Lecture Notes 3

Concepts and Perspectives of Community, Empowerment and Advocacy, The Role of Youth in
Community Action.

Concepts and Perspectives of Community

Rural Community Urban Community

Communities may be located in either rural or There is a higher population density, with
urban areas. These areas have distinct more diverse subgroups (ethnic, racial,
characteristics. cultural, age, sexual orientation)
The following are the three general Various industries and businesses are found in
characteristics of rural areas: the area.
Population density is found to be low, meaning A large portion of the people live in rented
few people populate the entire community, apartments or homes.
and they tend to live far apart from each other.
Transportation is readily available, although
The area is situated geographically distant this may be costly.
from larger urban areas
Urban areas are highly developed with many
Each area typically specializes in a particular buildings and structures.
form of livelihood, such as farming.
Traffic and noise levels are high in these areas.
The large population gives rise to close
interactions among many people, as well as
more intense political involvement among
citizens.

SECTOR
Community sectors are various groups or subdivisions of the larger community divided based on
characteristics such as social, political, economic, cultural, and religious beliefs. The various
sectors that exist in all communities may be categorized according to the following:
Health: medical and mental health professionals; pharmacists and pharmacies; hospitals and
other in-patient facilities, clinics, non-traditional health practitioners; public health agencies, and
systems.
Education: public and private preschools, K-12 schools, colleges and universities school
committees, school administrators, teachers, other educational institution employees, parents,
students, state boards of education; adult basic education (ABE) and English as a Second or Other
Language (ESOL) programs.
Law Enforcement: The local and state police, the court system - judges, probation officers,
prosecutors, court-appointed defense lawyers, court-mandated programs for offenders
Government: regional, provincial, state, local, and tribal government bureaucracies, agencies,
and officials, both elected and appointed.
Business: from the self-employed carpenter to the multinational corporation with a local facility
Youth: youth themselves (generally viewed as ages 18 and younger) and those who work directly
with them (youth violence prevention and outreach programs, Big Brother/Big Sister, Boys and
Girls Clubs, scouting, etc.) parents, human service, culture, and sports/recreation sectors.
Media: newspapers and magazines, radio, and TV, vast array of blogs, videos, online news and
other materials available on the Internet.
Human Services: non-profit professional and volunteer organizations that provide free or
affordable services such as job training, food, shelter, elder services, services for individuals with
physical or mental disabilities, support, and advocacy for immigrants, among others.
Religion: places of worship and their members, religious organizations (e.g., Knights of Columbus,
CBCP of all faiths, may include the hierarchy of a national church as well (a Roman Catholic
archbishop, for instance).
Service/Fraternal Organization: The Lions, Masons, Rotary, Kiwanis, and other local and national
or international service organizations, college fraternities/sororities or other local and national
social clubs, as well as veterans' organizations and the like.
Community Activist Volunteer Groups: individuals for or against political issues, supportive of
existing institutions (Friends of" the local park, a school playground volunteer corps), oriented
toward economics (groups that volunteer to help non-profit and small business owners with
financial and business plans), or more generally concerned with the quality of community life
(e.g., block associations, organizers of community festivals).
Culture: artists such as musicians, dancers and choreographers, writers, actors and directors,
desighers and visual artists, as well as arts organizations, theaters, orchestras, museums, galleries,
and those who work as support staff in the arts - stagehands, cameramen, electricians, set
builders, etc; regular consumers and supporters of the arts.
Housing Development: both public and private non-profit housing agencies and organizations
that provide rent subsidies and/or affordable housing, as well as developers who build market-
rate and upscale residential and commercial properties may include everyone from fair housing
advocates to those who own and/ or manage urban real estate worth millions of pesos.
Sports and Recreation: sports clubs, town or county recreation departments., amateur and
professional athletic associations, public and private sports and recreation facilities, gyms,
coaches, personal trainers, recreation leaders, and camp directors, as well as those who
participate in these groups as athletes, spectators, or supporters.
Environment: individual environmentalists, international, national, and local environmental
organizations, conservation land trusts, recreational hunters and fishermen, rock climbers and
mountaineers, wildlife biologists and botanists, ecologists, hikers, canoers/kayakers, and other
outdoor people, hydrologists (water specialists), those who make a living from a pristine or
carefully managed environment.
Agriculture: confined to rural areas, may also include dairy farmers, cheesemakers, winemakers
and vineyards, and food processors and packers, including all consumers of the food produced.
Every sector-plays an important role in society and focuses on the appropriate projects related to
their sector's objectives. The members of each sector will determine ways to address related
concerns and strengthen their good programs.
SOCIAL SPACES
Social space is defined as a physical or virtual space that members of the community visit or
where they stay. Some examples of social space include the social center, online social media, or
other, gathering spaces where people gather and interact.
Some social spaces are owned by the government, such as town squares, parks, and beaches.
These are spaces generally open and accessible to people. Private social spaces, on the other
hand, are owned and regulated regularly, such as shopping malls. These social spaces may be
used by community residents for their gatherings or simple recreation activities.
Empowerment and Advocacy
Communities may be formed in two ways:
Geographical: The members of a community share the same geographic vicinity, such as a village,
province, or neighborhood.
Non-geographical: There are communities formed based on needs, ideas, interests, identity,
practices, and roles in social institutions such as at home, at work, in government, in society, or
the community at large.
Communities may also be divided into two levels:
1. Micro level - At the micro level, a group is formed based on personal social 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 a concert.
