Community Engagement,

Solidarity, and
Citizenship (CSC)
S.Y. 2022-2023 - Second Sem
 Evaluating the Core
Values and Principles
of Community Action
Initiatives
PARTICIPATORY DEVELOPMENT
has become widespread as one of the
established community-action initiatives to
achieve a self-reliant community and
sustainable growth and development
across the political spectrum.
This approach aims to empower individuals
by providing equal and appropriate
opportunities and allowing them to take
part in the development process. Also, the
social movement and institutional
perspectives are being used to clearly
define the ideas of participatory
development.
The concept of participatory development
is essential, particularly in the Philippine
setting, considering that we are a
developing country. Hence, the need for
the locals especially the marginalized to
join in the development process is vital to
improve their quality of life.
Furthermore, participatory development,
once achieved, could redound to a more
meaningful partnership from the higher
hierarchy down to grass root level.
The government including the Non-
Government Organizations have made an
effort to introduce participation on
programs such as poverty alleviation,
agrarian reform, solid waste management,
medical missions, and other relevant
activities that further addresses the
problems inside the community.
"When people share a strong sense of
community, they are motivated and
empowered to change problems they
face, and are better able to mediate the
negative effects over things which they
have no control," Chavis et al., (1990, p.
73) write
Community Organizing
Is the form and process of building a group
of people who have a common vision and
goal and who engage in community action.
According to Stall and Stoecker (1997), CO
involves the entire process of “organizing
relationships, identifying issues, mobilizing
around those issues, and maintaining an
enduring organization”.
• Community organizers may employ
different strategies in organizing a
community, but there are basic steps
that they usually adhere to. Manalili
(1985) as cited by Quintin (1988)
presented the following steps.
ENTRY IN THE COMMUNITY

Entry to a particular community means you

have done the necessary preparations like
gathering basic information about political,
economic, cultural and ecological
conditions in the area.
ENTRY IN THE COMMUNITY

Also, there are psychological –and

perspective –setting, such that you are not
there to save them, that you are not
superior to them, and that you need to
dress accordingly.
INTEGRATION WITH THE PEOPLE

The most difficult stage is the integration

part of the process. There is a possibility
that the people will ignore you. Thus, you
try to live them. Live with them – eat what
they eat, drink what they drink.
INTEGRATION WITH THE PEOPLE

Learn to do things their way. Get to know

the people. Join conversations smoothly
and listen intently to what they are saying
and not saying.
COMMUNITY STUDY/SITUATION
ANALYSIS

Based on the data that the community

organizers have gathered, they will review
the preliminary data and enhance analysis
based on the new data.
COMMUNITY STUDY/SITUATION
ANALYSIS

Since the organizers have considerable

knowledge of the community, the CO can
discuss some pressing problems with them
casually. The CO grabs every opportunity
to be able to raise social consciousness of
the people.
CORE GROUP FORMATION

the Co will form a core group comprising of

potential leaders. The Co will have regular
discussions and training with the group. As
much as possible, each member of the
group should represent a particular sector
such as the farmers, youth, and women.
SETTING

UP THE ORGANIZATION - Once the

organization is set – up structures will be
formed, organizational leaders will be
elected, and necessary policies will be
established. Then training of the
members will be carried out.
STRENGTHENING THE ORGANIZATION

In ensuring sustainability, there will be a

continuous human resource development,
policy refinement, and development of
organizational programs that will help
strengthen the organization.
 Applying the
Systematic Methods
of Community Action
in Understanding
Community.
 WHAT IS A
COMMUNITY
PROFILE?
It is a comprehensive description of the
needs of a population that is defined, or
defines itself, as a community, and the
resources that exist within that community,
carried out with the active involvement of
the community itself for the purpose of
developing an action plan or other means
of improving the quality of life of the
community"
To be able to come up with a more
comprehensive community profile,
researchers or community agents of
change/community organizers have to
investigate the different elements of a
community. Christodoulou, et al., (2001)
suggested the following:
The area as a place to live
Includes the quality of the physical
environment and the people's attitudes to
living there; the extent to which needs are
matched with resources, and the extent to
which local facilities meet people's goals
and aspirations
The area as a social community

Includes residents' involvement in the

social life of the community; the extent to
which the community is supportive; formal
and informal networks.
The area as an economic
community

Includes income levels and employment

prospects of local residents; prosperity
and viability of local shops.
The area as a personal space

The degree of attachment that people

have to the local area; memories and life
experiences of the local people.
The area as a political community
Includes systems and structures of political
representation and local area
management; the extent to which local
people can influence decisions that affect
them; the degree of involvement in local
decision-making; participation in
community organizations.
The area as a part of its city

Infrastructural, economic, and social

linkages between the local area and the
city or district of which it a part; the
specific local identity that differentiates
the community from the rest of the
area/district.
Process of Collecting Community
Information

The principles discussed in this section

were derived from the Participatory Rural
Appraisal Method which is from a more
community-based perspective.
On the next page are some guiding
principles, which were adapted from the
Manual on the Estate/Barangay-Level
Productivity Systems Assessment and
Planning Methodology of the Philippine
Partnership for the Development of
Human Resources. These may serve as
reminders in understanding or
appreciating a community.
OFFSETTING BIASES

Set an atmosphere of being relaxed. Do

not rush. Put the collection process in its
right perspective. You are in that
community because you want to know the
community. You have to listen to the
people.
OFFSETTING BIASES

Seek out what the people, especially the

poor, have to say. You are not in the
community to lecture or to impose what
you know. Listen to the concerns and
priorities of the people and not yours.
A REVERSAL OF LEARNING

Change your perspective from being

"know-it-all” to being a "community
learner." Be open and learning from the
people from your face-to-face encounter
with them.
A REVERSAL OF LEARNING

The process requires that you go to the

site, and get to know the people, and gain
from the local physical, technical, and
social knowledge. Create a meaningful
encounter with the people.
LEARNING RAPIDLY AND
PROGRESSIVELY

This involves a conscious exploration of

many possibilities in terms of
methodologies and processes. You must
be flexible in your approach. Be open for
improvement and change your techniques
as necessary.
LEARNING RAPIDLY AND
PROGRESSIVELY

Do not be too strict in following a blueprint

program. Apply a process that is
appropriate and sensitive to community
realities.
LOCAL FACILITATING

This is the process of including the local

people to lead or co-lead in the
investigation, collection, consolidation,
analysis, presentation, and learning of the
data.
LOCAL FACILITATING

You make the people part of the process

from beginning to end—from the
conceptualization of the plan to its product
and utility. Establish a process that the
people will embrace and own.
SELF-CRITICAL AWARENESS AND
RESPONSIBILITY-

This refers to the continuing examination

of behavior among the outsider
facilitators. It entails a process of check
and balance and learning from mistakes.
Accept responsibility rather than sticking
to on a rigid set of rules.
SHARING OF INFORMATION AND
IDEAS

stablish a space for sharing of information

and ideas between the people in the
community and the facilitators, as well as
between different facilitators. Create a
venue for dialogue.