be stated.
d. Location and accessibility of the project - Projects to be executed by corps member(s) should not be in disputed areas and should be accessible to members of the host community.
e. Source of funding: Funds should be sourced from the communities, individuals and organizations within the State of service. On no account should corps members fund a CDS project with his/her allowance or money from parents/relatives.
f. Period of Project Execution:- All CDS projects must be completed within the service year.
CDS Comprehensive Time Frame
Read Also: NYSC monthly manual and biometric clearance
Strategies For Mobilizing Funds And Materials
Funding of CDS projects is a shared responsibility of the Community, Government and stakeholders who are beneficiaries of such projects. On no account should any corps member fund CDS project from his/her personal money as doing so would nullify the viability of the project.
Funds for project execution should be sourced through the following:-
1. Corporate organizations
2. Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
3. Philanthropists
4. Government Agencies
5. Public spirited individuals in the community
6. Political office holders/representatives
Note:
a. There should be a comprehensive analysis of income and expenditure of funds and materials received with receipt attached for the purpose of
accountability.
b. Mobilization of resources should not be done in isolation but in conjunction with community members and other relevant stakeholders.
c. Feedback necessary for project sponsors.
Linkages And Their Usefulness
Linkages are Governmental and Non-Governmental organizations that support the execution of Corps members’ CDS programmes and provide local support for the execution of corps members’ CDS activities.
Linkages include but are not limited to Multinational Corporations, Collaborating agencies, Social Organizations and Clubs, Religious bodies, Community Based Associations, Governmental Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations,
Philanthropists, Foundations etc.
Note
At the end of the service year, CM with outstanding personal and group CDS may be rewarded.
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