PART I

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS IN DEVELOPING COMMUNITIES

Chapter 1
The Community as Stage of Community Service

Definition of Community

The community is made up of different persons living n a definite

territory with at least a minimum of cultural ties based on common
values, interests, goals, system of expectations, concerns, etc.

Types of Communities

1. Geographical : a community within an ecclesiastical or civil territory

2. Sectoral : farmers, fishermen, vendors, women, workers, informal

settlers

3. Functional : a school community with teachers, students, or

administrators

4. Rural, Urban, Rurban: relationship in the rural community is closer,

person-to-person communication is evident; relationship in an
urban community is artificial, transitory; business like ;rurban
communities show physical characteristics of an urban community
but relationships are more rural in nature.

5. Tribal/Indigenous : also known cultural communities

Process of Organizing/Developing Communities

Organizing/Developing Communities is done systematically. The

process can be slow but methods and procedures should be followed to
effect more sustainable results:

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I. Pre-Entry Phase

This is primarily the preparation phase.

 Answers to the following questions are necessary
How prepared is the NSTP student in the organizing job?
 Does the NSTP student have some initial knowledge about
the community?
 Is there a basis/criterion used in choosing the community?
What are the long-range and short-range plans of the NSTP
Department vis-a- vis the organized community?

II. Entry Into the Community

Communities have to be prepared for the entry of the NSTP

student(s) who will work in the community.
Some activities involved are:
a) ocular survey of the community : visit and observation of the
community; its physical characteristics, resources, etc.
b) courtesy calls made by the NSTP student
particularly the barangay captain, the parish priest, other
religious leaders, and other workers (both GOs and NGOs).

The person who is perceived as a leader or influential person

should not be ignored.
These individuals maybe informal leaders. This could be the
 “herbolario”(quack doctor) who is frequented by families and
friends in times of sicknesses; or
 “old, wise guy” who has been in the community years
immediately after the community got its own legal identity;
 “philosopho Tacio” who, though widely disliked by some,
possesses the wisdom in age and experience.
These individuals could help provide a deeper view of the
community especially it beginnings.

III. Core Group Formation

This is the stage when the community worker starts identifying

potential leaders in the community. Aside from community visits,
collateral interviews and community meetings, it would help a
great deal if seminars on self-awareness, leadership skills, team-
building and the like could be given to identified groups to
facilitate the harnessing of potential leaders. Election of officers
can be done once the process of selecting genuine would-be leaders
has been consciously and systematically conducted.

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IV. Organization Building and Strengthening of the Organization

The decision to form a group should be taken by the people. It is

they who must formalize and do their work. Establishing a group
indicates that the people are beginning to develop a sense of group
identity and continue their work in a more structured way.

As the group is formed, regular meetings are held and an agenda

for each is drawn up by the people. Members of the group take
responsibility to call the meeting and encourage others in the
community to attend and take part. These people in effect run the
meeting. They should feel that are taking charge, that they have
skills, confidence, and resources to address their problems.

This is also the stage of seeing to it that leaders are trained and
formed. The elected leaders are expected to perform their duties
and develop their skills to serve the community.

As the group operates, members should be encouraged to focus

and identify their problems and needs. People should articulate
their opinions, discuss their problems and initially present ways on
how these can be confronted. A critical awareness should be
emerging at this stage where members see problems not just
affecting them but the wider community. The realization of the
need to work together should emerge, in effect, showing that rather
than division is necessary for the alleviation of their problems.

As the community becomes more stable, it is important that proper

planning is done by the people. They must have a sense of
purpose. Simple activities can be conducted to build unity and
demonstrate that when people work together great things can be
accomplished. Such activities also prepare the way for more formal
development work. These initial activities are necessary before the
community takes on more demanding and bigger projects.

Two important sub-phases are seen in this stage: increase in

membership; and establishing and harnessing of internal linkages.
This is also the rise of volunteerism in the community.

V. Evaluation

The community, at this stage, assumes full responsibility in its

affairs. The role of the NSTP student becomes much more limited,
paving the way for maximum people’s action. The NSTP
Department can either terminate or continue its services in the
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community. This, however, can only come about after a thorough
evaluation has been conducted.