COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

The Helping Process

 STEPS IN THE CO HELPING
PROCESS
• Community Entry
• Integration/Immersion
• Social Investigation
• Problem identification and prioritization
• Core group formation
• Formalizing the organization
• Community planning
• Plan implementation
• Evaluation
• Phase out
 COMMUNITY ENTRY

- the process where the Community Organizer

(CO) officially enters the community
Importance:
Community Organizer (CO) is introduced to
local authorities and other key people in the
community. It is the first step by the
Community Organizer (CO) towards
integration into the community
 COMMUNITY ENTRY

.
Preparation
Role of the agency
• Clarify why it wants to work in the community.
• Develop criteria for target community
• Select target community using the criteria
• Develop criteria for contact person and host
family
 COMMUNITY ENTRY
Process

Tasks of the Community Organizer (CO)

• Visit the house of contact person
• Together with the contact person, pay courtesy
call to local authorities and key people in the
community
• Stay temporarily with host family
recommended by contact person
INTEGRATION / IMMERSION

the process of staying and living together

with the people in the community and
experience their way of life

get to know the culture, economy, leader,

history, lifestyle, etc.
INTEGRATION / IMMERSION

continuing process of establishing rapport

with and among members of the
community for the purpose of establishing
or developing a relationship of mutual
respect, trust and open communication
INTEGRATION / IMMERSION

Objectives:
1. understand and adapt to the culture and
lifestyle of the community
2. develop organizational cohesiveness among
members of the community
3. facilitate better working relationship and
therefore collective, effective and efficient action
INTEGRATION/IMMERSION

Objectives: (con’t.)

4. define the roles of the CO and the people

5. to build contacts
 INTEGRATION / IMMERSION

Principles:
- avoid imposing your own culture on people
- be honest about your limitations
- choose a modest dwelling (lifestyle) - --
Community respect should be cultivated
- avoid raising expectations by promising
Clearly describe what be realistically offered
- be open to learn from people
 INTEGRATION / IMMERSION

Integration/Immersion Methods

- LESS principle
- participate in their economic activities
- join in social events
- visit homes
- converse with people one-on-one
 INTEGRATION / IMMERSION

. Important advice for the Community Organizer

(CO)
• Be humble
• Be polite
• Respect local belief, religion and culture
• Do not get drunk
• Do not make promises that will not be fulfilled.
• Do not flirt
• Do not talk about political parties
 SOCIAL INVESTIGATION

- process of systematically learning and

analyzing the various structures in the
community – political, economic, socio-cultural
- gathering and analysis of data about a
community and its issues
- the results will serve as basis for organizing or
for issue(s) planning and strategizing
 SOCIAL INVESTIGATION

Guidelines:
1. have a working knowledge of both the
objective and subjective realities of the
community
2. make an accurate ad comprehensive
assessment of the various realities of the
community
 SOCIAL INVESTIGATION

Guidelines (con’t.):

3. avoid pushing for projects conceived mainly

on the change agent’s perception of problems.
People do not often identify with these projects.
Hence, the are not sustained and are short lived.
 SOCIAL INVESTIGATION

Methodology
1. Conducting surveys
2. Interviewing individuals on a one-on-one
basis
3. discussing in small groups
4. gathering and reviewing secondary data
5. observation
6. use natural and subtle data gathering
methods rather than pen and paper style
7. develop an atmosphere of mutual trust
 COMMUNITY PROFILE:
ELEMENTS
Should be comprehensive in coverage
How different aspects of the life of the community
are interrelated
1. The area as a place to live – quality of the
physical environment and people’s attitudes to
living there; the extent t which needs are matched
with resources; and the extent to which local
facilities meet people’s goals &n aspirations
 COMMUNITY PROFILE:
ELEMENTS
2. The area as a social community – residents’
involvement in the social life of the community; the
extent to which the community is supportive;
formal and informal networks
3. The area as an economic community – income
levels and employment prospects of local
residents; prosperity and viability of local shops
4. The area as a political community – systems
and structures of political representation and local
area management; the extent to which local
people
 COMMUNITY PROFILE:
ELEMENTS
• Can influence the decision s that affect them; the
degree of involvement in local decision making;
participation in community organizations
5. The area as personal space – degree of
attachment that people have to the local area;
memories and life experiences of local people
6. The area as part of its city – infrastructural,
economic and social linkages between the local
area and the city/district of which it is a part; the
specific local identity that differentiates the
community from the rest of the area/district
 COMMUNITY PROFILE:
ELEMENTS
• Our definition refers to needs and resources
both of which are important for a full
understanding of a community
• Resources – assets held in the area and put to
use for the benefit of the community
- intangible resources that are sources of
strength and potential within the community
• Need as legitimate basis on which to make at
least some decisions about the allocation of
resources
PROBLEM/ ISSUE IDENTIFICATION
and PRIORITIZATION

- collective identification and prioritization of

community problems
- consider real needs, capabilities,
organizational impact, urgency of problems
 PROBLEM/ ISSUE IDENTIFICATION and
PRIORITIZATION

