Overview of community immersion /community

mobilization
Module 11 - Civic Welfare Training Service
 Objectives
• Define Community immersion as an
approach and strategy of developing
projects in serving people and communities;
• Enrich knowledge and competencies in
the community through immersion as a
process for development.
• Apply principles and concepts of working
in the community through immersion
projects and activities;
 Objectives
• Expose NSTP trainees in depressed,
deprived and the underprivileged
communities and marginalized groups of
our society.
• Appreciate the values of community
immersion as a means of developing
themselves as citizens and helping
people improve their way of life and
alleviating their living conditions;
 Objectives
• Enhance civic consciousness and defense
preparedness.
• Develop Ethics of service imbued with
good citizenship values.
 Contents
• What is community?
• What are the elements of a community?
• Why is immersion an important approach
(strategy) in giving service top the
communities?
• What is community immersion?
• Whom do you immerse within the
community?
 Contents
• What conditions may qualify one to go
into community immersion?
• What personal gains may a student get
from community immersion?
• What you should and should not do in the
community immersion?
• Things to avoid before and during the
conduct of community immersion?
 Methodology

• Group discussion
 WHAT IS COMMUNITY?

A community is a collective of people with

similar interest and goal whether living in the
same geographic locality or not.
 WHAT ARE THE ELEMENTS
OF COMMUNITY?
• Demographics (include population
distribution and density)
• History (events of the fast that contribute
to the development of the community).
• Culture (ways of living of the people)
• Economy (income level , occupation of
people)
• Structures (physical,political)
Why is immersion an important approach (strategy) in
giving service to the communities?

Through community immersion, trainees

will be exposed in further and other realities
of life which they may or may not belong to.
What is community immersion?

Community immersion is a strategy that

goes beyond acquainting us with community
concerns but make possible participation in
their (re)solution.
 Forms of integration in community
immersion
• Home visits
• Living with selected families preferably
with key informants
• Informal discussions with individual or
groups
 Forms of integration in community
immersion
• Sharing in household and community
activities (cooking with the community
host, clean -up drive)
• Attendance in social gatherings (fiesta,
wedding etc.)
• Assistance in production work (selling,
farming etc.)
 Whom do you immerse within the
community?
Community-based service project must be
premised to the principle of people
empowerment and not the dole-out
mentality. Teach people how to fish so that
they will live for a life time.
 What conditions may qualify one to
go into community immersion?
• As for NSTP, students enrolled are
mandated to undergo community
immersion for a period covering a
minimum of 54 hours to a maximum of 90
hours a cited from CHED prescribed
Program of Instruction (POI), 2007 edition.
Personal gains may student get from
community immersion

Community immersion improves the

trainees’ understanding of himself in relation
to others
 Personal gains may student get
from community immersion
• Opportunity for the trainees to
comprehend people’s lives because of the
chance given to them to see real life
situations, identify and associate with the
people therein;
• Gain social acceptance derived from
community relations coupled with the right
to offer services;
 Personal gains may student get
from community immersion
• Enhance experiences in conducting asset
mapping such as identifying geographic
coverage, point out resources and the use,
and the relationships of people with the
existing resources;
• Establish rapport and relationship with
different people who may be of help to
them at some future time;
 Personal gains may student get
from community immersion
• Develop their conscientization ability. It
helps them realize issues that will help
solve problems in the community. It is
important for them to do something that
can change their situation;
• Acquire first-hand experiences in dealing
with community works; and
• Chance to learn life skills that will enrich
and better their persons.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(Before the conduct of community immersion)

