Community Dynamics and Action PDF

COMMUNITY DYNAMICS AND COMMUNITY ACTION What is Community? Individuals having significant interaction within a specified area becomes one of the contributory factors in forming community. The word community was derived from the Latin word communis which It...

COMMUNITY DYNAMICS AND COMMUNITY ACTION What is Community? Individuals having significant interaction within a specified area becomes one of the contributory factors in forming community. The word community was derived from the Latin word communis which It may share a certain sense of place whether it is geographical area or through a virtual space. Geographical community is a community where members share the same geographical vicinity such as a village, province or neighborhood.  Nongeographical community is a community formed based on needs, ideas, interests, identity, practices, and roles in social institutions such as at home, all work, in government, society, or the community at large. Communities may also be in two levels: Micro-level community, a group is formed based on personal ties. This may include groups formed for pursuing common interests or goals like forming a small organization to hold a fund-raising activity such as concerts. At macro-level, large group affiliation is formed such as national communities, international communities, and virtual communities. Companies and corporations may develop various programs that would include different members across the country. They will work on meeting certain objectives and expand on the aspect of community involvement.  Mores, values, and identity is a commonality that form culture. Hence, the interest of social sciences focused on the study of communities. The following are the importance of studying community: 1. It motivates people to work together – people feel a sense of community and recognize the benefits of their involvement. 2. It encourages social, religious, or traditional obligations for mutual help. 3. People see a genuine opportunity to better their own lives and for the community. 4. It understands policies promoting community  Understanding community life makes us value the things we have daily, social encounter constructs reality and affects some changes within – this is Community Dynamics.  Moreover, it is the changes in the community that are brought about by social, cultural and environmental experiences whether it is positive or negative development that impacts within the community. People adopt the changes, and it has shaped their way of life.  Community Action is any activity that aims to increase the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities for the intention of giving services to people.  3-key points in grasping the definition more meaningful: Raise an awareness about certain communal issues that needs to be addressed. People develop the feeling of involvement once they truly comprehend the situation within. They come together to support advocacies that will overcome Understanding community needs and difficulties.–  Once issues are assessed properly and people in the community understand the needs, they work collaboratively to act on it. The main goal of engaging in the community is to improve the partnership and coalitions among the community. It is important that engagement occurs so that members will be able to involve meaningfully in the activities that they have created. Engageme nt –  Enable the people to independently decide, plan-out and take action to control the situation they have in the community. This means, initiative and decisions come from internal group organized for the benefit of everyone. It is also necessary that the community can provide significant networks and linkages that will genuinely serve the advocacies that they have built. volve meaningfully in the activities that they have Empowerment created.  Hence, the study of community action is imperative in the field of social sciences and other related disciplines as it lays on the foundation that individuals and families – as basic unit, are embedded in different social structures that shape the behaviors in the system.  Having knowledge in community action makes an individual understand better by being aware in the environment, have meaningful engagement and accept empowerment to create significant impact.  Performance Task No. 1Instruction: Name at least 2 activities that you usually observe in your own community/barangay and provide a brief description of it.