promote our identity to all the new

Module 4 Thomasians. These values are shared by all

Available from 12:05am Mon 02 Aug alumni, faculty members, administration and
2010 to 11:55pm Sun 08 Aug 2010 students of our almost four-century old
university.
NSTP Module 4 - 1st Semester AY:
2010-2011 Defining communities in terms of geography
however is only one way of looking at them.
Community Communities can also be defined by
Development and common cultural heritage, language and
beliefs or shared interests also called
Community Organizing communities of interest.

In essence, community may be described as

Lesson 1: Community Development
Lesson 2: Community Organizing a geographical area where a group of
people live in a common life linked together
by factors such as religious beliefs, sexual
orientation, occupation or ethnic origin, and
We have two lessons in Module 4 a shared sense of identity and
belongingness.
Lesson 1 will discuss the theoretical
background of community development. (Coloma and Herrera)
This lesson will help you be aware of why What we do now in the community has a
there is a need for community development great impact in the future generation.
and hot to go about it.
How do you recognize a developed
Lesson 2 will discuss how to put the theories community?
and concepts of community development Let us now look into the definition of
into action through community organizing. development…
In this lesson, you will be able to know what Development is a gradual unfolding, a fuller
community development is all about and working out of the details, of noted changes
how essential it is connecting the people or growing improvement.
and the nation. Check out the vision of Development has meant different things at
community development and take note of its different times in relation to changing
highlights. circumstances and sensibilities. If you would
recall the era of the industrial revolution,
The Vision of community developments in development then is closely related to
the Philippines to realize the community’s increased speed, volume and size (CD
dreams and expectations, by strengthening handbook, 1999). Many are questioning this
itself and develop towards its full potentials concept now. There was a realization that
through active participation and effective more is not always better.
involvement thus create empowered and
responsible citizens working relentlessly for According to professor Elmer ferret, the term
a better Philippines. development does not necessarily mean
growth, it is however about change, positive
We are all part of a community. Most of us change.
belong to more than one community,
whether we are aware of it or not. For So what now is community development?
example, an individual can be part of a Community development is culturally rooted
neighborhood community, a religious to the life of the people.
community and a community of shared It is a planned evolution of all aspects of
interests all at the same time. (Frank smith community well-being (economic, social,
1999) the University of Santo Tomas is an environmental and cultural). (cdta handbook,
example of a strong and established 2005)
educational community for higher learning.
As a community we share, transmit and
Community development is not a quick fix
for the day-to-day operations of the all people and communities have a certain
community amount of capacity. No one is without
Example: have you participated in a gift- capacity but often we need to develop it.
giving or relief operations in your What is important to realize is that the heart
community? These activities can be of capacity building is people. It would take
classified under a dole-out. Through this capacity to achieve a healthy community as
method we are only enabling the people to well as good leadership, a viable plan,
be dependent thus preventing them to help motivation and support of the people from
themselves. the community.

