Community Engagement, Solidarity, and

Citizenship
Quarter 3 – Module 1:
Importance of Studying Community Dynamics and Community action in Relation to Applied
Social Sciences for Learners’ Future Career Options

 Community is a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government,
and often have a common cultural and historical heritage.

 Community is all the people living in an area or a group or groups of people who share common interests.

 Community is a locality inhabited by such a group.

 Community is a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests
and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.

 Community is a group of people living in the same place or having characteristics in common.

 Community action is any activity that increases the understanding, engagement and empowerment of
communities in the design and delivery of local services.

 Community action includes a broad range of activities and is sometimes described as ‘social action' or
‘community engagement'. These activities can vary in their objective, the role the community plays, the
types of activities involved, their scale and their integration within the council. What they have in common
is that they all involve greater engagement of local citizens in the planning, design and delivery of local
services.

Why is community action important?

Community action is about putting communities at the heart of their own local services. Involving communities in
the design and delivery of services can help to achieve several objectives, including:

1. Building community and social capacity – helping the community to share knowledge, skills and ideas.
2. Community resilience – helping the community to support itself.
3. Prevention – a focus on early access to services or support, engagement in design, cross-sector collaboration
and partnerships.
4. Maintaining and creating wealth – for example helping people into employment or developing community
enterprises.
Role of the Community
The role of the community includes the following: community consultation, joint planning, joint design, joint
delivery, and community-led activities:
 Community dynamics applies to any changes taking place within a group. Such improvements can be made
by collective action. Community shifts arise when decision makers or members act.

 Such activities relate to the creation or advancement of goods, services and policies that specifically support
a particular community. Factors such as the needs of the society, the interests of the citizens and the
availability of resources have been addressed in the process. Community dynamics and collective
intervention fall under the umbrella of economics because they are highly dependent on human resources
 [the labor force]. Those are mentioned, but it is fair to suggest that economics plays a critical role in the
understanding of community dynamics through collective action.

Quarter 3 – Module 2:
Defining Community with its Various Perspectives

Community in Different Perspective

1. Systems Perspective

From a systems perspective, a community is like a living creature, comprising different parts that represent
specialized functions, activities, or interests, each operating within specific boundaries to meet community needs.
For example, schools focus on education, the transportation sector focuses on moving people and products,
economic entities focus on enterprise and employment, faith organizations focus on the spiritual and physical well-
being of people, and health care agencies focus on the prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries (Henry,
2011). For the community to function well, each part must effectively carry out its role in relation to the whole
organism. From a systems perspective, then, collaboration is a logical approach to health improvement.

2. Social Perspective

A community can also be defined by describing the social and political networks that link individuals, community
organizations, and leaders. Understanding these networks is critical to planning efforts in engagement. For example,
tracing social ties among individuals may help engagement leaders to identify a community’s leadership, understand
its behavioral patterns, identify its high-risk groups, and strengthen its networks (Minkler et al., 1997).

3. Virtual Perspective

Some communities map onto geographically defined areas, but today, individuals rely more and more on computer-
mediated communications to access information, meet people, and make decisions that affect their lives (Kozinets,
2002). Examples of computer mediated forms of communication include email, instant or text messaging, e-chat
rooms, and social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (Flavian et al., 2005). Social groups or
groups with a common interest that interact in an organized fashion on the Internet are considered “virtual
communities” (Rheingold, 2000; Ridings et al., 2002). Without question, these virtual communities are potential
partners for community-engaged health promotion and research.

4. Individual Perspective

Individuals have their own sense of community membership that is beyond the definitions of community applied by
researchers and engagement leaders. Moreover, they may have a sense of belonging to more than one community.
In addition, their sense of membership can change over time and may affect their participation in community
activities (Minkler et al., 2004).
The philosopher and psychologist William James shed light on this issue in his writings. James thought it important
to consider two perspectives on identity: the “I,” or how a person thinks about himself or herself, and the “me,” or
how others see and think about that person. Sometimes these two views agree and result in a shared sense of an
identity, but other times they do not. People should not make assumptions about identity based on appearance,
language, or cultural origin; nor should they make assumptions about an individual’s perspective based on his or her
identity (James, 1890). Today, the multiple communities that might be relevant for any individual — including
families, workplace, and social, religious, and political associations — suggest that individuals are thinking about
themselves in more complex ways than was the norm in years past.
The eligibility criteria that scientists, policy makers, and others develop for social programs and research projects
reflect one way that people perceive a group of proposed participants, but how much those criteria reflect the
participants’ actual view of themselves is uncertain. Practitioners of community engagement need to learn how
individuals understand their identity and connections, enter relationships, and form communities.

