Grassroots Community Mobilization as a Way of Promoting Community Ownership of Language Programs: Some Experiences from the Democratic Republic of Congo

For many years, Eastern Congo Group (ECG) sought to promote community ownership of translation programs by engaging high-level church leadership. Throughout that time, the projects received only minimal local financial support, and barely functioned or stopped altogether when SIL members were no longer locally resident.

ECG decided to change this top-down approach to promoting community ownership with a bottom-up effort. Eight pilot community mobilization projects have been initiated since October 2015. Each one aims to raise awareness in one language community regarding Bible translation, and to heighten interest in starting a translation project. Communities are required to show commitment to a program in visible ways. Eight clearly defined indicators help to evaluate the level of community commitment before a formal partnership agreement is signed.

Six community mobilization programs have already met with success. One has maintained its commitment for three years and is on track to contribute $4,500 in cash to the translation project this year. The total value approaches $10,000 when contributions are included. Three other communities are initiating cash production activities in order to meet their commitments to translation programs.

One of the projects has already printed the Gospel of Luke. Whether community ownership of translation programs will translate into acceptance and use of translated material will become evident within a few months.