UNDERSTANDING

COMMUNITY
AND IMMERSION
Flordelis A. Sedo
Learning
Objectives

1. define community and community immersion.

2. enumerate and discuss the phases of community immersion.
3. describe their ideal community.
What is a Community?

■ a group of people gathered in any

geographic area, large or small, who have
common interests, actual or potentially
recognized in the social welfare field.
As per concept, a community may be categorized as
geographical or functional.
■ geographical community is defined in the purview of
groups of persons living in the same geographical location
like in a certain village, town, neighborhood, district, area
or territory
■ Community is said to assume the functional nature of
aggregate of people through not necessarily based on living
in the same geographical location, is bonded by a common
end such as fighting for the same cause, having the same
interests and goals. These are people who hold common
values, share common functions or express common
interests.
A certain type of community has recently emerged. Some
refer to it as just social movements, but its definition
points out that it surfaced out of the two other types of
community:
■ It is called a relevant community that defines a group
of people having similar interests and goals as the
communities around them.
■ These populations have common interests in changing
existing Institutions to their advantage to achieve
redistribution of resources. It is geared towards
organization of the poor.
10 Marks of an
Ideal
Community
10 Marks of an Ideal Community

1.The best community is a social institution that includes children and youth.
2.It treats children as ends in themselves.
3.It is warm and nurturing.
4.It establishes clear limits and expectations.
5.The core of the work is performed largely by non-experts.
6.It is multigenerational.
7.It has a long-term focus.
8.It reflects and transmits a shared understanding of what it means to be a good person.
9.It encourages spiritual and religious development.
10. It is philosophically oriented to the equal dignity of all persons and to the principle of
love of neighbor.
10
1.Work Together for a Common Goal

The most effective communities share similar values and

belief systems that cooperate to help accomplish one or
several goals. These goals can vary radically depending
on the community in question.
For example, one community may value environmental
goals such as promoting recycling and making forest
areas more friendly to wildlife while another community
may put more value on improving the education system.
2. Allow For Freedom of Expression

Central to developing a positive community is

comfort among citizens when it comes to
speaking their minds and expressing what is
important to them. Individuals who feel
encouraged to give their input about an issue,
who feel heard when they do speak their mind
are more likely to feel connected to their
community.
3. Promotion of Fairness
Diversity is abundant in all communities. However,
among every group containing diversity, there are
always individuals who fall in the minority. Positive
communities work to ensure that those who fall in
minority populations are not treated differently. These
communities give a voice to minority populations
through frequent consultation with members of those
societies about how the community can improve to
meet their needs better.
4. Set Clear Policies and Obligations

Positive communities do not set rules. Instead,

they work to encourage community members
to fulfill their obligations. This may include
things as simple as attending community
meetings or paying taxes to support the public
school system.
5. Maintain Sensitivity Towards
Members
In addition to feeling heard, members of positive
communities should also feel as though their
concerns are adequately addressed and that they are
cared for by the community. Positive communities
should prioritize the well-being of every member of
the community and address concerns in a timely and
sensitive manner when they arise.
6. Celebrate Community Heritage
Every long-standing community has heritage and
traditions that have risen during community's
development. Positive and efficient communities
embrace their culture by reminding members of the
long way the community has come. This could be as
simple as sending out an annual newsletter
commemorating the accomplishments of the year
or as complex as an annual festival held to celebrate
the birthday of the community.
7.Promote Interaction Among
Members
Positive communities work to foster a feeling
of genuine connection among members by
providing plenty of opportunities for
interaction. Creating a feeling of connection
works to make members more motivated to
meet their obligations and work towards the
established goals of the community.
8. Elect Leaders that Stand By
Community Values
Individuals elected to leadership positions
within positive communities should be fair and
just in their political focus. Their shared values
should inform the decisions they take for the
community. Additionally, leaders should take
the thoughts and suggestions of the
community members into account when
making decisions that will affect their lifestyles.
9. Prioritize Effective Communication

Communication is essential for any effective

community. All of the wheels need to be moving at
the same pace for the project to continue
successfully. Positive leaders ensure that all
members are aware of the projects currently in
process, as well as what they can do to help those
projects run smoothly.
10. Make Smart Decisions
Decisions made by positive and encouraging
communities focus primarily on the promotion
of happiness among its members. Members
will inevitably disagree on some issues or
values, but an effective community leader
incorporates concern.
What is Community Immersion?

