Community mobilization

Faridul Julfiker

Abstract: The objective of the article is describing some features of community mobilization that may be the starting
point to understand community mobilization process. The process is depended on social structure and context of the
issues. The article will depend on some study and experiences. Community mobilization has some model but the steps will
cover the different models.

Introduction: Community mobilization is a process whereby a group of people have transcended

their differences to meet on equal terms in order to facilitate a participatory decision-making process.
It can be viewed as a process which begins a dialogue among members of the community to
determine who, what, and how issues are decided, and also to provide a direction for everyone to
participate in decisions that affect their lives. In other word Community mobilization is the process of
bringing community members together and enabling them to act on common concerns and
problems.

Community mobilization is important because the most of the cases community have the skills to
solve the community problems in sustainable way. The participation of people in the solution to their
problems is one of the most effective ways to not only deal with issues but also important in reducing
the problems from repeating themselves. An effective community mobilization process can change
the community attitude toward solve particular problem in a sustainable way. In these regard people
can realize their issues and solve the problem in a collective way. From the mobilization process
individuals transmitted into different groups which create community leadership that maintain social
harmony.

The community mobilization process has some structure/model to be followed but it depends on
social structure of the society. The facilitator has to use the model after studying the social structure
that defines social relation, political situation, economic condition and power relation.

Community and Mobilization: In order to understand community mobilization we must first have a
sense of what community is. The word ‘community’ reminds us that humans are social animals. We
need to know as much as possible about the social, environmental & cultural aspects of the
community. This shouldn’t just be facts – a community is how these aspects are linked. Community is
a word that encompasses many different types of social groups, organizations, and institutions. It may
include locations such as villages or groups of villages, community councils, church groups, youth
groups, women’s groups, community banks, or kinship groups.(Brown 2001) We know that a
community is not merely a collection of individuals, but a system that transcends those individuals. As
a system it has various dimensions, technological, economic, political, institutional, ideological and
perceptual. People come in and go out of the community, by birth, death and migration, yet the
system persists. And it is always changing. (Bartle 1999). So" Community" becomes redefined as
more than a place, and more than the elements that divide people. It becomes the way in which
people live and work together. The result is what some would describe as a "mobilization of
coalitions and collaborative," that those who live in the community simply describe as "the way we do
things in our community."

The process in which people join together to take action oriented to accomplish one or more
objectives is known as ‘mobilization. ‘Mobilization bears political connotations, and in the
development lexicon, it is allied with empowerment and participation, both of which refer to
processes whose ends are improved social welfare. When local institutions are weak and many
barriers to involving communities exist, mobilization will be required. That said attempting
mobilization does not automatically lead to success, as constraints abound.

The word ‘enabling’ is an important concept in the role of community mobilization. To assist in
mobilizing the community it is important to enable people participation: bringing people together.
The word ‘act’ implies that the goal is active participation by community members on an issue of
concern through collective learning and self-educated action. The community does not just mobilize
into action: they act in response to an issue.

Mobilizing the Community: Communities can be mobilized to work for changes that will bring
social, emotional, financial and physical benefit that is needed for community members. Each
community is a microcosm of a nation. It includes a dozen of publics. It is the educational and
professional groups, members of CBO, CO, clubs, natural leaders, organic intellectuals youth group,
media, labor organization, religious leaders. It is the community at large, which may react differently
as a group than its members would as individuals. (White, 1)

Mobilizing the community begins with identifying the problem or issues that is affecting the
community. The problem must be a common one and community has the interest to solve the
problem. It should be ensured that after solving the problem the community will get the benefit for a
long period. The mobilization process will be completed after a sustainable solution of the problem.

Step of Community Mobilization: Community mobilization model contents different steps of

mobilization process. The steps are not universal and it depends of the social condition and targeted
issues. The steps also not stereotype and it may not be applied chronologically. The main steps are
followed:

A. Developing Mobilization Plan: Community mobilization process will be started form developing
a panning. Without a sound planning the goal of the mobilization will not be achieved. So very
beginning of the process a planning should be developed. A mobilization plan should raise the
public's consciousness about the problem, gather the support of the people and involve an effective
percentage of the population in active program participation (White, 2.) To effectively plan for
community mobilization we need to consider: specific goals, objectives, activities and timeliness,
skills & resources. These areas will now be highlighted and some prompting questions posed to give a
better idea of what should be considered. Measure twice and cut once. Before even considering
doing any work with the community, we must prepare ourselves. The best way for preparation is
develop a plan. Simple questions such as: who, what, where, when, why and how, can be a useful
guide in preparing as they can help us to consider what we are doing. The early focus of any
community mobilization plan should:

• Structural assessment of the community (Social structure).

• Determination of attitudes toward the problem.
• Assessment of expectation of the community.
• Adequate information about the effects of the problem.
• People participation. (White, 2)

B. Issue or problem identification and create community vision: A community has lots of
problems. Some problems are affecting individual and distant group, some problem are temporary.
On the other hand some problems cause suffering the entire community. These problems are
traditionally inherited. Basically these problems are common for the people and people admit the
problems and have interest to resolve the problem. Mobilization issues should be picking up from the
problems. So the facilitator needs to understand the social structure of the particular community.
Formal or informal study is needed here. After setting the issues the goal should be drown, it means
how the issues will be treated and what is the sailing point that people desire after solving the
problem.

