From the United States to rural South Africa: Assessing the application of a train-the-trainer community leadership development program

Using an Asset-Based Community Development approach, this study reports on the perceptions of community residents who participated in an adapted US-based train-the-trainer community leadership program conducted in rural South Africa. The evaluation, conducted 6 months after the training using in-depth interviews with 13 participants, assessed the motivation for participation, skills gained and applied, and areas of program improvement. Building on their community commitment, participants expressed a sense of empowerment from the training, felt more connected and motivated to engage with others, and were able to address societal challenges. They reported increased collaborative skills and readiness to train others and need for ongoing engagement. Contextualizing research-based community leadership development programs from high-income countries to settings in low-middle-income countries has potential for enhancing the work of existing grassroots community leaders who can create and sustain community change. Insights suggest scaling such programs to strengthen individual and community capacities for impactful community change.