Arpaporn Sookhom, Kittachet Krivart
The purposes of this study were to study and to develop the empowerment model for local community development. As well as studying the conditions and factors contributing to the development of the local community of women organizations in Rayong province. The qualitative research consists of the model analysis of (1) the best practice of a women organization that has an outstanding role in local community development in the urban area, and the best practice of a women organization that has an outstanding role in local community development in rural area (2) in-depth interview with the representative of 12 women organizations in Rayong province, representative of 5 relevant government and private agencies, 2 executives of Rayong Provincial Administrative Organization, and 5 scholars/experts in women’s role development/women’s organizations, and (3) workshop conference for brainstorming of the related organizations.
The study indicated that the empowerment model for local community development of women organizations is divided into 3 models as follows (1) Model of empowerment for local community development by Local Government Organization in the area. (2) Model of empowerment for local community development by associated network partners. (3) Model of empowerment for local community development by leaders and networks of women’s organizations. Development guidelines for empowerment model for local community development of women organizations must be the integration of collaboration at the policy level. Governments and relevant ministries must establish policies and guidelines/measures for driving women development policy and clearly promoting the role of women in the country as for the operational level, Local Government Organization Provincial, Provincial government, Private sector, and women leader must empower members of the women group, women organizations, and women in the community with economic status and underprivileged in society. The development of the quality of life and economy of women and families will be empowered and strengthen to women organizations and members that will be an important force in the development of local. The conditions and factors that are conducive to develop the local community found that the conditions and factors within the family consist of (1) economic readiness of women families (2) understanding and support from family members. Conditions and factors within women organizations consist of (1) strength and leadership of women leaders (2) unity of women organization members and (3) having clear plans and directions for driving local community development of women organizations. Conditions and external factors consist of (1) giving priority to the government measures on women's development (2) continuity and commitment in women's development and women roles of relevant agencies. The guidelines for strengthening the mechanisms and processes of local community development of women organizations consist of (1) the development of women leaders at all levels to strengthen the capacity of local community development. (2) the coordination of the mechanisms of women organizations in local community development must be effective (3) determining roles and responsibilities of local community development for women organizations appropriately.