|1 NSTP 1013 (National Service Training Program 1) AY 2020-2021
Module 5: Sense of Community: Connecting the Youth to the Grassroots Society
Topic: Sense of Community: Connecting the Youth to the Grassroots Society
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this module, you are expected to:
a. understand the meaning of community;
b. define community participation; c. discuss the sense of community, community building and organization; d. improve the interrelationships and to promote coordination among organizations groups and individuals concerned with social welfare program and services; e. explore the mechanism of achieving community common goal; and
LEARNING CONTENT:
Introduction:
In a rapidly globalizing world, the sense of community, especially at the
grassroots level, plays a crucial role in shaping the identity, values, and social responsibility of young individuals. This module, "Sense of Community: Connecting the Youth to the Grassroots Society," aims to bridge the gap between the youth and their local communities, fostering a strong sense of belonging, mutual support, and active citizenship.
Today's youth often find themselves distanced from their immediate
social environments due to the pervasive influence of digital media and the allure of broader, often virtual, communities. While these global connections offer numerous benefits, they can sometimes dilute the significance of local culture, traditions, and social bonds. It is within the grassroots of society that the foundational elements of empathy, cooperation, and civic engagement are cultivated. This module seeks to address this disconnect by providing a comprehensive framework that encourages young people to engage meaningfully with their local communities. By understanding the historical, cultural, and social dynamics at play within their neighborhoods, youth can develop a deeper appreciation for their roots and the role they can play in nurturing their community's growth and resilience.
Lesson Proper:
BASIC CONCEPTS OF COMMUNITY
• In biological terms, a community is a group of interacting
organisms sharing an environment. • In sociology, a "community" has been defined as a group of interacting people living in a common location.
|2 • The word community is derived from the Latin communitas (meaning the same), which is in turn derived from communis, which means "common, public, shared by all or many." Communis comes from a combination of the Latin prefix com- (which means "together") and the word munis (which has to do with the exchange of services).
SENSE OF COMMUNITY
Sense of community focuses on the experience of community rather than its structure, formation, setting, or other features. It asks questions about the individual's perception, understanding, attitudes, feelings, etc. about community and his or her relationship to it and to others' participation - indeed to the complete, multifaceted community experience.
It is “the perception of similarity to others, an acknowledged interdependence with others, a willingness to
maintain this interdependence by giving to or doing for others what one expects from them, and the feeling that one is part of a larger dependable and stable structure It is a feeling that members have of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and to the group, and a shared faith that members’ needs will be met through their commitment to be together.
Four Elements of Sense of Community (according to the McMillan & Chavis theory)
|3 YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Youth development and community engagement in the Philippines are vital components of the country’s social and economic growth. The nation has a significant youth population, making these areas critical for fostering a generation that is capable, responsible, and actively participating in community building. Several organizations, programs, and initiatives contribute to this effort:
Key Organizations and Programs
Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) The Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) is a local youth institution in the Philippines. It aims to provide young people with opportunities to actively participate in governance and decision-making processes at the community level. The SK is mandated to initiate programs on youth development, particularly in education, health, and sports.
National Youth Commission The NYC is the primary government agency tasked with addressing youth issues (NYC) and promoting youth development. It collaborates with various sectors to create policies and programs that empower young Filipinos. The NYC also conducts leadership training and advocacy on youth rights and participation.
Youth Volunteer Program (YVP) The YVP, facilitated by organizations such as the Philippine National Volunteer Service Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA), promotes volunteerism among young people. It encourages them to participate in various community service projects, from environmental conservation to education and health initiatives.
Key Area Focus
Education and Skills Development
• Programs like Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) offer non-formal education and technical-vocational training to out-of-school youth, equipping them with essential skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
|4 Health and Well-being
• Initiatives such as the Adolescent Health and Development Program by the Department of Health (DOH) focus on providing young people with access to health services, including mental health support, reproductive health education, and prevention of substance abuse.
Leadership and Civic Engagement
• Leadership training programs are designed to develop the capacities of young leaders. These programs often include workshops on governance, project management, and public speaking, fostering a sense of responsibility and active citizenship.
Environmental Conservation
• Environmental programs engage youth in activities such as tree planting, coastal cleanups, and awareness campaigns on climate change. Organizations like the Philippine Youth Climate Movement (PYCM) play a significant role in mobilizing young people for environmental advocacy.
BASIC CONCEPT ON COMMUNITY SERVICE
Community services are those activities that engage youth. It is
often called youth service. It is a methodology that is simultaneously employed to strengthen young peoples' senses of civic engagement and nationalism, as well as assist them in meeting educational, developmental, and social goals.
Community service in the Philippines plays a crucial role in
promoting civic engagement, social responsibility, and community development. It involves various activities undertaken by individuals or groups to benefit their communities, address social issues, and enhance the quality of life for residents.
