UNIVERSITY OF MAKATI

J. P. Rizal Ext., West Rembo, Makati City

HIGHER SCHOOL NG UMAK
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Course Title Title
Module
Community Engagement, 1
No. Concepts and Perspectives of Community
Solidarity, and Citizenship
(CSC) At the end of this module, the learners should be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of community;
Learning Objectives 2. Develop an understanding of the various definitions of community and
3. Evaluate the dynamics of a community.
“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod
be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of
INTRODUCTION

thy friend’s or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind,
and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.” – John Donne, No man is
an island – A selection from the prose.

A community is full of factions, struggles and conflicts. An individual human being is not subject to a
different set of forces.

Words associated with community.

https://www.qwealthreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/community.png

Community work is challenging, exciting and at times frustrating. Coping with social disadvantages and
CONTENT

disaffected members of the community can be stressful. A community is full of factions, struggles and
conflicts. An individual human being is not subject to a different set of forces.

Geographical terms: The City, town or village where we live

Physical location: It has precise boundaries that are readily understood and accepted by others

Communities can also be defined by common cultural heritage, language, and beliefs or shared interest.
(Community of Interest)

A Community is a Super Organic Organism or System

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNITY ACTIONS TO STUDENTS CAREER OPTIONS

• Identify their assets, needs, opportunities, rights and responsibilities;
• Plan what they want to achieve and take appropriate action;
• Develop activities and services to generate aspiration and confidence.

Prepared by: Rodney C. Ramirez

 Responsibilities
Community development workers seek to actively engage communities in making sense of the issues
which affect their lives, setting goals for improvement and responding to problems and needs through
empowerment and active participation.

Get back in line; stop acting outside of who

you really are.

http://tdan.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FEA02x-image-ED.jpg

A good deal of the students’ work is project based, which means that as community development workers
they usually have geographical community or social group on which to focus.
CONTENT

Community Development worker’s tasks often involve:

1. Identifying community skills, assets, issues, and needs;
2. Ensuring that local people have their say;
3. Developing new resources in dialogue with the community and evaluating existing programs.
4. Building links with other groups and agencies (government and non-government)
5. Helping to raise public awareness on issues relevant to the community;
6. Preparing reports and policies;
7. Raising and managing funds
8. Developing and implementing strategies;
9. Liaising with interested groups and individuals to set up new services;
10. Mediating in matters of conflict;
11. Recruiting and training paid and voluntary staff;
12. Planning, attending and coordinating meetings and events;
13. Overseeing the management of a limited budget
14. Encouraging participation in activities;
15. Challenging inappropriate behavior

What to expect?

Community development workers often have an office base but spend much of their time out and about in the
community.
For example, visiting local people and groups, and attending meetings.

Self-employment/freelance work is sometimes possible, working as a trainer consultant.

The work is usually either urban or rural based, and conditions vary according to the nature and location of the
project and funding.

Coping with social disadvantage and disaffected members of the community can be stressful.

Prepared by: Rodney C. Ramirez

 There is frequent contact with individuals, agencies and groups in the community.

Different people living in a community.

https://www.elegantthemes.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/divi-community-update-
september-2020-scaled.jpg

Definition of Community

1. Social Science Perspective of a Community

“sociological construct”
It is a set of interactions, human behaviors that have meaning and expectations between its members.
Not just an action, but actions based on shared expectations, values, beliefs and meanings between
CONTENT

individuals.

• A community has Loosely Boundaries

• Communities Can Be Within Communities
• Communities May Move
• Urban Communities Are Special

2. The Institutional Perspective of a Community

• A community is not merely a collection of houses. It is a human (social and cultural)

organization.
• It is not just a collection of human individuals; it is a socio-cultural system; it is socially
organized.

An Animator Must Know About Society:

It is the responsibility of the mobilizer to learn something from the sciences of anthropology and
sociology.

Keep the Essential Elements of Society in Mind

While Sociology in itself can be interesting, the mobilizer needs to know more about it so as to be a
better mobilizer.

3. Civil Society’s Perspective of a Community

Civil Society is composed of a variety of elements that total the overall functions of public life in which
citizens from all spheres and interests participate in government and ultimately, debate the rule of
law.

Prepared by: Rodney C. Ramirez

 Civil society includes persons who take part in the electoral process.

Activists who fight for human rights and freedoms as well as organization that make – up and represent
the general opinion of the country.

Civil society is the organ of a nation and without it, there is no stability or direction forward. It promotes
the voice of the citizens.

Peoples Organization in a Civil Society

4. The Civic Community Perspective

Social Movements in a Civil Society

Reactionary Movements
Advocate the restoration of the values and behaviors of people in the past in order to preserve the
traditional value and social relationship. Some people negatively react to new changes because they don’t
want the existing order.

Conservative Movements
Strongly resists change because they want to protect the status quo or existing order.

Reform Movement
Attempts to change a specific area of life such as political, social, economic, cultural and religious
dimensions without destroying the entire system.

Revolutionary Movement
CONTENT

Seeks to change the social order in order to establish a new one. The people seeking for a change use
radical and violent means to achieve their purpose.

The LGBT in Civil Society

Coming Out

Personal Contact

Religion

Social and Grassroots Levels Perspective of Community

Prepared by: Rodney C. Ramirez

 Name: ___________________________________ Grade and Section: _______________________________

Activity 1:

After finishing senior high school, will you proceed to college or look for a job? Cite your reasons. Indicate the
symbol of the course or job inside the box.
ASSESSMENT

Activity 2

Form a group with 6 members and choose a leader according to height, meaning the tallest member of your
group will be the leader. The shortest member of your group will be the assistant leader. Your task is to make a
short presentation about the topic/s given to you.

Prepared by: Rodney C. Ramirez

 Name: ___________________________________ Grade and Section: _______________________________

Assignment 1:
Essay (Importance of understanding community dynamics and community action)
ASSIGNMENT

Assignment 2:
Look for definition of community from different sources/websites/books. Give at least five meaning
and its sources.
REFERENCES

Delos Santos, D. L. Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship Revised ed. Rex Book Store Inc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtYM-ZLFboA

Prepared by: Rodney C. Ramirez