GRACE MISSION COLLEGE

Catiningan, Socorro, Oriental Mindoro

e-Mail: grace.missioncollege@yahoo.com

Module 1 in NSTP 2
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

COURSE OVERVIEW

The NSTP 2 as a sequel to NSTP 1 is designed to immerse students in activities that will arm them the
capability to contribute in the upliftment of the general welfare and the quality of life of the community and the
enhancement of its facilities especially those that are devoted to improving SERVICE (Safety/security,
Education, Recreation, Values formation & moral recovery, Industry & entrepreneurship, Care for health and
Environment). It is intended for intensive community exposure for thorough implementation of community plans
and projects which will develop the students’ value of commitment, and resourcefulness.

FOUNDATION OF COMMUNITY SERVICE: WHY GET INVOLVED?

The human person needs to live in society. Society is not for him an extraneous addition but a requirement
of his nature. Through the exchange with others, mutual service and dialogue with his brothers and sisters, man
develops his potentials; he thus responds to his calling.
A. Human Dignity: The Image of God
In our quest for a just and humane society, we begin with the recognition of the dignity of the human
person as created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26). From this fundamental premise emerges the view
that man is not only the master of things, but above all, of himself, capable of transcending his individual and
social destiny and conscious of his responsibilities as a creature made in God's likeness. Man finds his greatest
destiny in his capability to govern himself and society is meant to be at the service of man and not man for society
to respect his dignity and allow him to attain his fullest human potential.
B. Society
A society is a group of persons bound together organically by a principle of unity that goes beyond each
one of them. By means of society, each man is established as an heir and receives certain talents that enrich his
identity and whose fruits he must develop. He rightly owes loyalty to the communities of which he is part and
respect to those in authority who have charge of the common good.
Certain societies, such as the family and the state, correspond more directly to the nature of man; they are
necessary to him. To promote the participation of the greatest number in the life of a society, the creation of
voluntary associations and institutions must be encouraged on both national and international levels, which relate
to economic and social goals, to cultural and recreational activities, to sport, to various professions, and to political
affairs. This socialization also expresses the natural tendency for human beings to associate with one another for
the sake of attaining objectives that exceed individual capacities. It develops the qualities of the person, especially
the sense of initiative and responsibility, and helps guarantee his rights.
C. The Social Economy
Our articulation of the concept of social economy will be based on two premises, namely:
1. the fundamental equality of men; and
2. the inalienable rights of man.
The fundamental assumption of the equality of men stems from the belief that:
 all men are children of the common Father, who is God;
 all have the same end, who is God Himself;
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  every human being, no matter how lowly his social position is, possesses an equal measure of human
dignity; and
 notwithstanding actual differences of age, position, physical, intellectual, or moral attributes, there exists
a fundamental equality in the sense that they possess the same human nature.
The inalienable rights of man are derived from the assumptions that man has a spiritual and immortal
soul, a person endowed by his Creator with the gifts of body and mind. Thus, man has been granted by God
with a number of prerogatives, to mention a few:
 the right to life, bodily integrity, and the necessary means of existence;
 the right of association;
 the right to possess and lose property;
 the right to work as an indispensable means for the maintenance of family life; and
 the right to move toward his ultimate goal in the path marked out for him by God.
It follows that in considering the social order, the right to material possessions does not mean protecting
the large owners, nor does it intend to consolidate both the privileges of wealth and the social inequalities which
flow from them. Rather, it means to answer the deepest aspirations of the masses in their longing to have a place
of their own with the basic security that such ownership brings.
D. The Right to Work
The right to work can be seen in its threefold character; it is personal, necessary, and social.
1. Work is personal in the sense that the totality of the worker as a person is involved; his entire physical
resource, his faculties of intelligence, initiative, energy, and will, including his responsibilities as a man
and as a member of a community. It is the true expression of his human person and his means towards a
decent, human existence.
2. Work is necessary because it gives the worker the means of earning a living and providing tor his family.
Every man has the duty to find in his work the means of providing for himself and his wife and children.
In this sense, the right to work does not mean that every individual out of work has the right to demand
employment from the state, although the State has the duty, in certain cases, to provide work. But what
does it mean is, in a well-organized society, every man has the right to find in his work whatever is
necessary to live a fully human lite.
3. Work is social because it is a means where man cooperates in the work of creation. It is a unifying factor.
It brings men together and links them in the accomplishment of procuring for society the goods and
services which are necessary and useful for it.
E. Characteristics of the Human Economy
