COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND

ADVOCACY
Service Learning or Community
Engagement
 it is “a teaching and learning strategy that integrates
meaningful community service with instruction and
reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic
responsibility, and strengthen communities.”
a form of experiential education where learning occurs
through a cycle of action and reflection as students . . .
seek to achieve real objectives for the community and
deeper understanding and skills for themselves
Importance / Benefits of Community
Projects
To Students
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Positive impact on students’ academic learning
Improves students’ ability to apply what they have
learned in “the real world”
Positive impact on academic outcomes such as
demonstrated complexity of understanding, problem
analysis, problem-solving, critical thinking, and
cognitive development
 Improved ability to understand complexity and
ambiguity
PERSONAL OUTCOMES

Greater sense of personal efficacy, personal identity,

spiritual growth, and moral development
 Greater interpersonal development, particularly the
ability to work well with others, and build leadership
and communication skills.
SOCIAL OUTCOMES

Reduced stereotypes and greater inter-cultural

understanding
 Improved social responsibility and citizenship skills
Greater involvement in community service after
graduation
 
CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Connections with professionals and community

members for learning and career opportunities
 Greater academic learning, leadership skills, and
personal efficacy can lead to greater opportunity
 
 
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE INSTITUTION

Stronger relationships with faculty

Greater satisfaction with college
 Improved graduation rates
 
To Faculty
Satisfaction with the quality of student learning
New avenues for research and publication via new
relationships between faculty and community
Providing networking opportunities with engaged
faculty in other disciplines or institutions
A stronger commitment to one’s research
To the University
Improved institutional commitment to the curriculum
Improved student retention
 Enhanced community relations
To the Community
Satisfaction with student participation
Valuable human resources needed to achieve
community goals
 New energy, enthusiasm and perspectives applied to
community work
Enhanced community-university relations
10 Examples of Great Community
Service Projects
1. Collect Food
Contact your local food bank and they will provide you with the necessary information
and materials to have a food drive. Encourage people to donate their favorite food
items. You can even offer prizes to individuals who donate the most!
Recycling Program
Starting a recycling program is a big task but a worthwhile one. Here’s a great guide to get you started.
When you recycle, those items can be turned into amazing things, like the Green Guardian™ coat, made
from recycled PET plastic bottles.
3. Community Garden
A community garden is a great way to bond with your community and provide healthy
food. You may be able to identify a sponsor to help get your garden started. Consider
making a garden just for children, so they can learn about the process of gardening. It is
a great educational opportunity.
4. Cleanup
A community cleanup will improve the look of your neighborhood or park and inspire
people to keep the space looking great. Hosting a potluck after is a wonderful way to
celebrate this community achievement!
5. Blood drive
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. By hosting a blood drive, you and your community can
make a real difference. The American Red Cross provides planning assistance, recruitment tools, equipment,
supplies, and a trained staff to screen and collect donations safely.
6. Neighborhood Watch Group
Starting or joining a neighborhood watch group is easy. Once you recruit as many neighbors as possible you
can contact your local law enforcement agency to schedule a meeting to get additional information. Holding
regular meetings and events is another way to bring your community together.
7. Give New Coats to Kids in Need
Starting an Operation Warm coat program for your local low-income school is a great
way to serve your community. You select the school, set your fundraising goal, and
hand out the brand new coats yourselves. This is a wonderful way to strengthen your
community ties while helping local children stay warm.
8. Community Newsletter
Organizing a community newsletter is a fun way to get the word out and get people
involved in activities in your neighborhood and community.
9. Volunteer
Volunteering is a rewarding experience that brings people of all ages together for a
good cause. Get involved with a great organization like Habitat for Humanity or 
Operation Warm.
10. Coach
Are you into sports? Do you spend most of your free time on the field or watching your
favorite team? Become a volunteer coach or referee with a local youth team. Your town
recreation department, Boys and Girls Club or Y is probably looking for volunteers,
and they should be so lucky to have someone with your expertise!
 Community
it is defined as a group of people who share something in common. One can define a community by the
shared attributes of the people in it and/or by the strength of the connections among them. You need a
bunch of people who are alike in some way, who feel some sense of belonging or interpersonal
connection. Communities are technically human beings that share common goal and interest.
TYPES OF COMMUNITY:
 FORMAL COMMUNITIES-
  engage in joint activities and discussion, help each other, and share information with each other;
they care about their standing with each other.
Examples: Ecovillages, Co-housing communities, Co-ops communities, and Religious communities
 INFORMAL COMMUNITIES-
consists of a set of personal relations, social networks, common interest and emotional sources of motivation.
Examples: Academic communities, Recreation communities and Retirement communities
 URBAN COMMUNITIES-
large in terms of land area & population, advanced in science & technology, with favorable
physical environment and & diverse cultures, and the people are engaged in various occupations.
Characteristics of urban communities
Characteristics of urban communities: Advancement in science
and technology, many business establishments, recreational
centers, educational and religious institutions, people are
crowded, social heterogeneity, class extremes and greater
pollution;
Many crimes are committed, Family ties tend to be weak, Limited
space, Greater impersonality among neighbors, Higher standard
of living, Shortage of employment, Informal settlers are rampant;
A lot of hazards and dangers, Greater number of separation of
spouses and live- in arrangements, Major occupations are
industrial, administrative and professional, Divisions of labor and
occupational specialization are very much common
 RURAL COMMUNITIES
RURAL COMMUNITIES- usually produce their own food for subsistence
Characteristics of rural communities
 Greater personal interaction, Deep, long-term
relationships , Generally, peace and order exists,
Mutual give and take affairs, Emphasis of shared
values, Vernacular is usually spoken, Wider area;
Influence of blood relationships in decision making,
Homogenous type of culture, Belief in supernatural
and superstitious beliefs, Relationship is more personal
and informal, Less pollution, Few establishments and
institutions, Few goods and services
 GLOBAL COMMUNITIES-
it is the international aggregate of nation-states
 SECTORAL COMMUNITIES
this include the voluntary sector or non-profit sector
Click icon to add picture

SOCIAL SPACE COMMUNITIES

based on social spaces
WHAT CHARACTERIZED A COMMUNITY?

According to Paronen and Oja, there are six main features which characterize a
community:

A community is typified by membership; that is its members have a sense of

identity and belonging.
A community consists of common symbol systems, such as similar language,
religion and practices.
Community members share norms and values.
They have a sense of mutual influence, whereby they influence and are influenced
by each other (reciprocity).
A community is characterized by shared needs and commitment to meeting those
needs.
Community members typically share an emotional connection, such as common
history, mutual support, and similar experiences.