Lesson 2: Understanding the

Concepts and Principles of

Community Immersion
Structured Learning Exercises
Group activity: “ Build a Community”
Materials: ice drop/barbecue sticks, drinking
straw, plastic spoons and forks, plastic bottles,
box cartons, adhesive tapes, glue and yarn.
WHAT IS A COMMUNITY?
According to community development specialist
ARLIEN JOHNSON, the term community refers
to a group of people gathered in any geographic
area, large or small, who have common interests,
actual or potentially recognized in the social
welfare field.
“ A COMMUNITY is a collective of people
with similar interests and goals whether living
in the same geographic locally or not.”
A community can be categorized as per
CONCEPT as:
1) Geographical
2) Functional
Relevant Community – a group of people
having similar interests and goals as the
communities around them.
ELEMENTS OF A COMMUNITY
1. Demographics – include population
distribution and density
2. History – events of the past that
contributed to the development of the
community
3. Culture – ways of living of the people
4. Economy – income level, occupation of
people
5. Structures – physical, political and social
structures
IMMERSION AS AN IMPORTANT
APPROACH IN GIVING COMMUNITY
SERVICE
An old adage says that, “Experience is the
best teacher”…
Through community immersion trainees will
be exposed in further and other realities of life
which they may or may not belong to.
As the Holy Scripture tells us “ To whom much
is given, much is required.”
Basic questions:
1. What is the relevancy of the immersion part
of the NSTP?
2. Why would trainees need to study the
behavior of the people in and that which
composed the community where they serve?
What is Community Immersion?
 It is a strategy that goes beyond
acquainting us with community
concerns but make possible our
participation in their (re) solution.
Community immersion in NSTP is devised in
molding and conscientizing’ students so that they
may be socially aware and responsible to their
communities.
The nature of immersion efforts done is along
the dimensions of, but not limited to, education,
health, safety, education, sports and recreation,
environmental services, entrepreneurship, morals
of citizenry and other social welfare concenrs.
Immersion is a major concern in development
work and it is guided by the following:
1. Trainees should immerse in actual
community life to get to know the social,
political and economic situation of the
people.
2. It must undergo certain changes like
increase in knowledge about social realities,
development of good values,
Empathy towards other people, improvement
of social skills
2. Identify the community people’s interest and
aspirations.
3. Recognize people’s resiliency and does not
rob them of their right to have community
participation and determination of appropriate
courses of action
5. Aware of the gain-negotiated-sanction – the
acceptance derived from community relations
couple with the right to conduct immersion
activities.
6. Must reflect on how their social analysis of
the current situation is concretized in
community lives.
THE FORMS OF INTEGRATION IN
COMMUNITY IMMERSION
 Home visits
 Living with selected families preferably with key
informants
 Informal discussions with individual or groups
 Sharing with household and community activities
(cooking with the community host, clean up
drive)
 Attendance in social gatherings (fiestas, weddings,
etc.)
 Assistance in production work (selling, farming
etc.)
Whom do you immerse within the Community?
When one goes to a community, he/she
associates with the people whom intends to
work with as partners, allies community-based
service projects.
It is on the principle of people empowerment
and not the “dole-out” mentality.
The parents, youth, the different-abled
constituents, professionals, members of
people’s organizations, and other
formal and informal group – THEY
ARE THE POTENTIAL
COLLABORATOR OF YOUR
PROJECT OR ACTIVITIES.
Confucian’ philosophy of “ give man a fish
and he will live for a day; teach him how to
fish and he will live for a lifetime”

Community immersion is empowering the

people towards development of the locality.
CONDITIONS IN A COMMUNITY
There must be a full understanding of the
concepts and theories behind the dynamics of
groups and community.
As for NSTP, students enrolled in NSTP-
CWTS/LTS 12 are mandated to undergo
community immersion for a period of covering a
minimum of 90 hours as cited from CHED-
prescribed Program of Instruction (POI), 2007
edition.
WHAT PERSONAL GAINS FROM
COMMUNITY IMMERSION
1. Opportunity for the student to comprehend
people’s lives
2. Gain social acceptance derived from
community relations couples with the right to
offer services
3. Enhance experiences in conducting asset
mapping
4. Establish rapport and relationship with different
people who may be of help to them at some future
time
5. Develop their conscientization ability
6. Acquire first-hand experiences in dealing with
community work
7. Chance to learn life skills that will enrich and
better their persons
DOS AND DON’TS IN COMMUNITY
IMMERSION
THINGS TO REMEMBER THINGS TO AVOID

1. Familiarize yourself with the basic information and 1. Never forget to inform and get
theories regarding community life. the consent of your
parents/guardians about the
activities lined up.
2. Secure a waiver from the NSTP TEACHER prior to the
visit and have it signed by your parents.
3. Always inform the faculty-in-charge of your
destination, time table and plan of action
4. Be alarmed with background information about the 2. Do not directly to the community
area for immersion. without determining the background
information about it.
5. Pay courtesy call to community leaders, whether
formal or informal.
6. Secure documents like letter of
acceptance from the community, MOA
and other documents pertinent to your
stay in the community
7. Bring your own personal provisions.
DURING THE ACTUAL COMMUNITY
IMMERSION PERIOD
8. Be courteous to everyone.
9. Act properly and discreetly.
10. Depending on the type of entry you use, 10. Do not show off in terms of dressing up.
wear proper uniforms and identification
card.
6. Avoid bringing 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 document.
8. Avoid labeling and naming people with
politically incorrect terms. Try to be more
discreet in your use of words to avoid
offending other people.
You are there in the community to help.
11. It is highly advised to keep your 11. Never bring out your valuable things
valuables secured to protect you from like cellphones, jewelry and money in
unnecessary attracting and distracting public places
community people.
12. Always document your visit. Write in
your record notebook the date, the
narrative of important events that
happened and your reflections in each visit.
13. Always ask permission from concerned 13. Never promise and commit to a task
people when you have to take pictures. that is beyond your and your school’s
capability.
AFTER COMMUNITY IMMERSION

14. Validate and evaluate if the programs

and activities were conducted appropriately
and as planned
15. Provide copies of your final
documentation output to the teacher-in-
charge and to the community where you
conducted your immersion.
Enjoy your time with the community people.
Mother Teresa puts it, “Love cannot remain by
itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put
into action and that action is SERVICE.

“Community Immersion is vital to the

development of the students’ knowledge, skills,
values and attitudes in realizing the pen
ultimate ends of NSTP.”