The human economy should aim not only for the satisfaction of man's needs but it should als0 respect
man's nature and dignity, and provides the material condition in which he can live as a man ought to live. As such,
it should contain the following characteristics:
1. It should be at the service of man. This means that the economy should respect, pursue, and guarantee the
privacy of man over all material things, whether in the form of wealth, production, or technological
progress. It should exclude the organization of an economy that fails to take man into account, as it a
nation can be evaluated only in terms of the riches and wealth it has amassed.
2. It should take into consideration man's nature and his wholeness. Technology is held subordinate to man
and to the sum of the spiritual and material values which concerns his nature and personal dignity. A
human economy takes into account the complex nature, the living unity of body and soul, the individuality
and personality of the whole man. It considers man as a corporeal being, needing food, health, relaxation
and rest; at the same time, a spiritual and national being called to a life of reason and intelligence to a
spiritual, moral, and religious life. Man is not supposed to become a slave to his senses, whims, instincts,
and passions but become man and realize his calling as a human person. In addition to this, the human
economy must look at the person as a social being bound to or related with other men by a law of solidarity,
able to cooperate and unite with other men to guide the social economy to its authentic end.
3. It should adjust itself to man's fundamental needs. An economy of need is one which is directed towards
satisfying the fundamental needs of man like food, clothing, housing, development of personality,
education, and healthy improvement of body and soul. Supposedly, 1t 1s not an economy of false needs
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 artificially created by propaganda and advertising; not an economy for the profit of a privileged elite; not
economy of luxury; nor a quantitative economy aimed at abundance of goods, their value calculated purely
on material standards.
4. It should aim at improving, developing, and perfecting human beings. The end at which individuals aim
and to which the State as such should be directed is the genuine improvement or a people and, in
consequence, the achievement of their lawful economic, social, and cultural autonomy. Thus, the economy
should be one or human progress, of material prosperity which in itself also contributes a valid basis for a
cultural, social, and religious life.
5. It makes its benefits available to all men. It should not be an economy reserved for the privileged, nor for
a financial oligarchy, or an economic dictator ship. Neither can it be an autarchical society, thinking only
of its own people. It must be open to all the spirit of international cooperation and amity.
6. It should fit man and be made to a human scale. It must be alert to the danger to the human person presented
by the impersonal and gigantic collective enterprises, either capitalist or socialist, in which man disappears
as a person and becomes nothing more than a cog in the huge machine
F. The Common Good
Our treatment of the concept of the common good will cover the following: definition; essential
components; its greatness, and service.
a. Definition: The common good embraces the sum total of those conditions of social living. whereby men
are enabled more fully and readily to achieve their own perfection. The term good has a moral significance
and implies values. It is that which helps perfect a human person, completes him as a rational and free
being, and provides the satisfaction not only or his material and physical needs but also of his noble
aspirations as a man, including his intellectual, artistic, cultural, and spiritual needs and thus, provides
peace, security, confidence, and happiness.
b. Essential Components: There are three essential components of the common good, namely, public order,
prosperity, and intellectual, spiritual, and moral values.
Society should direct itself towards making available in a stable manner to all its members the necessary
material conditions to develop their cultural and spiritual life. The Common good therefore, presupposes a public
order which could ensure protection of life and property, respect for freedom and rights, defense of country both
internal at external, and the exercise of justice by honest judges.
The material prosperity component of the common good seeks to do the following:
 to provide employment for as many workers as possible;
 to take care of the least privileged groups,
 to maintain a balance between wages and price; and
 to make accessible the goods and services for a better life to as many persons as possible.
In the intellectual and moral order, the common good demands general education, the development of
intellectual, humanistic, and technical training, culture, and different forms of art. It requires that the soul,
conscience, will, and energies of young people should be developed to awaken in them a strong, balanced, and
disciplined personality.
c. Greatness: The greatness of the common good lies in the way in which it conditions the existence, vitality,
well-being, and happiness of the community of people over the pursuit of individual or particular goods,
which are limited to the exclusive sphere of families, professions, or groups. The greatness of the common
good safeguards the intangible domain of the rights of the human person and helps him to fulfill his duties.
It furthermore invites man
 to reach out to realize his destiny;
 to fulfill himself in helping others to become better, more free and more human;
 to discipline his selfishness
 to rise above his petty personal interests;
 to take his responsibility in the social body; and
 to practice all the virtues included in the giving of oneself to his higher ideal.

