I used to roll my eyes at the word "empowerment". I've seen "empowerment" used so many times in different contexts, that it seemed like a meaningless buzzword. Most people have a vague idea of what empowerment means; but specific questions- like how empowerment differs from self-reliance, or if empowerment is a process or a goal- are tough. So, what does the Community Empowerment Network actually mean by "empowerment"? How does that definition influence our actions?

Empowerment is the process that allows somebody to gain the skills and knowledge they need to find success in the world. Empowerment is a process and can vary from learning a useful skill to completely shifting attitudes and behavior. CEN works to empower people to the point where they become self-reliant. When people are self-reliant, they use their own judgments, skills, and resources to solve a problem, rather than depend on someone else for help. Self-reliance is a state of being; empowerment is the process that gets people there.

Each specific step in an empowerment process falls into one of three categories: helping people access resources, helping people learn skills and positive mindsets, or removing barriers to success.

In order for rural communities to create businesses that can function in a global marketplace, those communities must have access to resources. Those resources could be financial capital, a better workspace, or information and communication technologies. Whenever you help somebody access resources that provides more options and efficiency, you are empowering them.

Empowerment and education go hand-in-hand. You can give people access to the best information technologies in the world, but unless those people have the knowledge of what that technology can do and the skills to use it, the technology won't help them much. Teaching people an entirely new skill or helping them refine a previous skill is another way to empower them.

Along with skills come mindsets. Mindsets such as: lack of confidence, dependency on others, or hopelessness are huge obstacles in the way of empowerment. The people in rural communities must realize that they are in a better position than any outsider to make positive and sustainable changes in their own lives. If somebody doesn't believe that they have the power to make positive changes, then they will never become self-reliant. One of the easiest ways to help somebody overcome those sort of mindsets is to help them accomplish short term goals. Once they see that they can succeed, they will naturally become more confident and self-reliant. Shifting mindsets is one of the most important forms of empowerment, but it is also the one step that is attainable for any individual, regardless of their access to education or resources.

Though mental barriers play a huge role in preventing people from becoming self-reliant, there are physical barriers too. Some examples of the physical barriers to success would be isolation, poor health, or political limitations. The category of removing non-mental barriers allows us to empower people in ways that don't fall in the other two categories. If you're helping somebody take control of their life, but not giving them access to resources nor teaching them skills or mindsets, then you would be removing barriers towards self-reliance.

When you think of empowerment in terms of these three categories, it becomes a concrete, more meaningful idea. CEN uses these three methods to help members of rural communities along the path of empowerment, eventually arriving at the final destination: self-reliance.

Poverty is a worldwide problem on an epic scale. Large numbers of people do not live in a safe environment with access to clean water and sanitation, education and the ability to create a better future for both themselves and future ) generations.

In the developed world we struggle to comprehend the impact this would have on the day to day life of people living in isolated and developing communities. Our assumptions on happiness and drive have been formed in a world of privilege where want exists, but is not the norm.

When I moved to Africa in the early 1990's I could not have imagined how inspired I would be, by the happiness and drive of people who did not have access to most of the things I took for granted. Women in Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa were the nucleus of the society. They were not naturally empowered economically in their communities and yet they were frequently the most innovative, hard working entrepreneurs. They banded together and were stronger for their bonds with each other and their community.

Roadside markets selling local vegetables and craft provided additional income for many families to enable their children to gain a better education. Every additional year of schooling enabled the next generation to move one step further towards a better future. I always marveled at the entrepreneurship these women displayed and how happy they were to dream of a better future for their children.

CEN's work in the Amazon, has resulted in a number of similar success stories - women who are not naturally empowered in their communities and yet embody the entrepreneurial spirit. Work is incorporated into community life and happiness is part of the way of life. Being entrepreneurial does not come at the expense of having a life. Hard work is admired, if it enables a better future, without losing the structure and strength of the family and community unit.

To me this is cornerstone of CEN's ability to make a difference in the region. The local people of the Amazon region already have a strong community and happy life. They want access to knowledge and tools to enable them to expand their horizons while maintaining their way of life. The cClear program encourages this balance in the development of entrepreneurial skills and businesses. Sustainable development is underway in the region and it is not coming at too high a price for the local community-ultimately ensuring one of the best ways to access success in the longer term.