2. Macro level- At the macro level, large group affiliations are 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.
WHAT IS EMPOWERMENT?
Empowerment refers to the development of self-confidence, self-control, relationship with
others, and the firmness to gain political power to achieve improved inputs and equality. Thus, it
is briefly defined as the "process of increasing personal, interpersonal, or political power so that
individuals can take action to improve their life situations."
In a community, social workers help people become empowered in two ways:
Personal Empowerment: This type of empowerment is attained by persons who can directly
control what is happening in their own lives.
Social Empowerment: This is the condition wherein people have access to opportunities and
resources to make personal choices and maintain some control over the environment. Certain
policies in a society influence the empowerment of a person. Social empowerment may be in the
form of opportunities and resources.
UNDERSTANDING ADVOCACY
Advocacy is defined as the active intervention of community members to seek ways to obtain the
needed resources that are not available in the community. It is also one way to change the
community regulations that affect the members negatively.
Advocacy involves exerting efforts more than what is necessary to accomplish a certain task. This
may include taking risks, especially when advocating on a member's side, against a more powerful
authority.
An advocate is one who speaks on behalf of the community in order to achieve fair or equal
treatment or gain the needed resources. The following are the roles of an advocate:
Speaking for the people and representing them to those in authority
Protecting those who are vulnerable
Creating support to enhance social functioning
Protecting and advancing claims or appeals
Advocacy programs are conducted by various groups and institutions such as schools,
communities, and business organizations. Advocacy programs generally focus on one particular
concern or issue related to an institution, group, or community. Following are examples of
advocacy programs undertaken to address certain issues:
Advocacy Programs to Address Drug Abuse
"Barkada Kontra Droga" or Peer Groups Against Drugs. This is a peer-based preventive education
and information program which seeks to address the ill effects of drug abuse.
National Youth Congress on Drug Abuse Prevention and Control. This provides open discussion
among youth participants in addressing problems on drug abuse. Anti-drug advocates and
facilitators provide participants with the chance to engage in positive discussions and dialogues.
Advocacy Programs for the Environment and Animal Welfare
Greenpeace Philippines undertakes a mission. to save the environment. The organization
undertakes campaigns to stop climate change, oppose genetic engineering, and protect the
oceans.
The World Wide Fund for Nature - Philippines (WWF-Philippines) focuses on addressing issues on
the Philippine environment. The organization's advocacy addresses climate change, biodiversity,
conservation, and sustainable development.
The Haribon Foundation commits to help conserve sites and habitats, protect endangered
species, encourage sustainability, and empower people
The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) ensures the protection and humane treatment of
all animals. Its activities address the abusive treatment of animals and the organization also
opposes activities such as dogfighting and the use of animals for entertainment.
Advocacy Programs for Health
The Volunteer Youth Leaders for Health Philippines aims to promote awareness of the prevention
of birth defects, newborn screening, and support for orphan disorders.
The United Nations World Food Programme seeks to address the issue of hunger. The program
also focuses on climate action, disaster risk reduction, gender equality, and nutrition.
MEDIA AND ADVOCACY
Media is an effective communication tool that greatly aids in advocacy and fighting for positive
change in society. Media can help in the exchange of ideas and perspectives regarding an issue,
organize mass action, and aid in collaboration among different groups which can help them in the
planning and conduct of their advocacies.
 THE ROLE OF YOUTH AND COMMUNITY ACTION
According to the Youth in Nation-Building Act, the youth is composed of individuals who are 15
to 30 years old. They make up around one-third of the Philippine population.
Considering that the youth make up a significant part of the population, it can be said that they
play a large role in Philippine society:
In fact, they are often seen as the hope of the future because of their energy, creativity,
resourcefulness, and openness to new developments. Provided that the youth function
effectively in society, they have the capability to fully participate in efforts toward improving their
communities.
THE FACTORS AFFECTING YOUTH PARTICIPATION IN THE COMMUNITY
There are factors that influence youth toward becoming involved in community activities. These
are as follows:
Education. The participation of the youth in community activities may be influenced by their
academic performance in high school, the likelihood of attending classes in college, and the
efforts of schools in setting an example and reinforcing positive social values.
Values. The willingness of the youth to engage in their community may be influenced by their
feeling of efficacy, or the ability to do what they need to do. They may also be influenced by the
need to be valued and taken seriously by other members of the community. Furthermore, the
youth may also feel that they have a responsibility to perform a public duty, and that fulfilling this
obligation will increase their self-esteem, recognition, and value in the community.
Parental Involvement. The involvement of parents in civic engagements influences the
engagement of the youth in the community. Through taking part in civic activities, parents expose
their children to the importance of community engagement. In turn, this helps the youth become
more aware of their roles in their community.
Values: Values refer to the beliefs or ideals shared by the members of a group. These values will
serve as the basis of what is desirable or not to that group or to other groups. Values can also
influence one's attitude.
Mindset: Defined as a set state of mind. The mindset of the youth regarding their role in their
communities can be conditioned by the environment. This is why it is important to introduce the
act of helping the community in a positive way. Doing this will help the youth develop a positive
mindset towards their importance in their community.
Priorities: things that are often regarded as more important than others. Like other people, the
youth have several priorities in life, such as education, family, friends, and a lot more. However,
it is also important for the youth to prioritize service to others. Through making service a priority,
the youth will contribute to the improvement of their communities and be of big help to the
nation. Thus, it is important to expose the youth to community service.