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 d. Service: While the common good should be sought, loved, and served by all citizens, it is primary the
proper duty of the State/government. The State should help, control, and regulate private individual
activities of national life to make them converge harmoniously tor the common good. The State should
have equal care for all the classes of its citizens observing the laws of distributive justice, protecting the
rights of one and all.

WHAT IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?

Community engagement is a dynamic relational process that facilitates communication, interaction,
involvement, and exchange between an organization and a community for a range of social and organizational
outcomes.
WHY IS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IMPORTANT?
Let’s look at the benefits of community engagement from different perspectives. There are several
categories of benefits that we will explore. Then we talk about community engagement examples.

 Intellectual
 Personal Growth and Development
 Social
 Policy-Making
 Sustainability
 Relationship

Intellectual Benefits
Community engagement impacts people by helping them develop complex understandings of situations,
problem analysis skills, problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and deep cognitive skills. People who are
engaged in their community have an improved ability to understand complexity and ambiguity. Their intellectual
knowledge-base and wisdom grows.

Personal Growth and Development Benefits

Community engagement helps individuals develop a greater sense of personal efficacy, personal identify,
spiritual growth, and moral development. They also develop better interpersonal skills, especially the ability to
work well with others. And, they build leadership and communication skills. People who are actively involved in
their community may also discover a particular interest they have in pursuing a career.

Social Benefits
People who are out in their community, actively engaged with groups of people who have a common
interest, learn to have fewer stereotypes of people and a greater understanding of cultural differences. They
develop a greater sense of social responsibility and citizenship skills. They usually carry these attributes through
life into other activities. They also learn to accept and appreciate differences.

Policy-Making Benefits
People who volunteer with community organizations learn how public participation can significantly
influence decision making that directly impacts the community. Active, passionate volunteers can influence
decisions related to provisions of community services and future visions for the community. Community
involvement in government or advocacy organizations encourages policy-makers to develop meaningful solutions
to complex problems. Citizen involvement and engagement encourages policy-makers to have open dialogue,
with active listening, about decisions that have to be made in the best interest of the community.

Sustainability Benefits
Community engagement supports the sustainability efforts of organizations to look into the future and
plan accordingly for both their community organization and the broader community. Decisions can be made based
on real-life experiences of community members who can share local knowledge and input. This collaborative

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relationship between organizations and citizens ensures the sustainability of the community in a manner that
supports its citizens and the environment.

Relationship Benefits
Community engagement encourages positive relationships between citizens and organizations that have a
common interest — their community. Those involved in working together learn the joys and challenges of
developing a relationship that has meaning and richness. They also learn the delicate balance involved in building
trusting and collaborative relationships that are impactful and effective.

TYPES OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Why is community engagement important? Participating in the community is clearly beneficial in many
ways. But did you know there are studies that have actually categorized community engagement into 8 areas of
service? For informational purposes before you move on to the next section, these are the 8 categories:

Community Engagement Models

Community Building
Projects that intentionally bring people together to simply get to know one another. Examples include the
community meal.
Community Education
Projects that provide instructional services or curricula, or serve to educate the public about a social issue
(in a non-partisan way). Examples are Community ESL classes, and Gather in the Park.
Community Organizing
Projects that bring people together with the goal of solving a community issue. Please note that OCE
cannot work on partisan issues, but can contribute to creating solutions for non-partisan, local issues.
Deliberative Dialogue
Projects that intentionally bring people together to build understanding across differences.
Direct Service
Projects that provide a service or product to an individual, group, or the community as a whole. Examples
include filling a volunteer shift at a local organization, creating social media tools for an organization, or creating
a community mural.
Economic Development
Projects that work on developing the regional economy in a sustainable way. Examples include feasibility
studies for new businesses and projects that attract people to small town business districts.
Engaged Research
Research that directly benefits the community by clarifying the causes of a community challenge, mapping
a community's assets, or contributing to solutions to current challenges and also fits a faculty member's research
agenda. In the best case scenario, faculty with research expertise work alongside community members and
students on such projects.
Institutional Engagement
College resources intentionally offered without undue barriers to the community. Examples include
making library cards available for community members, making campus events accessible, and choosing to use
local and sustainable businesses to supply services or goods.

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 “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
~ Coretta Scott King

ACTIVITY 1. My Concept of Man and Society (short bond paper)

Direction: Draw or make a sketch of your concept of man and society.

ACTIVITY 2. Promotion of Common Good (short bond paper)

Direction: Write an essay on how we can achieve the common good. Give specific/concrete examples wherein
you can manifest in your day-to-day life some actions that can bring about respect for human, dignity, protect
human rights, and facilitate human development.