Quarter 3 – Module 3:
Concepts and Perspectives of Community Elements (Structures, Dynamics, and Processes)

Cooperation is important because it allows people and various groups to work together in achieving a
common goal or derive mutual benefits. Cooperation exists at many levels and takes place between individuals
and organizations as well as between states and countries. Cooperation allows participants to exchange valuable
information that helps both sides improve their knowledge bases and work in a time- and resource-efficient manner.

Cooperation between and among parties is often referred to as a cooperative relationship. Participants in
these relationships often share vital resources and knowledge as well as staff and personnel to accomplish a specific
task. An example of cooperation is demonstrated through the coordination of a local school and a community soup
kitchen to provide basic services to area residents in need. The school might provide basic supplies, such as student
volunteers and food, while the soup kitchen provides a facility and furniture. The two parties work together to set up
tables with food, staffed by student volunteers, who greet and serve clients as they walk in the door. This act of
cooperation benefits the students with experience, the soup kitchen with a day of business and the clients with food.
Cooperative relationships can result in a one-time collaboration between parties to achieve a goal or can involve
recurring meetings and events to allow the parties to continue working with each other.

 Community is a social, religious, occupational, or other group sharing common characteristics or interests
and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists.

COMPRISES A COMMUNITY

 Early Joiners are frontrunners that lay down the norms for what can be deemed as acceptable behavior in
the community and ensure that it is adhered to.
 Information Specialists are the ones who members look to for getting connected new information.
 Conversationalists are the ones who mainly contribute to discussions that have been initiated by other
members but normally don’t initiate discussions on their own.
 Persuaders are the ones who are powerful advocates of the community message and spread the word.
 Connectors are the people who have a big network of friends and acquaintances they can introduce to the
community.
 Laggards are the late joiners.
 Temporary Members are the members that might be there in the community only for the achievement of a
specific objective.

Quarter 3 – Module 4:
Differentiating Typologies of Communities
 Urban, Rural, Suburban, and Rural Communities
When a community is viewed as a shared political territory and heritage, it can be classified into
four types: urban, rural, suburban, and rurban.

 Urban communities are cities or big towns where there is a large, high-dense, and
heterogeneous population. There is not much open space in urban areas for vegetation, but
space is maximized to build public and private infrastructure such as houses, business
establishments, road networks, bridges, railways, airports, and the like. The division of labor
is complex, and people's occupational specialization could be industrial, administrative, or
professional. The class status of people is varied, ranging from the very rich down to the very
poor.
 Rural Communities are territorial enclaves or villages where there is a small, low-density,
and homogeneous population. There are lots of open spaces for vegetation and the natural
environment. The use of available land if often dedicated to agriculture, and if the community
is near the coast, nearby waters are used for fisheries. The division of labor is based on
agricultural or aquatic industries, supported by farming and fishery infrastructures. The class
status of people is often feudal, characterized by a landlord and tenant relationship. The social
interaction of people in rural communities is highly familiar that it resembles intimate and
close ties, which often results in a strong degree of social solidarity.
 Suburban communities are residential or mix-used areas located at the city outskirts or
within the commuting distance of a city. Most people work in cities, but others opt to work in
nearby suburban offices or business parks. Spaces in suburban areas are devoted to housing
subdivisions, small 4 to 12-floor office buildings, business parks, and road networks leading
to nearby cities where most people go to work. The social relationships in suburban
communities are dominated by nuclear family homes in small pockets of land within the
territory of their housing unit.
 Rurban communities are communities that both have urban and rural characteristics. In the
Philippines, this happens when people from different urban slum communities are relocated
to housing settlements found on the outskirts of rural areas. Unlike those of suburban
communities, such housing settlements are difficult to access, and they do not have well-
developed roads leading to cities. Due to its purpose of being relocation sites, urban
communities are often places where marginalized people exist.

To sum it up:
 Urban communities are cities.
 Urban communities have massive number of people living close together in a small amount of space.
 In urban communities, people usually use bus, taxi, or just walk as their mode of transportation.
 The buildings in an urban community are often very tall and are usually called
“skyscrapers”.
 Rural communities are called “the country” or farmland.
 Rural communities have fewer people, many open space and natural areas.
 Buildings in rural communities are more spread out than in urban.
 Suburban communities are usually close to, but not in cities.
 Suburban communities have fewer people than in urban, but more people than rural.
  Houses are often in neighborhoods and many people have yards.
 Homes on suburban communities often have only one family living with them.
 Despite us having contrasting behavior, we still have similarities that we can work with for us to be better
citizens in our respective community.

Quarter 3 – Module 5:
Community Action Initiatives and Interrelationship of Self and the Community

Community action initiatives and

acknowledging interrelationship of self and the
community are few of the important components of
Community Engagement, Solidarity, and Citizenship
discipline that help students recognize and
appreciate their roles and responsibilities. Moreover,
their skills needed to become good leaders and
active individuals in the community will
also be developed. (Gisina n.d.)

