Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship PDF

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOLIDARITY AND CITIZENSHIP Module 1: Community Dynamics and Community Actions  The study of community entails us to understand our very own community life. It gives us the idea on how to perceive reality by becoming involve in the day to day process which is socializati...

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOLIDARITY AND CITIZENSHIP Module 1: Community Dynamics and Community Actions  The study of community entails us to understand our very own community life. It gives us the idea on how to perceive reality by becoming involve in the day to day process which is socialization. Objectives: In this lesson, we are guided by the following specific objectives: 1. Cite the importance of community dynamic. 2. Share significant community-based activities describing the community life. 3. Identify the importance of studying the community action. 4. Express ideas about the importance of studying community action. THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN! Lesson 1 What is Community and Why is there a Need in Studying this? 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 means “common” or “shared”.  Geographical community is a community where members share the same geographical vicinity such as a village, province or neighborhood. Non geographical community is a community formed based on needs, ideas, interests, government, society, or the community at large.  Communication and relationships are imperative in building community. As people communicate and interact, relationships foster. It develops pattern by which adopted in the environment. 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. 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. 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 participation that values social capital. 5. Community participation could be understood as the direct involvement of citizenry in the affairs of planning, governance, and overall development programs at local or grassroot levels. COMMUNITY DYNAMICS Have you noticed some recent changes in your community?  The changes in the community 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. IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ACTION! Lesson 2 What is Community Action?  Community Action is any activity that aims to increase the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities for the intention of giving services to people. There are 3-key points in grasping the definition more meaningful: 1. Understanding – 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 community needs and difficulties. 2. Engagement – 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. 3. Empowerment – 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. 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.  ASSIGNMENT Research about non-governmental, non-profit organizations and write their vision, mission, goals and objectives focused on community development and community dynamics. Identify their plan of action in order to attain the VMGOs.