• Criteria for selection of first problem requiring

action:
- a substantial number are affected, are
interested in, or have been acting on the
problem
- problem is simple; within people capability o
solve and can easily be resolved: to develop
confidence in themselves and their problem
solving skills
 PROBLEM/ ISSUE IDENTIFICATION and
PRIORITIZATION

• the problem when tackled should not create

unnecessary division in the community,
especially at the initial stage

• the problem may be urgent. A problem which

cannot be set aside because it will worsen if not
attended to should be considered for action
 PROBLEM/ ISSUE IDENTIFICATION and
PRIORITIZATION

Objectives:
- ensure that organizational activities or projects
are based on people’s genuine needs
- provide people with the opportunity to develop
their problem solving skills and confidence
- develop people’s confidence in the process
- develop among other residents the credibility
of the group tackling the issue/problem
 Criteria in Identifying
Community Problems
• The problem occurs too frequently (frequency)
• The problem has lasted for a while (duration)
• The problem affects many people (scope, or
range)
• The problem is disrupting to personal or
community life, and possibly intense (severity)
• The problem deprives people of legal or moral
rights (equity)
• The issue is perceived as a
problem (perception)
 PROBLEM/ ISSUE IDENTIFICATION and
PRIORITIZATION

Methodology
- one-on-one groundworking
- calling a meeting of residents for identification
and problem analysis (cause-effect-action)
- problem prioritization - gut feeling of people;
systematic method
 PROBLEM/ ISSUE IDENTIFICATION and
PRIORITIZATION

Tasks of Community Organizer (CO)

• Observe and talk to people in the community
• Identify potential core group members using
criteria
• Select and recruit 5-7 potential core group
members. Women should be included.
• Conduct orientation meeting with all core
group members. Introduce and explain the
work of the agency. Explain and clarify
responsibilities of core group members
 CORE GROUP FORMATION

Process
The agency develops criteria for selecting core
group members which may include the
following:
• Leadership
• Integrity
• Availability
• Commitment
• Knowledge and skills
 CORE GROUP FORMATION

- made up of 5-7 individuals from the community

selected and recruited by the Community
Organizer (CO) to help facilitate the formation of
the Community Based Organization (CBO)
Importance
The core group works together with the
Community Organizer (CO) and provides
community leadership towards the formation of
the Community Based Organization (CBO)
 FORMALIZATION OF THE
ORGANIZATION

Community Based Organization (CBO) is an

association of people living in the same
geographic location
Importance
The Community Based Organization (CBO) is
a structure that provides people with
opportunities to work together to solve
common problems affecting their lives
 FORMALIZATION OF THE
ORGANIZATION
Process
The task of Community Organizer in CBO
formation is to help the core group members
to:
• Identify and analyze community problems
• Brainstorm and prioritize solutions
• Discuss and determine the importance of CBO
formation
• Identify steps for CBO formation
• Develop criteria for CBO leaders
 FORMALIZATION OF THE
ORGANIZATION
Process
Steps in Community Based Organization (CBO)
formation the core group is responsible for the
following activities:
a. Planning for the community meeting
• Determine the purpose of the meeting
• Determine suitable place and time
• Plan the agenda and clarify responsibilities
• Announce the schedule, purpose and
participants of the meeting
 FORMALIZATION OF THE
ORGANIZATION
Activities during the community meeting
• Clearly explain the purpose and agenda
• Present community problems affecting community
and the need to solve problems by working
together
• Present the idea and get approval for the
formation of the Community Based Organization
(CBO)
• Present the idea of the need to elect 5-7 CBO
leaders. Discuss the process for nomination and
election
• Present the responsibilities of CBO leaders and
their term of office
 FORMALIZATION OF THE
ORGANIZATION

Activities after the community meeting

• The CO should meet with the newly elected CBO

leaders after the community meeting
• The CO will arrange the time, place and agenda for
the first formal meeting of the CBO leaders
 COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BUILDING
Definition
the process of developing and strengthening
knowledge, skills and experience of the CBO
leaders and members

Importance
Developing the capacity of the CBO leaders
and members will ensure greater community
participation, self-reliance and sustainability of
the organization
 COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BUILDING
1. Definition
“Community Capacity Building” is the
process of developing and strengthening
knowledge, skills and experience of the CBO
leaders and members.

2. Importance
Developing the capacity of the CBO leaders
and members will ensure greater community
participation, self-reliance and sustainability of
the organization.
 COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BUILDING
Process
Tasks of the CBO leaders:
• Conduct assessment of training needs of CBO
leaders and members
• Develop plan based on training needs
• Identify available internal and external
resources to meet training needs
• Training of first line and second line of CBO
leaders
 COMMUNITY CAPACITY
BUILDING
Basic skills needed by the Community Based
Organization (CBO)
• Facilitating CBO and community meeting
• Recording of minutes of the meeting
• Research and data gathering
• Planning
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Communication skills
• Management skills
• Financial skills
• Project proposal making
COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR PROBLEM
SOLVING
Definition
the process of developing a community action
plan based on priorities, objectives and
resources towards community problem solving

