NSTP 2: Community Immersion Concepts

• NSTP 2 focuses on understanding the concepts and principles of community immersion.
• Trainees should understand community basics, problems, and issues to respond effectively and promote long-term solutions.

Learning Objectives

• Explain community and community immersion concepts and principles.
• Understanding community dynamics and immersion is crucial for achieving NSTP objectives.
• Implement standard procedures and establish community immersion protocols.

What is a Community?

• A community is a group of people in a geographic area with common interests.
• It is a collective of people sharing similar interests and goals, regardless of location.

Elements of a Community

• Demographics include population distribution, density, and characteristics, indicating population movement.
• History reveals past events contributing to the community's development, aiding in identifying patterns and adaptation strategies.
• Culture encompasses the ways of living of the people.
• Economy includes income level and the occupation of people.
• Structures include physical, political, and social aspects.
• Understanding economy, culture, and structures enhances the success of activities by providing realistic, culture-based solutions.
• Assessment of these elements and community collaboration allow the formulation of action plans.

Importance of Community Immersion

• Immersion allows trainees to understand the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of people in different life situations.
• Trainees realize their privilege and can help marginalized and underserved communities.
• Trainees are exposed to realities of life to which they may or may not belong.

What is Community Immersion?

• Community immersion is a strategy of community organizing, involving understanding concerns, processes, dynamics, and lifestyle.
• It goes beyond acquaintance, enabling participation in community resolution.

Forms of Integration

• Home visits
• Living with families, especially key informants
• Informal discussions
• Sharing activities like cooking and clean-up drives
• Attending social gatherings such as fiestas or weddings
• Assisting in production

Whom to Immerse With

• Partner with parents, youth, differently-abled individuals, professionals, and community organizations.
• Encourage community participation rather than mere service.
• Community-based projects should empower people.

Qualifying Conditions for Community Immersion

• Understand group and community dynamics.
• Know the immersion process.
• Develop skills in facilitating interventions, planning, and managing projects.
• NSTP-CWTS/LTS 2 requires 54-90 hours of immersion, per CHED.

Personal Gains from Community Immersion

• Understand people's lives through real-life situations.
• Gain social acceptance.
• Enhance asset mapping skills like identifying geographic coverage and relationships.
• Establish rapport with diverse individuals.
• Develop conscientization to address community issues.
• Acquire first-hand community work experience.
• Learn life skills for personal enrichment.

Rules for Community Immersion

• Trainees should be well-versed the area, skilled to communicate, and disciplined.

Things to Remember Before Immersion

• Understand community life.
• Have a waiver signed by parents.
• Inform faculty about your destination and plans.
• Research the immersion area.
• Courtesy call to the community leaders.
• Secure a letter of acceptance.
• Bring personal provisions.

Things to Avoid Before Immersion

• Forgetting parental consent.
• Visiting the community without proper information.
• Bringing original documents.

Things to Remember During Immersion

• Be courteous.
• Act appropriately and discreetly.
• Wear proper attire and identification.
• Secure valuables.
• Document your visit.
• Ask permission before taking pictures.

Things to Avoid During Immersion

• Using politically incorrect terms.
• Drawing attention to yourself.
• Displaying valuables.
• Making impossible promises.

After Community Immersion

• Validate the programs conducted and ensure they were appropriate and delivered as planned.
• Evaluate the activities performed.
• Provide documentation to the NSTP office and the community.