■ Community immersion is an essential

strategy in community organizing work that
entails understanding of the different
community concerns, process, dynamics and
lifestyle through exposure and engaging in
different activities.
Some 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 (feast days weddings)
■ Assistance in production work (selling, farming gardening)
What personal gains may a
student gain from immersion?
Advantages:
■ 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 experience in conducting asset mapping such as
identifying geographic coverage, point out resources and the
use and the relationships of people with the existing resources.
Advantages:
■ Establish rapport and the relationships with different people
who may be of help to them at some future times.
■ Develop their "conscientization'" ability. It helps them realize
issues that will help solve the 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.
■ Chance to learn life skills that will enrich and better their
persons.
 Conclusion
Community immersion improves the trainees' understanding of
themselves in relation to others. And by understanding others, the
trainees will be able to give part of themselves to help others.

Most important of all, community immersion is in consistent with

the innate and ultimate intention of helping people as
immortalized in the words that spell the extension creed by
Dr. Y.C. James Yen of the International Institute of Rural
Reconstruction.
 The Extension Creed
Go to the people.
Live with the people. Learn from them.
Plan with them. Work with them.
Start with what they know.
Build on what they have.
Teach by showing, learn by doing.
Not by showcase but a pattern.
Not odds and ends but a system.
Not piecemeal but integrated approach.
Not to conform but to transform.
Not relief, but release.
The Process/Phases of,
Community Immersion
 Phase 1: Pre-Immersion
■ This phase regards the identification of the community
where the student-trainees will be immersed at. Trainees
will have to prepare themselves physically, mentally, and
spiritually for many tasks ahead.
■ Trainees must have waivers from their parents or
guardians stating that they are informed of the mandate
to undergo the NSTP community immersion. The school
also needs to organize its own manpower, resources and
other technical needs. According to many who have
undergone immersion, the activities could be both
exciting and exhausting.
 Phase 2: Entering the Community

To ensure success in entering the community, it is

necessary to have community mapping of the target
area. This will help you identify the geographic
coverage of the project. It will also help point out
the resources that may be used by the trainees in
the community and the relationship of people with
these resources.
 Phase 3: Community Integration

Integration is a continuous process wherein the

trainees come into direct contact and become
involved with the community people. This phase is
where the immersion phase gets more personal. The
trainees should realize that there is an existing
concern within the community. As the problems of
the community become more apparent, you
become aware and validate that you are part of the
circle.
Phase 4: Community Needs Assessment

Needs assessment, social analysis or community

diagnosis as others refer to, is a concrete base for
the formulation of programs. It reflects the
sentiments, needs, aspirations and
recommendations of the community people. When
it is done properly, it will reflect also the trainees'
feeling of oneness with the community. They begin
to see that the people's problems also reflect their
own.
Phase 5: Program/Project Implementation
■ Project implementation deals with the actual execution of
the plans. This phase of project development includes
making the final arrangement with the target
clients/community partners, officials involved in the
activities, right schedule of each event, day to day activities
and needs of the clients, manpower each day of the
program, monitoring and evaluation plan and other
requirements like social and recreational activities and the
culminating activities of the project.
■ It must be remembered always that the needs of the clients
will be the dominant consideration throughout the conduct
of the project.
Phase 6: Termination of Projects

NSTP trainees are expected to complete their

projects in the community in the span of 50-
90 hours as prescribed by the CHED-endorsed
Program of Instruction for it to be credited in
the training course