LESSON WEEK 4

Basic Principles in Community Development 

Why should you be concerned about community? Why not? You and your
classmates belong to a community. It is where you live, your birthplace or group of
people whom you belong to, for example your church community, school and it can be
even an online community. Young people must know how a community actually works.
The activity done provided a real life and experiential approach to learning about the
complexity of living in a community and the vision for its development. Etymologically,
the term community is derived from Latin, “communitas” which means public spirit or
communis which means “shared in common”. Ancient Philosopher Aristotle defined it as
a group established by men having shared values. Through the years, different
definitions have been refined and expanded though up to this time, the term is one of the
communities can be contextual. In context, it refers to a collection of people living in a
specific area. There are two elements in this definition- a geographical area, where
people meet, do their daily activities: and a collection of people. Sociologist Talcot
Parsons defined the word community as collectivity, where members share common
territorial area as their base operation for daily activities. Ferdinand Tonnies, a German
Sociologist, posit that members are bound together by a sense of belongingness. This is
created by the everyday activities mostly done together. People often share a sense of
place such as geographical or even virtual through online social media. It can also be on
a supra national, international or even virtual communities. 

In the definitions above, the characteristics of community are: 

1. Space or Place (geographical or online space 

2. Mutuality
3. Shared or common values 
4. Interactions and relationships

MacQueen et al. (2001) shared five core elements of community. First being the
locus, a sense of place. This refers to the geographic space such as neighbourhood,
city, school or university. Secondly, the common interests, values and perspectives of
people which can cross geographic boundaries. Thirdly, Joint action where people share
a sense of coherence or identity such as helping, interacting, collaborating with no
intentionality of creating a community cohesion. Fourth, the social ties which creates the
sense of cohesion and lastly, diversity. This refers to the interaction with other
communities. Diversity is an important concept in studying community. Gardner (2003)
defined Community is characterized by "wholeness incorporating diversity" and may
include people of different ages, ethnicities, educational backgrounds and incomes. Our
communities today are becoming more diversified, multicultural, heterogenic, and more
complex. The challenge for us is to foster an inclusive community in a community of
diversified members. Meriam Webster identified also in its definition of community as
people with common interests living together such as the problems of community. One
common interest is to solve problems brought about by living in the community.
Communities encounter problems created by its members or conflict of interests. The
community is dynamic and changing and problems are inevitable. As a community
member. You are required to possess knowledge about its issues, and the capacity to
work with others towards solutions to community problems. By taking part in the
community a person learns citizenship. This is shown by active engagement and
awareness of different groups and roles of “civil society” (the sphere of voluntary activity
in society) in the community process. An active citizen monitors and influences the
development process in the community.

What is community?

A community is a social unit with commonality such as norms, religion, values,

customs, or identity. Communities may share a sense of place situated in a given
geographical area or in virtual space through communication platforms.

What is community development?

UN defines it as a process where community members come together to take

collective action and generate solutions to common problems. It is a broad term given to the
practices of civic leaders, activist, involved citizens and professionals to improve various
aspects of the community. Typically aiming to build stronger and more resilient local
community.

Community development is also understood as a professional discipline and is

defined by the International Association for Community Development as a practice-based
profession and an academic discipline that promotes participative democracy, sustainable
development, rights, economic opportunity, equality, and social justice. Through the
organization, education and empowerment of people within their communities whether this
be of locality, identity, or interest in urban or rural settings.

Community development seeks to empower individuals and groups of people with

the skill they need to change their communities. These skills are often created through the
formation of social groups with a common agenda. Community developers must understand
both to work with individuals and how to affect community’s positions within the context of
larger social institutions.

Values and Principles of Community Development

1. DEMOCRATIC – The will of the majority must be carried out.

2. INCLUSIVE – Community members have the right to be heard and participate in

processes that affect their lives.

3. NON-AUTHORITARIAN – Community structures are as flat as possible, with all

participants being seen as equally important and having input.

4. COMMUNITY SELF DETERMINATION – Community members come together to

discuss their concerns, assess options and arrive at their own conclusions.

5. COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP – Communities thrive when they develop their own

assets, but also when they own their problems and issues.

6. ENHANCE NATURAL CAPACITIES AND NETWORKS.

7. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY

8. UNIVERSALITY
 9. SERVICE INTEGRATION

10. UPSTREAM

a. What transformative values have you seen “in action” in the video shown?

The pandemic has been critically challenging the Philippines especially

considering that it has been more than a year since we’ve been affected by the
dreadful disease. Many Filipinos have suffered trying to survive in this pandemic;
most especially those who are poor, weak, and the marginalized group. It is the duty
of the government to protect these people but unfortunately, the same people who
should be protecting its citizens seemed to be too confident that this pandemic would
bring no harm to its citizen and said that people have no reason to be “hysterical”
about it. One transformative value I have seen in this video was Duque’s
recommendation of temporary restricting entry of travellers coming from the main
province of China in January 30, 2021. The next day, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte also
imposes a travel ban for Chinese citizen from different provinces of China.

b. What are your insights pertaining to these?

Now that the pandemic has been around the Philippines for a year and 10
months, I still keep thinking of how things would’ve turned out if the government took
a quick response regarding this issue instead of waiting around for something to
happen and at the same time, does not make any plans. If only we were able to
impose a travel ban to China for even a little earlier time; if only we did not took
things easy at the beginning of this pandemic; if only we tried harder protecting
ourselves; the Filipino people before the pandemic got worse; and if only we did a
little better in making comprehensive and effective plan to fight this pandemic; not
many Filipino would’ve suffered in pain, hunger, and grief.