John Donne said it best: “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of
the main.”

We cannot live independently at all-times, and this is the universal truth that nobody exists on its own. We
need someone and community care so that we can perform well, rise to challenges, and overcome obstacles.
Therefore, this lesson acknowledges the Community Action Initiatives and Interrelationship of Self and Community
as mutually symbiotic from each other, for one grows with the help of the other.

Community Action includes a broad range of activities and is sometimes described as “social action” or
“community engagement.” These activities can vary in their objective, the role the community plays, the types of
activities involved, their scale and their integration within the council. What they have in common is that they all
involve greater engagement of local citizens in the planning, design and delivery of local services. Voluntary
advocacies just like giving personal time to projects in humanitarian NGO’s or religious groups are forms of
community involvement. The engagement is generally motivated by values and ideals of social justice. Community
engagement can be volunteering at food banks, homeless shelters, emergency assistance programs, neighborhood
clean-up programs, etc.

“The interrelationship between self and community can

be seen through the principle of common good. The
needs of the people are met when the community
contribute in common good.”
 Quarter 3 – Module 6:
Community Development and Solidarity

If there will be a meaningful participation of the people in the community and

collaboratively affiliate themselves, their diversity of voices can surely identify and address
issues and concerns. Therefore, a harmony of interests is necessary so that we can
synchronically glue the spirit of solidarity and willingly be of assistance in any community
outreach that will eventually happen in the community.

Forms of Community Engagement

1. Direct Service: Giving personal time and energy to address immediate
community needs. Examples Include tutoring, serving food at a shelter, building
or repairing homes, and neighborhood park clean‐ups.

2. Community Research: Exploring a community to learn about its assets and how
it is being affected by current social problems. This form of community
engagement provides knowledge that other efforts can build upon.

3. Advocacy and Education: Using various modes of persuasion (e.g., petitions,

marches, letter‐writing to convince government or corporate decision‐makers) to
make choices that will benefit the community. Education also includes raising
public awareness of social issues by giving speeches to community groups,
distributing written materials to the public, or providing educational activities in
schools.

4. Capacity Building: Working with the diverse constituencies of a community and

building on existing assets to solve problems and making it a better place.
Creating a space for everyone in the community to have a say in what the
community should be like and how to get there.

5. Political Involvement: Participating in processes of government such as

campaigning and voting. This includes keeping informed about issues in the local,
national, and global communities to voted responsibly and engaging in discourse
and debate about current social issues.
 6. Socially Responsible Personal and Professional Behavior: Maintaining a sense
of responsibility to the welfare of others when making personal or professional
decisions in using one’s career or professional training to benefit the community.
This category describes personal lifestyle choices that reflect commitment to one’s
values recycling, driving a hybrid car, or bicycling to work; buying or not buying
certain products because of unjust corporate policies or choosing to work for
companies with socially just priorities.

7. Philanthropic Giving: Donating funding or needed items; organizing or

participating in fundraising events.

8. Participation in Associations: Participating in community organizations that

develop the social networks that provide a foundation for community‐building
efforts including civic associations, sports leagues, church choirs, and school
boards.

Quarter 3 – Module 6:
The Importance of Solidarity in Promoting National and Global Community
Development

The Eight Millennium Development Goals are:

1. to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
2. to achieve universal primary education.
3. to promote gender equality and empower women.
4. to reduce child mortality.
5. to improve maternal health.
6. to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases.
7. to ensure environmental sustainability; and
8. to develop a global partnership for development.

UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 2015-2030

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals,
were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to
end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.
General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes 17
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Building on the principle of “leaving no one
behind”, the new Agenda emphasizes a holistic approach to achieving sustainable
development for all.

.
 TRANSFORMING OUR WORLD: THE 2030 AGENDA FOR
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Preamble
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. It also seeks to
strengthen universal peace in larger freedom. We recognize that eradicating poverty in all its
forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an
indispensable requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders,
acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. We are resolved to free the
human race from the tyranny of poverty and want and to heal and secure our planet. We
are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to
shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path.
As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets which we are announcing today
demonstrate the scale and ambition of this new universal Agenda. They seek to build on
the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not achieve. They seek
to realize the human rights of all and to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all
women and girls. They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of
sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.
 The Goals and targets will stimulate action over the next fifteen years in areas of
critical importance for humanity and the planet.
People
We are determined to end poverty and hunger, in all forms and dimensions, and to
ensure that all human beings can fulfil their potential in dignity and equality and in a
healthy environment.
Planet
We are determined to protect the planet from degradation, including through
sustainable consumption and production, sustainably managing its natural resources and
taking urgent action on climate change, so that it can support the needs of the present and
future generations.
Prosperity
We are determined to ensure that all human beings can enjoy prosperous and fulfilling
lives and the economic, social, and technological progress occurs in the harmony with
nature.
Peace
We are determined to foster peaceful, just, and inclusive societies which are free from
fear and violence. There can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace
without sustainable development.
Partnership
We are determined to mobilize the means required to implement this Agenda
through a revitalized Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, based on a spirit of
strengthened global solidarity, focused on the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable and
with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people.
The interlinkages and integrated nature of the Sustainable Development Goals are of
crucial importance in ensuring that the purpose of the new Agenda is realized. If we realize
our ambitions across the full extent of the agenda, the lives of all will be profoundly
improved and our world will be transformed for the better.

