Global E-Book Story Template- Use the following template to help write your ABCD stories. Remember, you may not need to use all the headings and you can modify them to suit your story. The questions in each section are also only a guide—you do not have to answer every question. They’re just there to get you thinking about the specific practices that are important to cover, so your audience can learn more about the details of using ABCD.

Proposed Title (name of the project) and a catchy Subtitle

Submission Description or Subtitle- 1-2 sentences that describe the piece and how it relates to ABCD. This will be used for indexes, including the map.

Narrative: Below are suggested elements to include in your narrative.  Suggested length is 1,000 – 1,500 words.

Background 

  • When, where (be as specific as possible)  and why did the project begin?
  • What was the cultural context of the development effort?
  • Who was involved in the initial stages? How were community members involved from the start?)

The ABCD Process

  • What ABCD or other strength-based tools/methods were used? (e.g. capacity inventory, portrait of gifts)
  • What were the key findings from any assets mapping/capacity inventory?
  • What tools worked well/not so well? Why?
  • How did community planning and community decision making occur?
  • What are the core ABCD values of the project?
  • What does the project achieve in terms of ABCD?
  • What were the results of any evaluations of the ABCD process?)

Resulting Projects/Initiatives, 200–250 words

  • How does the resulting project/initiative work?
  • Who are the key community members involved? Who else is involved?
  • What are the aims of the resulting project/initiative?
  • In the resulting project/initiative, what primary assets are being harnessed? (e.g. marginalized groups in the community, local organizations and associations)
  • What secondary assets are being harnessed? (e.g. social service agencies, schools, police, local councils, physical resources) What process was used to harness the assets/capacities?
  • Have bridges been built to outside resources? How?

What works/worked well, 100-200 words

  • What works in the resulting project/initiative?
  • Why do these things work well?
  • What are the strengths of the resulting project/initiative?

Challenges & Critiques, 100-150 words

  • What challenges has the resulting project/initiative faced or is facing? How have these been addressed?
  • What criticism about ABCD had to be addressed? How were they addressed?

Key Insights and Future plans 80-100 words

  • What were some of the key insights gleaned from the project?
  • What are the future plans for the project?