C. Raising awareness through public relation plan: To mobilizing the public to action on a
community need, an effective, comprehensive public relations plan must be developed. This
generates greater support and involvement in mobilization process and activities that address the
need. Then the process will be recognized and perceived as an asset to the community. Barbara L.
White, Ph.D., says an effective public relations plan will help those who are concerned contribute to
the creation of positive attitudes where none exist. She also notes that it will intensify existing
positive attitudes, convert existing negative attitudes and sometimes neutralize persistent negative
attitudes. Sound public relations plan have to develop before, during and after a mobilization process.
The objective of the public relation plan is to sell the process, to gain support and to maximize
involvement. The process must be visible, viewed as a necessity and appreciated for what it offers.
(White, 2-3) The public relation plan must have an objective to create awareness and build public
opinion to make the community to act for the change by solving the identified problem. If there any
gap between the facilitator and community understanding the result of the mobilization process will
be unsustainable. Sometimes it will be created resistance from community people. A public relation
plan will be consisted various tools such-
 • Orientation to the individual or group (Social influential group)
• person-to-person contact through speeches
• meetings with different social leaders and professional group
• Use the public meetings (Different local committee meeting)
• Large public meeting
• Use of local media such as television, radio, newspapers, advertising in direct mail,
newsletters, billboards, displays, films, brochures, exhibits, theater and sports programs, etc.
(White,

D. Making Collaboration: An individual can’t mobilize the community alone. It needs involvement
as much as community people and groups. Individuals and organizations have to come together with
hand to hand for work infaviour of issues. When individuals and organizations come together to
work on an issue, it is common to see them scramble over "turf" issues and for multiple, unrelated
programs to result. The group needs to come to a consensus of moving toward collaboration. The
collaboration is not a formal institution but a conceptual group which is responsible to solve the
problem with the representation of the whole community. For this to happen there needs to be
time allowed for trust building. This is where the different individuals and organizations examine their
capabilities and motivations. Ideas are exchanged, problems resolved and participants learn to give
and take (Dye and Wood 1981, 2). The collation must have a common interest. Individual
participation should be ensured but individual interest should not be allowed at the collaboration.
For successful coalitions to happen working relationships must be developed between each member
of the coalition and the groups must put the plan into practice. Coordinating mechanisms can help. In
addition, it is necessary that any collaborative effort be as open as possible. Involve the broadest
circle of agencies and organizations to encourage collaboration around the common issue. It is
essential that any collaborative effort does not threaten or duplicate existing efforts on the same
issue. The coalition also must recognize that the public will be pushing for action and results.

Various strategies are used to form coalitions. It has worked successfully to form an organization of
the diverse groups who have a common interest, identify and recruit potential members, and
establish a governing board. The coordinator of the group facilitates the decision-making process and
helps members work together. Due to coordinating effort and visibility, formal groups are able to
carry out large projects. Unfortunately, this strategy requires more time and effort to develop and
operate.

Another strategy is less formal and can be applied to a community of any size. It targets
particular segments of the population through building informal networks

The natural allies for mobilization are those persons who have a common interest in an issue. This can
include community-minded individuals and all persons and groups affected by the issue.
It is important that the group have linkages either by representation or delegation to the power
structure, government agencies, key communicators, advisory boards, local businesses and
educational institutions.

Membership in a community coalition falls into three categories:

• Activists, who take an active role and provide leadership, write grants and serve on
subcommittees and steering committees.
• Helpers who work on a limited basis or on specific designated tasks such as letter writing,
newsletter distribution, etc.
• Communicators who share the work of the coalition to the outside through educational
sessions and coalitions with other groups. (Burghard)

E. Emerging leadership: Different individual has different skill in the community. Some people
are very much aware about the social problems and have interest to resolve the problems. They
are informative and responsible and community admits their kind of quality. Usually these kinds
of people come from different professional group. Such kind of potential person or individual
should be found out for community mobilization. The facilitator should be a drawing or mapping
of such kind of individuals then sensitize to the mobilization process. Information sharing,
participation at different programs, inspiration and providing support and coordination are the
key strategies to brought out the skilled person as a social leader. If the facilitator able to create
or find out a social leader the mobilization process will be successes.

F. Recognition and encouragement: Community mobilization process should have different

milestone. During the process different milestone will be achieved at different stage. These are
success of the community toward the goal. Community p[people have important contribution to
reach the milestone. There may be stereotype of the contribution. It means some contributed
much and some contributed less. But all the contribution must be recognized if everybody feels
ownership on the success. Then they will be more active and dedicate. So recantation is will be
continued. Beside these the community leader should be recognize carefully if the feel proud to
play the leadership.

Conclusion: Community mobilization is a universal method to bring out sustainable changes of

the community. It relies on peoples will and action for common interest. Social organization and
social relation become stronger from mobilization. A well prepared mobilization process has
various reflection of the community and a program or project.
References:
Burghard, Steve. Organizing for Community Action, University of Michigan School of Social Work,
Sage Publications, 1986. Bartle, Phil 1998. Community Empowerment Handbook for Mobilizes.
Community Management Program. United Nations – Habitat. Uganda, 91 p.

Brown, M. Issue Brief #20. Mobilizing Communities to Conserve Forest Resources – Cameroon
Case Study. Central African Regional Program for the Environment (CARPEhttp://carpe.umd.edu/).
(2001).

Dye, Robert R., John S. Wood. "A Different Game: Collaborating to Serve Youth at Risk," National
Council of YMCAs, National Collaboration for Youth, Journal of Voluntary Action Research (July-
December, 1981).

Quick, Sam, Robert Flashman and Arlene Gibeaux. SOS Learning Networks: A Model of
Interorganizational Cooperation. University of Kentucky.

White, Barbara L., Ph.D. Mobilizing the Public to Better Serve Children At-Risk. Community Relations
and Public Information. Jackson, Mississippi: Jackson Public Schools.