COMMUNITY WELFARE ENGAGEMENT

A Society’s welfare is a multifaceted agenda to tackle. When we say community
welfare, we refer to the set of activities of specific groups of individuals to achieve their
basic needs. The United Nations further extended the definition of community welfare to
coincide with the recent shifts in a post-war condition and reconstruction.
United Nation 1967:
“Social welfare, as an organized function, is regarded as a body of activities designed
to enable individuals, families, groups, and communities to cope with the social
 problems of changing conditions.”

DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Our government created in 2009 under Republic Act 10121 the National Disaster
Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Framework to mobilize
government agencies towards a more rounded approach to risk management and
reduction.
The DRRMC strives to coordinate all member agencies in time of calamities and other
emergencies. From all the natural disasters and calamities, we must learn that risk reduction
starts with the community which most vulnerable during calamity.

COMMUNITY SECURITY ENGAGEMENT

The Philippine National Police (PNP), since its inception in 1990 through R.A. 6975,
has been the focal point of community safety. PNP personnel are empowered by the mandate
to keep the peace and protect our society from lawlessness and disorder. Their primary
mandate is to enforce the law, protect the public, and create order in our communities.
Chapter III, Section III, Section 24 of R.A. 6975 stipulates the power and function of our

police force.

COMMUNITY LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT

Our government created agencies that will help our citizens find work through
technical education and skills development. Leading these agencies is Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) created under R.A. 7796. Section of the law
 provides the mandates of TESDA to carry out its duties of empowering the Philippine
workforce by creating access to jobs and educating workforce while ensuring the quality of
technical skills coincide with internal labor standards.

COMMUNITY YOUTH AND EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT

Department of Education (DepEd) and the National Youth Commission (NYC)
have been instrumental in ensuring a bright future for the youth.
DepEd is the government agency that is responsible for the education of the
youth. Its purposes and objectives are embodied in section 3 of R.A. 9155, otherwise
known as the Government of Basic Education Act of 2001.
National Youth Commission (NYC) is mandated by the state to embody the ideals
of the Filipino Youth through nationalism, civic voluntarism, and proactive citizenship as
recognized in R.A. 8044 or the Youth in National-Building Act of 1994
NYC is the policy coordinating body of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK). It is
undergoing reforms hopefully reinvigorate the organization after being under public
scrutiny.

COMMUNITY HEALTH SUSTAINABILITY

Department of Health (DOH) acts as the central body that mobilizes local government
units and communities in creating solutions to our current health problems.
Some DOH projects:
1. Botika ng barangay

2. Doctors to the barrios

The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) was formally formed
by E.O. 131 in 1987 under its former name, Department of Environment, Energy and
Natural Resources (DEENR).
DENR has positioned itself as a community partner in enhancing community safety
during times of calamities. Also, in the past years, it has focused on mechanisms for risk
and damage prevention by partnering with the LGUs in most projects.

Awesome! Now, let us gather what we have learned.

• Solidarity is one of the universal and fundamental values above all else. One of the
most recent human rights on which international relations should be based so that those
who suffer or have less benefit from the help of the more affluent. Therefore,
strengthening of international solidarity in terms of assistance, development support
and cooperation is essential.
• The United Nations Millennium Declaration, signed in September 2000 commits world
 leaders to combat poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and
discrimination against women.
• The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals,
were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to
action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and
prosperity by 2030.
• Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development consist of
the following: Preamble, People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership. It provides a
shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the
future.
• DepEd is the government agency that is responsible for the education of the youth.
Its purposes and objectives are embodied in section 3 of
R.A. 9155, otherwise known as the Government of Basic Education Act of 2001.
• National Youth Commission (NYC) is mandated by the state to embody the ideals of the
Filipino Youth through nationalism, civic voluntarism, and proactive citizenship as
recognized in R.A. 8044 or the Youth in National-Building Act of 1994.
• Department of Health (DOH) acts as the central body that mobilizes local government
units and communities in creating solutions to our current health problems.
• The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources (DENR) was formally formed
by E.O. 131 in 1987 under its former name, Department of Environment, Energy and
Natural Resources (DEENR).