NSTP Community Outreach Program: Introduction to Community Extension Principles

Study Notes

Community Outreach Program

The NSTP Community Outreach Program aims to introduce students to the concept and principle of community extension programs.

Concept of Community

A community can be defined as a place where people reside, interact with each other, and have a shared identity (Bunagan et al., 2009).
In a sociological context, a community is composed of different families living in the same place, sharing common interests, and working towards the common good.
The concept of community can be traced back to the Bible, where God created humans in His own image and allowed them to have dominion over all living things (Genesis 1:27).

Community Needs Assessment

A community needs assessment is a process of identifying the assets and needs of a community.
It involves mapping out current assets and needs, and brainstorming possibilities for service-learning projects.
The purpose of a community needs assessment is to understand the community's unique situation and context.

Community Mapping

Community mapping involves drawing a map of the community to identify key institutions, businesses, people, and places of significance.
It is a tool used in community organizing to understand the community's structure and identify potential areas for service-learning projects.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring is a process of continuously tracking and recording information about a project's outcome and impact.
Evaluation is a systematic assessment of a project's design, implementation, and effect.
Participatory evaluation involves the active participation of stakeholders in assessing a project's implementation and impact.
The purpose of monitoring and evaluation is to improve project management, promote learning, and ensure accountability.

Key Principles of Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring and evaluation provide a more immediate feedback and facilitate learning.
Having an external evaluator is desirable and helpful in bringing out insights from an independent and objective perspective.
Project results help evaluators find out if and how objectives are being met.
Monitoring and evaluation ensure accountability and assess whether a project is effectively, appropriately, and efficiently executed.

Description

This quiz covers the concept and principles of community extension programs, focusing on understanding community needs, conducting assessments, and analyzing relationships between monitoring and evaluation. Students will be able to explain the concept of community, map out assets and needs, identify assessment purposes, and outline assessment processes.