Reasons to Get Involved:
1. It feels good. The satisfaction and pride that come from helping others are important reasons to serve. When you commit your time and effort to an organization or a cause you feel strongly about, the feeling of fulfillment can be endless. 2. It strengthens the community. Organizations and agencies that use youth to serve are providing important services at low or no cost to those who need them. When a community is doing well as a whole, its individuals are better off, too. 3. Develop young people’s connections to their own identity, culture, and community. 4. Recognize that young people are assets to and experts about their communities. 5. Engage young people as community leaders on issues that matter to them.
|5 WHAT IS A SERVICE LEARNING? • Service-Learning as a method of teaching enriches learning by engaging students in meaningful service to their schools or communities through careful integration with established learning objectives or curricula. • Service-learning is an educational strategy that links service and academic curriculum to promote learning. It promotes students’ personal, social, and intellectual growth and provides them with a sense of civic responsibility and opportunities for career exploration. • Service learning is an educational approach that combines learning objectives with community service. It provides students with opportunities to apply academic knowledge and skills to real-world problems, fostering civic responsibility and enhancing learning outcomes. Here are some key aspects and benefits of service learning for students:
Key Aspects of Service Learning
• Integration with Curriculum: Service learning projects are integrated into the academic curriculum, aligning with specific learning goals and objectives. This ensures that students apply what they learn in the classroom to community service projects. • Community Engagement: Students work with community organizations to address local needs. This engagement helps students understand the challenges and assets of their communities. • Reflection: Critical reflection is a central component of service learning. Students reflect on their experiences to gain deeper insights into the societal issues they are addressing, as well as their own learning and growth. • Reciprocity: Service learning emphasizes mutual benefit. While students gain valuable experience and knowledge, the community also benefits from the students’ contributions.
Service-learning’s key components are:
1. Student Leadership 2. Genuine community 3. Clear connections to curricular learning objectives 4. Reflection 5. Project Determination, Planning, Preparation, and Implementation: 6. Celebration
|6 PROJECT IDEAS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE
The following enumerates the different kinds of ideas that the youth may explore in serving the community:
Types of Service Projects:
1. Single Service Project. A single, large, or mid-sized
project requires broad-based support and should reflect the general interest of people in the community. Community-built playgrounds, recreation centers, or housing require diverse resources from both adults and young people and can be powerful visual symbols of the community’s commitment to youth. 2. Community-Wide Volunteer Day A celebration with multiple project sites requires teaming with organizations and agencies whose projects can be accomplished in one day. River, highway, and park cleanups, painting, and other rehabilitation projects are good choices and can accommodate many volunteers. A well-organized city clean-up can accomplish a significant amount of work in a single day and really put a shine on a community. 3. Serve-a-thon. Serve-a-thons allow you to combine community service and fundraising for local projects or organizations by taking pledges for hours of service. Create pledge sheets that volunteers can use to solicit contributions before the service day, and collect the funds raised when volunteers arrive for their service projects. 4. Workshops and Training Sessions Organize a youth-led workshop to train NGOs and the public on skills to deal with or prevent problems your community faces (e.g. environment racism, ethnic conflict, HIV/AIDS) or to build capacity in volunteer management and community service.
PLANNING A COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT
Factors to Consider When Planning a Project:
• Identify a need for your community.
• Define the target group. • Focus on a specific objective or goal that is appropriate for the community. • Involve members of the community in planning. • Tap into available community resources. • Decide how you will evaluate your plan or project. What worked and what did not? • Develop partnerships with other organizations in your community. Partner with other area chapters. There are four basic phases to community service:
1) Identifying an issue 2) Getting organized 3) Carrying out your plans and 4) Follow-up planning.
|7 The following outline can help you to plan your community service project:
I. Education a. Identify an issue b. Research the issues' past and present history c. Frame the issue d. Provide internal education
II. Getting Organized
a. Choose advocacy strategies available for the specific issue b. Determine who else in the community will support or oppose the issue c. Identify the target population d. Develop a plan with alternative strategies e. Assign tasks and target deadlines
III. Carrying Out Your Plans
a. Implement the plan b. Track your progress c. Adjust your strategies d. Identify finish lines e. Evaluate the plan
IV. Follow-up Planning
a. Evaluate success and accomplishments b. Evaluate weaknesses and strategies that did not work
ADVOCACY PLANNING STRATEGIES
Strategies that can aid in planning a successful community advocacy project include:
1. Keep your project simple; stick to one specific issue that has meaning for your community or the target population. 2. Document what you already know about the issue, research what you do not know. 3. Use existing information, research articles, reports, books, or publications. 4. Document real life examples or experiences. 5. Reach out to local settings for speaking opportunities in service groups, schools, and other organizations. 6. Use experts on the issue for public speaking and presentations. 7. Utilize the local media for public service announcements, editorial and op-ed articles, highlighting a fact each week. 8. Involve a public official. 9. Work with others such as parent groups, business groups, church groups, senior groups, student groups, service clubs, local associations, neighborhood groups and professional associations. 10. Set up regular meetings for planning, tracking progress and evaluating the project.
