How To Build Community

Arukah members TED LANKESTER, JUBIN VARGHESE and NATHAN GRILLS have recently collaborated on the fourth edition of popular book 'Setting Up Community Health Programmes in Low and Middle Income Settings'. In this episode, they share stories and insights from the book. It is published by Oxford University Press in association with Arukah Network, and you can buy a copy or download it for FREE here:...

ASHLEY GOOD created the world's first ever 'Failure Consultancy'. It's called Fail Forward and it helps people and organisations to use failure as an opportunity to learn and grow. In this episode, she shares her top stories, tools and tips to help you "fail intelligently" in your life, work and community. Learn more about her work at www.failforward.org Help us tell more stories like this at patr...

Since 2018, DANIEL SARA TURAY has been running a huge volunteer project in his region of Sierra Leone. The aim: to build over 100 miles of roads and to connect villages that have never been connected by road before. To do this, he’s recruited hundreds of local volunteers. He's been telling us how, and why. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

TARA WEST is a mediator from the USA who helps individuals and groups to resolve conflict and have productive conversations. In this episode, she shares stories, tools and techniques for using these skills in our own lives and communities. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

Haiti in the Caribbean has a complex history. Following slavery, revolution, debt, exploitation and natural disasters, it is currently one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. In this episode, Haitian-born MARC ROMIYR ANTOINE from the international NGO Tearfund explains why local business and the local church are both crucial to the country's future, and to the elimination of povert...

How do you sustain community life under a lockdown? In this episode, our presenter JAKE LLOYD shares one possible answer. In his UK hometown of Crediton, he has helped launch CREDITON RADIO, which is equipping local people to make radio shows together - safely from the comfort of their own homes - in order to connect for fun, learning and support during the Coronavirus pandemic. Help us tell more...

GRAHAM FAWCETT is a Clinical Psychologist who specialises in helping groups of people to thrive under stressful conditions. In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, he shares with us ways that a community can be resilient to a crisis, how hardship can give rise to empathy, and why being kind to others is good for everyone's health. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

In May 2019, Arukah Network mentor and coach ELIZABETH WAINWRIGHT was elected to represent her rural community in the south west of England at local government level. In this episode, she shares some of her story, from nearly becoming a doctor, to unexpectedly becoming a politician. Along the way, we hear why the world needs more "generalists", how politicians can achieve more if they listen more,...

Nagaland is one of the most isolated and under-developed of the states of India. DR. SEDEVI ANGAMI runs a hospital in the state's largest city, Dimapur. In this episode, he tells the story of how he helped launch the hospital, and shares insights on how a hospital might become a centre for the transformation of a community. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

In this Christmas special, we hear how one woman's simple idea led to a whole new Christmas tradition in the community of Stobhill in the north east of England. FELICITY TUNNARD tells us the story of a nativity play with a difference, one that took place in the streets and shops of her local housing estate, and involved the whole community: from the parents who provided a real-life baby in a mange...

LORD NIGEL CRISP used to run one of the biggest organisations in the world: the UK's National Health Service. Since leaving the 'NHS', he has become a global health advocate in British politics and around the world, with an aim of improving local healthcare by creating global partnerships. Amongst stories and lessons from his career, he's been telling us why global partnerships are important, and...

In 1999, broadcaster and theatre specialist SHEILA KATZMAN was recruited by the United Nations to help develop a radio station for their peacekeeping efforts in Sierra Leone's civil war. This is the story of Radio UNAMSIL with its focus on community engagement, listener participation, and on-air peace talks. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

There is a saying that "only a demanding common task builds community". Perhaps no task is more demanding, or more common, than climate change. In this episode, one of the world's leading environmental campaigners ALASTAIR MCINTOSH talks with us about the challenges of climate change, the importance of building community, and how to become what he calls a 'spiritual activist'. Help us tell more st...

How can storytelling be used to help heal or inspire a community? In our new podcast interview, the award-winning New York-based storyteller LAURA SIMMS tells us how she has used storytelling in communities all over the world to do exactly these things. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

Galarc FC is a boys football club with a difference. Even though they have won 50 games in a row in their local Kenyan league, their biggest successes are happening off the pitch. In this episode, we hear the story of a remarkable team and its remarkable coach, SHARON CHEPKEMOI. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

Over 20 years, in 30 countries and with 100s of communities, CORMAC RUSSELL has been a leading figure in the field of 'Asset-Based Community Development', or ABCD. But what is it? Why is it important? And what can we learn from it? Cormac has been sharing some of his stories and experiences. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

TOM CHAPMAN is founder of the Lions Barber Collective: an international network of barbers who are providing a space - and listening ear - to men around the world, so they can talk about their mental health. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

Last year, the Thomas Reuters Foundation named India "the worst country in the world" in which to be a woman. HELEN MORGAN has spent the last four years in the country's rural north, where she trained community workers on gender violence and counselling skills. Upon returning to her home in New Zealand, she joined us to reflect on her experiences, and to tell us why - despite the headlines - she f...

PEARCE GODWIN once worked at the heart of power in the United States political system. But as his country became more and more divided by politics, he set out for a new challenge. In this interview, he tells us why he launched the "Listen First Project", and how each time we make an effort to sincerely listen to people with whom we disagree, we help improve the health of our society as a whole. He...

What if the best way to impact a community is simply to listen to its members? That's the idea behind SALT - a tool and lifestyle for having better conversations in a community. BOBBY ZACHARIAH is a social worker from the city of Pune in India. In this episode, he tells us how SALT changed not only a Pune community, but also a corporation. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahn...

Syria's refugees have fled a regime that denied them the opportunity to gather and talk freely as a community. When they arrive in a new country, what's it like to try and become part of a new community? In Manchester UK, The Rethink Rebuild Society is a pioneering Syrian community group that is tackling this question. MUSTAFA ALACHKAR is from the group, and he's been telling us more. Help us tell...

How does a community's faith impact its health? A complex question requires a great mind, so we found one. Professor ANDREW TOMKINS OBE is an expert on faith and health, and a trustee for our network. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork

FIONA DUNKLEY is a trauma therapist and counsellor who has helped people and communities affected by war, terrorism and sexual violence. Drawing on experiences described in her new book - Psychosocial Support for Humanitarian Aid Workers - she tells us about the importance of community and its values in helping people overcome trauma. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwor...

When ASSAD SERHAL set out on a career to protect bird habitats in his native Lebanon, it led him to discover and resurrect an ancient tribal practice called 'Hima'. In this podcast, we hear how his work with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon is using the 'Hima' approach to bring nature and community closer together across the Middle East. Help us tell more stories like this at pa...

How can an elderly lady on a bench improve a community's wellbeing? 'The Friendship Bench' is a response to Zimbabwe's mental health crisis, but it's an idea that's been replicated as far away as New York City. In this episode we hear from a pioneer of the project, Clinical Psychologist at the University of Harare, RUTH VERHEY. Help us tell more stories like this at patreon.com/arukahnetwork