Community development follows a planned Capacity is simply the ways and means
process that is long- term and integrated. needed to do what has to be done. It is
The process of developing and organizing much broader than simply skills, people and
the community is long and tedious. Every plans. It includes commitment, resources
step must be carefully planned and and all that is brought to bear on a process
monitored. (cdta handbook 2005) you will to make it successful.
know more about this in lesson 2 community
organizing. An indication that capacity is developing
within a community is that people are active.
Thus, community development is a process Interested and participating in what is going
of facilitating people to actualize them selves on. This is similar to you as part of a group
and therefore discover their identities and or organizing in your school or community.
possibilities and connection with each other You are part of the discussion, there will
and with the world. (Prof. Elmer ferrer) a also be questioning, challenging and
debating- but you will be debating on what
Community development is not a new should be done, not complaining that
concept in the Philippines. This has been nothing will ever change. More and more
rooted even before the coming of the people will be getting involved, identifying
Spaniards with early Filipinos organized into key issues and taking action.
balangays; most members are related and
headed by a leader (Gloria 2000). Through 3. people’s participation and collective
the years it has a teaching which is being involvement
applied based on the needs of the people in
the community. Active community participation is the heart
that pumps the community’s lifeblood
Community development is the citizens-into becoming an improved
improvement, growth and change of the community.
geographic area and its people from
conventional to modern ways, from Community participation . . . is critical to
crudeness to refinement, from ignorance to community success.
learning; from faultiness to virtuosity.
Bordenave (1994) considers participation as
1. people’s welfare a “joint” effort of people for achieving a
common important objective previously
community development is for the people; defined by them. Meanwhile, community
thus it is very important to place their welfare participation according to Paul (1987) is an
above anything else. In developing a active process whereby beneficiaries
community remember the following influence the direction and execution of the
endeavor that has to be achieved: development projects rather than merely
improve the quality of life receiving a share of the project benefits.
help people acquire coherence and meaning
in life Community participation is far more than a
lead people towards achieving sustainability requirement. It is a condition for success.
and self-determination. Studies have documented those
2. people’s capacity communities that engage their citizens and
partners deeply in the work of community opportunities, it also serves as a catalyst for
development raise more resources, achieve social change. More importantly this is the
more results, and develop in a more holistic key component for sustainable
and ultimately-more beneficial way. development.
Community participation, then is critical
To community success. In my pegagogic creed, John Dewey held,
among other things, that:
It is very important to ensure people’s active Education is the fundamental method of
participation and involvement in the different social progress.
programs within the community, build the Education is a regulation of the process of
people’s capacity and be empowered coming to share in the social consciousness;
because through this, the purposes of and the adjustment of individual activity on
community development become more the basis of this social consciousness is the
realistic. only sure method of social reconstruction.
Empowerment refers to increasing political,
social and economic strength of individuals. Education must be conceived as a
It often involves developing confidence in continuing reconstruction of experience; that
their own capacities. the process and the goal of education are
one and the same thing.
It is increasing the capacity of individuals or
groups to make choices and to transform
those choices into desired actions and
outcomes. Central to this process are The community’s duty to education is,
actions which both build individual and therefore its paramount moral duty.
collective assets, and improve the efficiency
of organizations and institutions. LESSON 2
Empowered people have freedom of choice
and action; this in turn enables them to Community organization is that process by
better influence the course of their lives and which the people… organize themselves to
the decisions which affect them. take charge of their situation and thus
develop a sense of being a community
The goals of community development lead together. It is a particularly effective tool for
us to empowerment, the poor and powerless as they determine
Thus empowerment is most essential to for themselves the actions they will take to
community development! deal with the essential forces that are
destroying their community and
If the people are appreciably empowered consequently causing them to be powerless.
and can participate in the process of -Reverend Robert Linthicum, world vision
development, then they can. international.

Cooperation and education. We make a living by what we get, but we

make a life by what we give – Winston
Cooperation is about taking an active part in Churchill
the community of which you are an
important member. Community organizing (_CO) has been
It is all about voluntary association for defined as the application of principles and
mutual benefit. methods foe effecting change in which the
Cooperation is about the people whoa re community groups are helped to identify the
affected by decisions being people who common problems or goals, mobilize
make those decisions. resources, and in other ways develops and
Most importantly, cooperation is about implement strategies for reaching the goal
having your voice heard. they have set. (Minkler 1990)

