MODULE

11
OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY IMMERSION/
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION

Learning Objectives: At the end of the module, the students are expected to:

 define community immersion as an approach and strategy of

developing projects in serving people and communities;
 enrich knowledge and competencies on community
immersion as a process for development;
 apply principles and concepts of working in the community
through immersion projects and activities;
 expose NSTP trainees in depressed, deprived and the
underprivileged communities and marginalized groups of our
society;
 appreciate the values of community immersion as a means of
developing themselves as citizens and helping people
improve their way of life and alleviating their living
conditions;
 enhance civic consciousness and defense preparedness; and
 develop ethics of service imbued with good citizenship
values.

Methodology : Lecture-discussion
Group dynamics

Requirements : Attendance 50%

Group Activity
Poster Making with
Interpretation 50%

100%

Content : 1. What is a community?

 2. What are the elements of a community?
3. Why is immersion an important approach (strategy) in
giving service to the communities?
4. What is community immersion?
5. Forms of integration in community immersion
6. Whom do you immerse within the community?
7. What conditions may qualify one to go into community
immersion?
8. What personal gains may a student get from community
immersion?
9. What you should and should not do in community
immersion?
10. Things to avoid before and during the conduct of
community immersion

Time Allotment : 3 hours

What is a community?

A community is a collective of people with similar interests and goals whether

living in the same geographic locality or not.

What are the elements of a community?

 Demographics (include population distribution and density)

 History (events of the past that contributed to the development of the
community)
 Culture (ways of living of the people)
 Economy (income level, occupation of people)
 Structures (physical, political and social structures)

Why is immersion an important approach (strategy) in giving service to the

communities?

Through community immersion, trainees will be exposed in further and other

realities of life which they may or may not belong to.

What is community immersion?

 Community immersion is a strategy that goes beyond acquainting us with
community concerns but make possible participation in their (re)solution.

Forms of integration in community immersion:

 Home visits
 Living with selected families preferably with key informants
 Informal discussions with individual or groups
 Sharing in household and community activities (cooking with the community host,
clean –up drive)
 Attendance in social gatherings (fiesta, weddings, etc.)
 Assistance in production work (selling, farming, etc.)

Whom do you immerse within the community?

Community-based service projects must be premised on the principle of people

empowerment and not the “dole-out” mentality. Teach people how to fish so that they
will live for a lifetime.

What conditions may qualify one to go into community immersion?

As for NSTP, students enrolled in NSTP_CWTS?LTS 2 are mandated to undergo

community immersion for a period covering a minimum of 54 hours to a maximum of 90
hours a cited from CHED prescribed Program of Instruction (POI), 2007 edition.

What personal gains may a student get from community immersion?

Community immersion improves the trainees’ understanding of himself in relation to

others.

 Opportunity for the trainees to comprehend people’s lives because of the chance
given to them to see real life situations, live, identify and associate with the
people therein;
 Gain social acceptance derived from community relations coupled with the right
to offer services;
 Enhance experiences in conducting asset mapping such as identifying geographic
coverage, point out resources and the use, and the relationships of people with the
existing resources;
 Establish rapport and relationship with different people who may be of help to
them at some future time;
 Develop their conscientization ability. It helps them realize issues that will help
solve problems in the community. It is important for them to do something that
can change their situation.
  Acquire first-hand experiences in dealing with community works; and
 Chance to learn life skills that will enrich and better their persons.
What you should and should not do in community immersion?

THINGS TO REMEMBER…
(Before the conduct of community immersion)

1. Familiarize yourself with the basic information and theories regarding community
life. At this stage, you must at least have in your mind a community you intend to
immerse at. Ask around for information about this community.
2. Secure a waiver from the NSTP Office prior to the visit and have it signed by your
parents.
3. Always inform your faculty in-charge of your destination , time table and plan of
action.
4. Be armed with background information about the area of immersion. This will be
helpful in locating resources and site entry and exit points which will make your
travel more convenient. Background information will enable you to anticipate the
general characteristic of people in that area.
In example, there are barangays here in Manila which are historically and
primarily composed of Pampangueños. With this background information, you can
assess that people in that community mainly identify with Pampagueños. To facilitate
your community activities promptly, you can ask a fellow train who have deeper
understanding of the culture to lead you on.
5. Pay courtesy call to community leaders, whether formal or informal. Courtesy calls
may also be done to officers of an NGO where the project is also directed to. Be sure
that the people who will be you in your project and the key informants of the
community are informed of your every visit. Provide them a copy of the schedule of
your activity.
*Harmonious relationship with community leaders and officers can almost ensure
you your safety in their area. By relating well towards them, you can solicit their
support in your projects and activities. This may be able to commit in providing
security when you roam around and familiarize yourself with the community.
6. Secure documents like letter of acceptance from the community , Memorandum of
Agreement, etc. and other documents pertinent to your stay in the community.
7. Bring your own personal provisions like water, snacks and extra shirt . These will be
helpful to fill these hunger pangs while conducting the immersion. Community
people are often very hospitable. They will almost likely offer you food and water if
they see that you are unable to provide for yourself. This is despite that they might be
offering their last supply of food. Remember, you are there in the community to
assess if you could help and work with them, so try not to be an additional burden to
them.

