ACTIVITY 1 CONCEPT OF COMMUNITY NAME: RATING: INSTRUCTOR: DATE: Introduction The community is a group of people sharing common geographic boundaries and/or common norms, values and interests. It functions within a particular sociocultural context. It means that no two communities are alike The physical environment varies, and so with the people's way of behaving and coping. The people are different from each other, thus the dynamics in one community differs from that of the others. More than the sum of its populations, a community consists of interdependent social units that transact @ ‘common life among the people making up the units. As a social group, functioning with norms of behavior and ‘organization of resources, the community regulates the environment and behavior of individuals and organizations. In defining the characteristics of a community, the public health worker considers the following factors in assessing the health resources and problems: 1. Physical factors refer to the community's environment, geography, topography and climate 2. Historical factors reflect the community's ancestral origins, including population and settlement history. 3. Social factors reflect the community's character in terms of ethnicity and language, family structure, social divisions, degree of education, and gender relations, - Cultural factors refer to the community's traditions, beliefs, and religious influences. 5. Economic factors refer to the community's livelihood strategies (occupation) and family income. Objectives Students should be able to: 1. Explain the significance of a community 2. Describe their own community in terms of its physical, historical, social, cultural, and economic characteristics 3. Explain how these characteristics influence their own values and behaviorsActivity A | Places you that are important | toyou | would like to change Significance of A Community: Mental Maps Mental maps are pictures of places in our minds. Mental maps can change to reflect our experiences and feelings, and that people with different experiences may see the same space differently. Examples 1g distant places, ete. of mental maps are giving directions, imagi in the same Students will be grouped according to the area where they live (students who live community/tawn/city). Each student will accomplish the tasks below. After completion, members will take tums in sharing their reflections. Tasks: 2. Think of the different places in your own community. 2. Reflect on the following questions: = Which places are very important to you? ‘Why are they important to you? Which places are very important to others but not to you? Why are these places important to them and not to you? ‘Which places do you dislike and would like to change? Why do you dislike these places? 3. List at least 3 places important to you and rank them from 2 to 3 (Rank 2 as most important) Explain your ranking, List at least 3 places that you dislike in your community and rank them from 2 to 3 (Rank 2.as the se ange least you like). Explain your ranking. Explain how do these places (important to you, important to others, you dislike) in your community influence or affect your stance or approach to everyday life? Mental Maps _ Places important to others but | Places that you dislike and not to youB. Studying The Characteristics of a Community Before entry to.a community, the following steps need to be done: 3. Gather initial information about the community from the city or municipal office's records or reports List the names of persons to contact for a courtesy cal. Make proper introductions: yourself or your group, your roles/functions, and your purpose. Arrange a first meeting with the identified key leaders. Request to community officials to sign an invitation for a meeting. Prepare agenda for the meeting. Integrate with the people. It is important that group members are residents in the assignment area. This is the first act of integrating with the people. Living with them is an advantage, that is, to get their full participation. Yonewy Procedures: 2. When the preliminary steps are accomplished, each group will proceed to the community and conduct an observation and interview - survey regarding the characteristics of their community. 2. Gather data on the following: ‘a. Physical Characteristics 2. Geography 2. Topography 3. Climate b Historical Characteristics 1. Ancestral origins 2. History of the community Social Characteristics 2. Ethnicity 2. Language (dialect) 3 Community size (population) 4. Political structure 5. Family structure 6. Community or civic organizations 7. Education 8. Health provisions d.Cultural Characteristics 1. Tradition 2. Religion 3. Beliefs e. Economic characteristics 1. Livelihood strategies (occupation) 2. Family/ household income 3. Record all findings. Make a data presentation. Share presentation to the class.study Questions 3. Does the physical environment of a community affect the mental, emotional, social and physical health ofits residents? Cite examples, 2. Isthis statement true: “It is impossible to eliminate community customs but not difficult to modify them"? Explain your answer. 3. What constitutes the community in which you live?