Another way to empower the community is CO is a values-based process by which

through EDUCATION. Basic education not people – most often low—and moderate—
only increases a person’s economic income people previously absent from
decision-making tables – are brought bigger concerns like environmental
together in organizations to jointly act in the problems and individual needs.
interest of their communities and the
common good. Ideally, in the participatory The process of community organizing is not
process of working for needed changes, an easy and tidy endeavour- it does not
people involved in CO organizations/ groups happen in neat and predictable steps,
learn how to take greater responsibility for sometimes problems do exist. That is why it
the future of their communities, gain in is important that you are guided with the
mutual respect and achieve growth as following principles.
individuals. Go to the people, live among the people-
In the Philippine setting, community community organizers can decide which
organizing is seen as systematic, planned approach can be employed best if they know
and liberating change process of and feel what the community believes, does
transforming a community into an organized, and wants to attain.
conscious empowered, self-reliant, just and Learn, plan and work with the people- an
humane entity and institution. (Dr. Reynaldo organizer must be open what the people
A. Padilla, CWTS: A Component of National want to achieve and how they plan to
Service Training Program 2004 Edition) achieve it. He should facilitate changes and
When organizing a community it is very ensure that residents participate in the
important that we set our goals. What is our whole process of planning, decision-making,
purpose and why is there a need for implementing and evaluating activities.
community organizing? Start with and build on what the people
These should be the fruits of our labours in know- the organizer should begin with the
our efforts in organizing the community. indigenous resources, technologies and
People’s empowerment+improve quality of structures that a community has.
life+leadership and mobilization+ social Teach by showing; learn by doing- the
transformation= goals of community organizer should demonstrate procedures or
organizing techniques and not just merely give
instructions so people could learn easily.
People’s empowerment. Not by piecemeal but by an integrated
The people will become conscious that they approach.- community organizing is an
possess power- power to assert their rights interrelationship of different factors.
and to have a hand in decisions that will Cooperation system of the residents must
affect their lives. This will enable people to be used until the majority of the people are
think that there are opportunities for change provided with the basics in their daily life.
and development through cooperation and Not relief but release- community organizing
collective action. liberates a community from its problems.
Problems do not recur in their original forms
Improved quality of life but are resolved on a long term basis.
Through the process of community
organizing people learn to secure short and
long term improvements in their standards of I. Area site selection
living as soon as they receive access to their
basic needs. Communities chosen for community
organizing are those that are generally
Leadership development and mobilization described as marginalized, those that are
Leaders are identified and developed. They unserved, undeserved and are economically
gain knowledge, skills and proper attitude depressed. These communities are chosen
required by their task in community based on a need, a need that the external
development. agent (in this case the university, through
the NSTP) would like to address, and may
Social transformation have the capacity to address.
Community organizing seeks to change the
life of the community and the whole society Additional criteria such as location, distance
into a democratic, self-reliant, nationalistic and safety of the community organizer is
and self-governing entity that can respond to also taken into consideration.
The general acceptance of the community to activities, planting rice, harvesting banana
community organizing and development and camote, washing clothes by the stream,
work also plays an important factor in the riding a carabao, etc. just remember not to
selection of the community. take unnecessary risks and always seek the
permission of your facilitator.
Let’s take the case of Stitio Mabilog and
Sitio Haduan in Bamban, Tarlac. These Always greet every body with a smile. I am
areas are not the most accessible areas for pretty sure you will always get a smile in
development work. In fact students and return.
faculty members would normally hike to get
to community. Why of all places did the III. Community study
University choose these areas for our
community development program? The Your immersion should have given you a
answer is simple, these is a need. Poverty is good idea of what the community is. It is
pervasive in communities, health and time to formalize and conduct a community
education services are inaccessible and we study or community profiling. Depending on
feel that we can contribute to changing this your course ort specialization, this is also
state. But most of all, the communities called as the :
accept and are cooperative to the
development efforts in the area. Community diagnosis
Social investigation
Community investigation
II. Entry to the community Social analysis