During the Actual Conduct of Community Immersion…

8. Be courteous to everyone -- whether to a vendor or a community official. Remember

that you are there to work with the community.
9. Act properly and discretely. YOU ARE REPRESENTING YOUR SCHOOL AND
YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS. Be RESPONSIBLE WITH THE WORDS YOU
SAY. Your actins and words would easily be generalized as the behavior of every
other student in your school. In one of our interviews with community organizations,
they alleged that some schools wherein their previous students have not shown proper
behavior will no longer be welcome to conduct immersion activities in their area.
10. Depending on the type of entry you use, (please see page 50 on Phases of Community
Immersion) wear proper uniforms and identification card. This will allow the
community to identify who are the trainees who will immerse in their community.
This can also promote your school’s image as you become “ambassadors” for
community service. Depending on the situation, there may be some cases wherein
decent civilian clothes are more appropriate to wear during immersion time especially
if you are trying to be mass-based and less format.
11. It is highly advised to keep your valuable secured to protect you from unnecessarily
attracting and distracting community people, from possible theft, etc.
12. Depending on the type of entry you use, (please see page 50 on Phases of Community
Immersion) wear proper uniforms and identification card. This will allow the
community to identify who are the trainees who will immerse in their community.
This can also promote your school’s image as you become “ambassadors” for
community service. Depending on the situation, there may be some cases wherein
decent civilian clothes are more appropriate to wear during immersion time especially
if you are trying to be mass-based and less format.
13. It is highly advised to keep your valuable secured to protect you from unnecessarily
attracting and distracting community people, from possible theft, etc.

After community immersion

14. Validate and evaluate if the programs and activities were conducted appropriately
and as planned.
15. Provide copies of your final documentation output to the UNSTP Office and to the
community where you conducted your immersion for records purposes.
* Your documentation may serve as a baseline study for the community and
other batches of NSTP students in conducting community immersion. This
will avoid unnecessary repetition of activities and may be a basis for
enhancement of other previously conducted activities.

Things to avoid…

Before the conduct of community immersion

1. Never forget to inform and get the consent of our parents/guardians about the
activities lined up.
2. Do not go directly to the community without determining the background information
about it.
3. Avoid bringing of original copies of signed documents in the community. It is better
to carry around original and certified true copies of documents to prevent loss and
smudging the paper.
4. However sometimes, community people could be insistent in their hospitality in
offering you provisions like food. Try to gauge whether it would be offensive to
refuse their offer. If you think they will be offended if you beg off, you may accept
food or water in your plate or glass but do not consume it. Especially if you are not
able to have as much background information in the community you are immersing
at, avoid consuming their resources and focus on your work. This is also for your own
safety.
*Whenever possible and not offensive, decline and tell them respectfully rather that
you appreciate their hospitality.

During the actual community immersion period

1. Avoid labeling ands naming people with politically incorrect terms. Try to
be more discreet in your use of words to avoid offending other people.
2. Do not show off in terms of dressing up. You are there in the community
to help. Just bring an extra white shirt f you have to change your soiled uniforms after
your activities.
Avoid drawing attention to yourself. Be as low profile as possible and avoid being
identified as a guest in the community.
3. Never bring out your valuable things like cell phones, jewelry and money
in public places.
4. Never promise and commit to a task that is beyond your and your school’s
capability. Never go beyond the activities stated in your MOA to avoid false
commitments and dependency of the community.

INTEGRATING ACTIVITY

1. The students will be divided into groups. Each group is composed of at least ten
members. Each group will select a leader and a rapporteur;
2. Bring available waste materials, environment-friendly, recyclable materials,
crayons, art materials, used ½ illustration board or hard board and other related
materials which you will use in the preparation of your poster to conceptualize or
picture out the concept of community immersion. As you form the concept,
please be guided with the following:
a. Community Immersion is a strategy of transforming communities and
students into self-sustaining ones as men for others imbued with good
citizenship values of being:
MAKADIYOS
MAKATAO
MAKABAYAN
MAKAKALIKASAN
 b. Dimensions for development as a way of helping the community improve
their way of life; and
c. Expected outcomes of NSTP students.

3. Rapporteur of each group will present his/her output together with his/her
interpretation on the prepared poster.
4. Each output will be graded based on the criteria given below:
Over-All Concept of Community Immersion - 60%
Used of Recyclable Materials - 20%
Creativity and Innovativeness - 20%
100%

________________________________________________________________________

References:

GASILLA-DELA CRUZ, SONIA G. 2005. NSTP National Development via

National Service Training Program (CWTS & ROTC). Books Atbp. Publishing
Corp. 151 Rev. Aglipay St., Mandaluyong City, pp 18-32.

LABUGUEN, FLORIDA C., CARMELO JOHN E. VIDAL, RICKY PRISCO E.

MORALDE, EDEN V. RENDORIO, EMILY ROSE M. BAUSTISTA and REMEDIOS
B. PLACER. 2008. Towards a Responsive Community Action (A Modular
Worktext in NSTP 2 for trainers and Students). Mutya Publishing House Inc., 6
Baltazar ST., Pacheco Village, Balubaran, Valenzuelsa City, pp 10-39.