By Their Own Hands

St. Andrews, Nova Scotia, Canada Building on the legacy of pioneering Scottish and, later, Dutch immigrants, St. Andrews, Nova Scotia, a rural agricultural community in Canada, has been able to muster active and enthusiastic volunteers for a series of ambitious community initiatives and has maintained a thriving community into the 21st century. This 22 minute video explores some of the reasons why this has been possible. At its base is a set of values that puts a premium on self-sufficiency, community spirit, and care for others. By pooling resources, ideas, and talents, St. Andrews has been able to build a variety of new infrastructure and community services. Success has not only motivated community members to continue with new projects, it has inspired other communities in the region to follow suit.

The St. Andrews story is one of 13 case studies of communities from around the world published in a book entitled From Clients to Citizens: Communities Changing the Course of Their Own Development.