Importance
Community planning provides opportunities for
the community members to participate in
decision making, thus ensuring ownership of the
problem solving process. It also enables them to
identify and formulate solutions to their common
problems together
COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR PROBLEM
SOLVING
Process
The tasks of the planning committee are:
• Review community priorities based on the result of the
PCR and develop community action plan:
– Identify possible project/s
– Set up project objectives
– Identify target groups
– Identify activities and persons responsible
– Identify resources needed
– Develop budget
– Develop strategy on how to access to resources
needed
COMMUNITY PLANNING FOR PROBLEM
SOLVING

Process
The tasks are:
• Review community priorities based on the
results and call a community meeting to
present community action plan. Presentation,
validation and approval of community action
plan by community members.
• Finalize community action plan based on
suggestions and recommendation of
community members
COMMUNITY RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

Definition
the process of utilizing people and their
resources towards accomplishing desired
changes in the community
Importance
The community needs resources in order to
implement its projects and activities.
Community resource mobilization enables the
community to maximize the use of available
local resources towards achieving problem
solving objectives. External resources should
only be utilized if local resources are not
available
COMMUNITY RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

Process
Role of the CBO Leaders in mobilizing community
resources:
• Establish clear and regular communication and
feedback system with community members
• Secure commitments of community members
towards a particular cause
• Follow-up and monitor commitments of
community members
• Delegate responsibilities in problem solving to
maximize participation
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

- implementation by people of their

issue/problem plan; fact to face contact between
those affected by the problem and those who
are responsible for making decisions about the
problem
- provides people concrete experience and
direct contact with the unresponsive
structures/systems and authorities in society
 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

B. Project Monitoring
Monitoring is the assessment of the project
implementation process and activities and to
check, whether the results are achieving the
objectives of the desired change. Monitoring
should be regularly done during the
implementation process
 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
Definition
C. Evaluation
Evaluation is the process of assessing the impact of
the projects and activities of the community. It is
concerned with determining the accomplishments of
goals and objectives. The community members should
conduct the evaluation themselves at the completion of
a project or activity.
2. Importance
The “Community Action Plan” is the vehicle to
achieve desired community changes. A regular
monitoring and evaluation process will ensure effective
achievement of activities and desired results.
 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Importance
The community action plan is the vehicle to
achieve desired community changes. A regular
monitoring and evaluation process will ensure
effective achievement of activities and desired
results
 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

The tasks of the “CBO leaders” during project

implementation are the following:
A. Project Implementation
• Oversee and direct the implementation of
projects and activities.
• Clarify roles of each member in projects or
activities.
• Motivate the community members to contribute
to the projects and activities. Mobilize the use
of community resources for the projects or
activities.
 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

• Conduct regular consultation and feedback

with community members.
• Manage inter-personal relationships and
conflict management. Facilitate team building
activities.
• Conduct an information and advocacy
campaign on the “Community Action Plan”.
 PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION

Definition
A. Project implementation
It is the process of carrying out projects and
activities towards achieving the desired
change. Through implementation, plans are
mobilized into a series of actions that will lead
toward accomplishment of the goals and
objectives.
.
 EVALUATION

- assessment of the strengths and weaknesses

of actions to determine if the objectives were
achieved or not
Objectives:
a) identify strengths and weaknesses
b) reinforce the strengths and rectify the
weaknesses
c) learn from the experience
 EVALUATION

Reflection:
- drawing out learning/lessons from actions or
experiences
- develops the necessary awareness, values
and attitudinal foundations in people to sustain
action and organizational activities
 PHASE OUT
PHASE OUT

Community exit is the process whereby the

Community Organizer (CO) gradually leaves
the community as the Community Based
Organization (CBO) moves towards
independence and self-reliance
 PHASE OUT
Importance
The community exit strategy enables the
Community Based Organization (CBO) to
grow and gradually develop into a mature self-
governing and self-reliant association
independent.
The CBO needs to grow and develop into a
self-governing and self- reliant institution at its
own pace and on its own time. At the initial
stage of Community Organizing process, the
CO takes a major role in leading the CBO in
the problem solving process.
 PHASE OUT
• As the capacity of the CBO leaders and
members gradually develop, they should
assume more responsibilities and move towards
becoming independent and self-reliant.
• The role of the CO should change from initiating,
leading and managing to facilitating and
coordinating of development activities.
 PHASE OUT

Process
The Community Based Organization (CBO)
needs to establish federations, actively
participate in networks and build strategic
alliances with other groups and organizations
in a continuing basis.
These partnerships will enable the CBO to give
and receive support from other CBOs, groups
and organizations.
 PHASE OUT
The tasks of the Community Organizer (CO) in
enabling CBO leaders to move towards becoming
an independent CBO:
• Continuing education for CBO leaders and
members, especially developing second and
third line of leaders
• Strengthening communication and resource
mobilization skills, especially local fundraising
 PHASE OUT

• Establishing strong support system through

networking and building alliances with
government and non-government
organizations
• Establish linkages and networking with other
organizations at the village, commune, district,
province and national level.
• Join CBO federations with similar values and
objectives for mutual benefit where
appropriate.
Thanks!

59