• Familiarize yourself with the basic

information and theories regarding
community life. At this stage, you must at
least have in your mind a community you
intend to immerse at. Ask around for
information about this community.
• Secure a waiver from the NSTP Office
prior to the visit and have it signed by your
parents.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(Before the conduct of community immersion)
• Always inform your faculty in-charge of your
destination, time table and plan of action.
• Be armed with background information about the
area of immersion. This will be helpful in locating
resources and site entry and exit points which
will make your travel more convenient.
Background information will enable you to
anticipate the general characteristic of people in
that area.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(Before the conduct of community immersion)
• Pay courtesy call to community leaders, whether formal or
informal. Courtesy calls may also be done to officers of an
NGO where the project is also directed to. Be sure that the
people who will be you in your project and the key
informants of the community are informed of your every
visit. Provide them a copy of the schedule of your activity.
• Harmonious relationship with community leaders and officers can
almost ensure you your safety in their area. By relating well
towards them, you can solicit their support in your projects and
activities. This may be able to commit in providing security when
you roam around and familiarize yourself with the community.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(Before the conduct of community immersion)
• Secure documents like letter of acceptance from the
community, Memorandum of Agreement, etc. and other
documents pertinent to your stay in the community.
• Bring your own personal provisions like water, snacks and
extra shirt. These will be helpful to fill these hunger pangs
while conducting the immersion. Community people are
often very hospitable. They will almost likely offer you food
and water if they see that you are unable to provide for
yourself. This is despite that they might be offering their
last supply of food. Remember, you are there in the
community to assess if you could help and work with them,
so try not to be an additional burden to them.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(During the actual Conduct of Community Immersion)

• Be courteous to everyone - whether to a

vendor or a community official. Remember
that you are there to work with the
community.
• Act properly and discretely – You are
presenting your school and your fellow
students. Be responsible with the words
you say.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(During the actual Conduct of Community Immersion)

• Wear proper uniforms and identification card –

This will allow the community to identify who are
the trainees who will immerse in their
community. This can also promote your school’s
image as you become “ambassadors” for
community service.
• It is highly advised to keep your valuable
secured – to protect you from unnecessarily
attracting and distracting community people,
from possible theft, etc.
 THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(After Community Immersion)

• Validate and evaluate if the programs and activities were

conducted appropriately and as planned.
• Provide copies of your final documentation output to the
UNSTP Office and to the community where you
conducted your immersion for records purposes.
– Your documentation may serve as a baseline study for the
community and other batches of NSTP students in conducting
community immersion. This will avoid unnecessary repetition of
activities and may be a basis for enhancement of other
previously conducted activities
 Things to avoid..
(Before the conduct of community immersion)

• Never forget to inform and get the consent of our

parents/guardians about the activities lined up.
• Do not go directly to the community without
determining the background information about it.
• Avoid bringing of original copies of signed
documents in the community. It is better to carry
around original and certified true copies of
documents to prevent loss and smudging the
paper.
 Things to avoid..
(Before the conduct of community immersion)

• However sometimes, community people

could be insistent in their hospitability in
offering your provisions like food. Try to
gauge whether it would be offensive to
refuse their offer. If you think they will be
offended if you beg off, you may accept
food or water in your plate or glass but do
not consume it. Especially if you are not
able to have as much background
 Things to avoid..
(Before the conduct of community immersion)

information in the community you are

immersing at, avoid consuming their
resources and focus on your work. This is
also for your own safety.
*Whenever possible and non-offensive,
decline and tell them respectfully rather that
you appreciate their hospitality
 Things to avoid..
(During the actual community immersion period)

• Avoid labeling and naming people with

politically incorrect terms. Try to be more
discreet in your use of words to avoid
offending other people.
• Do not show off in terms of dressing up.
You are there in the community to help.
Just bring an extra white shirt if you have
to change your soiled uniforms after your
activities.
 Things to avoid..
(During the actual community immersion period)

• Avoid drawing attention to yourself. Be as low

profile as possible and avoid being identified as
a guest in the community.
• Never bring out your valuable things like cell
phones, jewelry and money in public places.
• Never promise and commit to a task that is
beyond your and your school’s capability. Never
go beyond the activities stated in your MOA to
avoid false commitments and dependency of the
community.