NOTES 1: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOLIDARITY AND CITIZENSHIP

The word community was derived from the Latin

word communis, which means “common” or
Community
“shared”.

is any activity that aims to increase the

Community Action
understanding, engagement and empowerment of
communities for the intention of giving services to
people.

The changes in the community brought about by

social, cultural and environmental experiences
Community Dynamics
whether it is positive or negative development that
impacts within the community.

enable the people to independently decide, plan-

Empowerment out and take action to control the situation they
have in the community.

Non-geographical It is a community formed based on needs, ideas,

Community interests, identity, practices, and roles in social
institutions.

It is a community where members share the same

Geographical Community
geographical vicinity such as a village, province or
neighborhood.

A community wherein a group is formed based on

Micro-level community
personal ties.

Social capital is a positive product of human

Social Capital
interaction. The network of relationships within
particular society, to function effectively.
Lesson 1: The Community We Live In!

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”. 1

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. Non-

geographical 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.2

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. 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.3

 Mores, values, and identity is a commonality that form culture. Hence, the

interest of social sciences focused in 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. 4(ec.europa.eu)

2. It encourages social, religious, or traditional obligations for mutual help.5

(ec.europa.eu)

3. People see a genuine opportunity to better their own lives and for the community. 6

(ec.europa.eu)

4. It understands policies promoting community participation that values social

capital.7 (dspace.nwu.ac.za)

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. 8(dspace.nwu.ac.za)

Understanding community life makes us value the things we have on a daily

basis, social encounter constructs reality and affects some changes within – this is

Community Dynamics.

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.
 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:

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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.

 ACTIVITY NO. 1.
Through this diagram, this can be a way to get a better understanding
of the flow of the discussion. Analyze the diagram. Below are the guide
questions for your guidance. Answer in a sheet of paper.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Meaning

SOCIAL REALITY

FUTURE CAREER Applied Social

Social Sciences Sciences
OPTIONS
Psychologist
Psychology Counseling
Sociologist
Sociology Social Work
Counselor

1. Why is in the box of social sciences there an arrow pointing to social reality? and
in applied social sciences?
2. What do the two arrows in the boxes converging in social reality and future
career options signify ?
3. Why is there question mark inside the the box of future career options?
4. Why an arrow from social reality pointing to the meaning box and
importance box as well?
5. Why do the arrows start from the bottom and moving upward ? Any
insights?