Compiled and prepared by:

JUVIELYN L. BATUSAN

SST-11

1
 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SOLIDARITY AND CITIZENSHIP

Name of Learner: ___________________________________________ Grade Level:___________

Section: __________________________________ ___________________Score:_________________

UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON COMMUNITY

A community as a concept is not solid and has different parts and is therefore seen from

various viewpoints. The varying viewpoints come as a result of the distinctive perspectives of the

different academic disciplines and sectors. It is then important to be acquainted with the different

perspectives of a community in order to appreciate why certain things are seen and done

differently when it comes to community interventions. The different community perspectives

include Social Science, Institutional, Civil Society and Local/Grassroots Level. Below are the brief

discussions of each perspective

1. From the point of view of Social Science, a community is a group of people whose connections
and relations are formed by their shared history. Experiences, geographies and identities.
Generally, there is a common pattern of behavior. The course of embracing the behavior patterns
of a community is called socialization. To put it simply, man through socialization develops a

community. A German sociologist, Ferdinand Tonnies (as cited by Safar and Madhi, 2012) noted
two types of human associations: Gemeinschaft, called “community’, and Gesellschaft, known as
“society” or “association.”Gemeinschaft is a community with a tighter and more cohesive social
entity brought about by “unity of will.” Gesellschaft is a group where individuals participate as
members driven solely by self-interest. It has been argued that the real community manifests a
combination of these two patterns of behavior.

2. Institutions are the core establishments that bind people toward a specific advocacy or goal.
They are grand social structures that are made up by individuals which, when viewed as a whole,

2
exhibit patterns of behavior that create conventions and norms in our society. There are five core
institutions that are pillars of our society.

a. Government Institutions - As an institution, it grants its citizens liberties and rights. In essence,
the government has the power to lead and govern its citizens within a confined territory and can
create sweeping policies and laws.

b. Economic Institutions - Economists see institutions as the mechanism in

which goods, services, and money are distributed. In economics, goods are scarce and
considered to be finite. Therefore, we have to look into specific actors’ needs and wants relative
to the availability of a specific good or service being sought for.

c. Religious Institutions - Religion is one of the pillars from which our civilization is built. Today’s
society emphasizes the importance of religion as a communal experience; meaning, activities are
still tied to the concepts and teachings of their faith. Religious institutions are here to be a
constantreminder that values and mores are grounded on spiritually.

d. Educational Institutions - The task of the school system is to arm us with the needed skills and
in relation to the demand of the environment.

The knowledge, skills and values we acquire are tools to chart our future. Family Institutions -
Families are considered as the building blocks of our society. At the center of every society is the
family, and it is where the community and our society draw strength from.

3. Civil Society (CS) is generally defined as a wide array of nongovernmental organizations and
volunteer groups that are fighting for solutions to social issues that continue to worsen the
condition of the disadvantaged sectors of society, especially the poor. Given this perspective, the
CS views the community as composed of people, structures and systems endowed with resources
but is confronted with social issues as well. The CS wants that those who are affected by social
problems must organize and band together to pursue and advocate for social change.

4. The Local and Grassroots Level, also referred to as Community-Based Perspective, sees the
community as a setting for intervention, target for change, resource and agent as cited by
McLeroy (2003) and as established in the studies reviewed by Merzel and D’Afflitti. This
perspective, according to McLeroy, et al. (2003), requires vigilance in assessing community
structures and processes before any community interventions. The situation entails a thorough
understanding of the community in order to determine appropriate and strong solutions. Further,
the goal of cultural programs and activities in the grass root level is to enrich the cultural life of
rural communities.

3
Activity 1- Word Hunt

Direction: Encircle 10 words/terms that are related with the topic Different Perspective on
Community. *Words are positioned vertically, horizontally and diagonally.

4
5
6
Sample answer

On the roof- A community is built by love and unity among members. On Window 1- shortage of
goods, economic problem, implementation of Covid-19 health protocols

On Window 2- the people, barangay and LGU Officials, health workers Door- They should come
up with a program on how to orient the people to follow protocols set by the government.
Moreover, they should introduce livelihood programs to address the problem on scarcity of
goods and foods.

Activity 5. Ikanta ang Halaga

Direction: Compose a short song (a minimum of 3 stanza) about the importance of knowing the
different perspectives on community. Sing your composed song and Building a Community

record it using your cellphone. You can send the recorded song via messenger or on your
teacher’s email account or via Bluetooth/Share It apps when your teacher collects your Learning
Activity Sheets. Write the composed song in the box below.

(This activity is applicable for Blended and Online learners only!)

For modular learners: Write your answer on the box provided.

7
8