“when in Rome, do as the Romans do” so IV. spotting potential leaders

goes the cliché that probably best describes
this phase. in the course of working and interacting with
the community, you will get the chance to
ORGANIZERS don’t do it but get others to know them better. You will also notice that
do it ORGANIZERS are simply facilitators there are individuals who show more
and implementers. concern and are more active in the
community and have considerable influence
Must do: and leadership among others. They are your
Hold courtesy call to local leaders (barangay potential leaders. Identifying them at this
officials, school officials. Leaders of the stage is important because they will be able
peoples’ organization, members of the core to help you In your organizing work.
group
As you continue your work with our partner
Be prepared to explain the purpose of your communities, you will get to know some of
visit in the community your partner communities, and some of our
local leaders. Observe them, talk with them,
Never promise anything. Don’t raise the try to pick up some of their traits that qualify
hopes of the community particularly in things them as leader.
we can not deliver.
V. core group formation
Assume simplicity in clothing. Your jewelries
and expensive gadgets are better left home Jesus did not do it himself. He had twelve
during your community visits. disciples.

Act in a behavior that will be a positive Organizing is a daunting task if you would
reflection of you, your family and the place all the task and responsibility on
University. yourself. You can plan and divide the
activities with everybody; hence, the work
Have fun. don’t be afraid to try out new gets easier. Everybody feels responsible for
things, new adventures in the community. the success and we slowly build up the
Try to participate in normal community community organization.
 identifying these. You can evaluate your
Remember: your core group serves as the activity based on the following criteria:
building
Effectiveness
VI. community organization
Did we fully achieve our objectives?
community organization may take on Partially?
different forms. This is the phase when
you formalize your organization. The What are the factors that facilitated the
organization must: achievement of your objectives?
a. organizational / group
1. clearly identified, articulated reason b. community factors
for being. This is normally captured
in their statement of vision, mission efficiency
and goals (VMG). It may take a
while before they may be able to what resources (material, manpower,
come up with their VMG but a money) were utilized in the project?
generally statement may suffice.
How much time was spent for the whole
2. community organization and project? Was it enough? Was time used
development plan: wisely?
How were these resources utilized?
a. objectives Is the output commensurate to the
b. activities resources utilized?
c. resources needed
d. timeframe adequacy
e. responsible persons/group
f. expected output is the project sufficient for the identified
problem? If not, what other projects/
3. Have a semblance of a structure. activities could contribute to the solution of
4. they may even have their policies, the problem identified?
such as dues, attendance in
meetings, upkeep of the meeting appropriateness
hall, etc.
VII. mobilization was it the right project/ approach to solve
the problem?
this is the actual implementation or activity Was it a suitable solution to the problem?
phase. This is when you along with the
community put your plans into action. Your subsequent action would largely be
based on the result of your evaluation. The
Just remember: community may need more training; they
may need assistance in linking up with other
We work with the community and not for agencies (government, NGO or church-
them. based). They may need further planning and
Use available resources in the community evaluation, etc. at this point you should also
Have fun. be weaning the community with your direct
influence in the decision making. Slowly
VIII. evaluation and follow-up your presence is less felt and you are now in
your exit phase. You occasionally visit the
evaluation is a process of assessing what community to follow-up/ monitor their
has been done and its impact. Please bear progress and provide assistance only when
in mind that community organizing is both a needed and expressed.
process and an output. Projects may seem
to fail but still produce learning experiences This lesson on community organizing
that are in the long term, beneficial to the discussed and taught you how to put into
community. We must be very keen in action the principles of community
development. This is supported by the
following concepts and experiences.

Community organizing is a process.

CO is a values-based and problem-solving
process by which ordinary people are
brought to the tables, empowered with
knowledge and skills to identify their needs
and problems. They mobilize their resources
to deal with their problems and take action
collectively.
CO aims to empower the people through
leadership and mobilization and improve the
quality of life through social transformation.
Community organizers are simply facilitators
and implementers; your role as a community
organizer is to simply get others to do it.
The phases for community organizing follow
this process.
a. area/ site selection
b. entry/ integration
c. Community study
d. Spotting potential leaders
e. Core group formation
f. Community organization
g. Mobilization
h. Evaluation
i. Follow-up expansion

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