The Concept of Community

Prepared By: April Joy F. Bolodo, LPT

What is
Definitions

unified body of individuals-
Websters Dictionary
Manalili (2009)- refers to an
organization of people who are able
to undertake projects based on its
members’ experiences, resiliency,
motivation and willingness to learn.
 Definitions

Genesis 1:27 of the Old Testament,

the word community encompasses
all God’s creation in the universe,
including a man and woman whom
he created in His own image.
Man & woman are not created to live
in isolation from one another.
The community is a social unit (a group of
living things) with commonality such as
norms, religion, values, customs, or
identity. Communities may share a sense
of place situated in a given geographical
area (e.g. a country, village, town, or
neighbourhood) or in virtual space
through communication platforms.
Richard Millington defines five  Different Types
of Communities
Interest. Communities of
people who share the same
interest or passion.
Action. Communities of
people trying to bring about
change.
Richard Millington defines five  Different
Types of Communities
Place. Communities of people brought
together by geographic boundaries.
Practice. Communities of people in the
same profession or undertake the same
activities.
Circumstance. Communities of people
brought together by external
events/situations.
Sociological Concept of a Community
Family is the smallest unit of the
society.
It is composed of the immediate
and non-immediate members, while
a community is composed of
different families living in the same
place who share the same interests.
Aesthetic and Moral values of a
community
The Aesthetic Values and moral of a
community consist of the guiding
ideas that its members hold
Example:
How they know what is good from bad,
beautiful from ugly and right from
wrong, as well as the justifications
necessary in explaining their actions.
As a community develops, its
values change. A change in values
may result from innovations in
technology or the social
hierarchy.
example the values include
solidarity, commitment, mutually
and trust.
PARTICIPATORY
PLANNING &
IMPLEMENTATION
 Planning
Planning means to direct and guide the people
who are involved in a certain project.
Social planning includes the areas of
health, education, housing and social
welfare.
Assessment to gauge the impact of a
community project on the social
development of a community.
Participatory Planning
Participatory Planning is the process of
laying out the course of actions needed
to attain a set of socio-economic goals.
It resolves community issues or
problems by giving concerned
community members the chance to
identify problems and propose solutions.
Principles of
Participatory
Planning
Principles of Participatory Planning

Development should be seen more as a

change from the bottom-up than from the top-
down.
The development process should be managed
naturally rather than mechanically
 example: unduly focused on plans, goals and
objectives, targets, and schedules.
 Principles of Participatory Planning
The development process should also strengthen
local organization and local government
bureaucracies.
The development process should be supported by
local institutions with the villages, primary
cooperatives, religious and young groups and
community-based and self-help associations
playing a major role.
The development process must be based
primarily on confidence-building and learning
rather than on expertise training.
Levels of Participation
Typology
1. Passive
2. Information-based
3. Consultation-based
4. Incentive-based
5. Functional participation
6. Interactive
7. Self-mobilization
Results
People are told of what will happen or is
taking place.
People answer a survey team’s
questionnaire (no follow up).s
People answer the questionnaire defined
or designed by “outsiders” i.e non-
community members.
People work for cash, food or incentives.
Decisions by “outsiders” and interest
groups are synthesized to meet objectives.
Joint analyses, decisions, and action plans
are made.
Initiatives are taken independently from
official institutions.
Projects
 Projects
In Webster’s Dictionary as a planned
undertaking.
The initial step is to identify the specific
acts that must be taken to meet a set of
objectives.
The next is to lay down the project as
reflected in the acts to be taken.
A project’s common elements include the following:

Objectives- this element describes what

projects aims to do and what the project is for.
Boundaries- this element specifies the scope
and limitations of the project.
Location- this element identifies where the
project will be implemented.
Target-beneficiaries- this states that will
benefit from the implementation of the project.
A project’s common elements include the following:
Duration- this elements determines the
schedule of the project upon its
implementation.
Budget- this element itemizes the
expected expenses that the project will
earn upon its implementation.
Methodology- this element indicates the
approach or manner by which the project
will be implemented.
Project Development Cycle
Identification- in this stage, a potential project
design is organized after adequate consultations
with the different stakeholders of the community.
Preparation- in this stage, the planners determine
how and when a chosen project will be
implemented.
Implementation- in this stage, the project is carried
out by the planners and the local community
members based on an agreed-upon-timetable.
Evaluation- in this stage, the planners and the
community members determine whether or not the
project objectives have been met
 Conclusion:

Successful participatory planning will

help identify and transform community
weaknesses into strengths.
With the support of the local government,
community members may contribute in
the planning of projects can solve the
problems that beset them.