CESC WEEK 1-5 (Handout /

Reviewer)
COMMUNITY - derived from the Latin word communitas Which means “fellowship”. Its Latin roots,
communis, means “common”. Com translates to “with” or “together;” whereas munire Translates to “to
strengthen,” “to fortify,” or “to defend.”
Community Action- is any activity that aims to increase the understanding, engagement and
empowerment of communities for the intention of giving services to people
Community Dynamics- The changes in the community brought about by social, cultural and
environmental experiences whether it is positive or negative development that impacts within the
community
Aspects of Community- these include the structure existing in your community which includes natural
environment to the institutions made by man
Empowerment- It enables the people to independently decide, plan out and take action to control the
situation they have in the community.
Non-geographical Community- It is a community formed based on needs, ideas, interests, identity,
practices, and roles in social institutions
Geographical Community- It is a community where members share the same geographical vicinity such
as a village, province or neighborhood.
Micro-level community- A community wherein a group is formed based on personal ties.
Macro-level community- large group affiliations are formed such as national, international and virtual
communities.
Social capital- is a positive product of human interaction. The network of relationships within society, to
function effectively.
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON COMMUNITY
“Social Science” is an umbrella term for various fields of study which examine social relations and
human society.
Anthropology- is the study of people, past and present, with a focus on understanding the
human condition both culturally and biologically.
Economics-This field studies the production, allocation and consumption of goods and services.
Political Science-The field encompasses the various ways and means of allocating power,
influence, and decision-making.
Psychology This discipline studies the human mind, brain, and social behavior. It comprises a
variety of different subfields including abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, cognitive
psychology and social psychology.
Sociology This field is the study of society, social order, social interactions, and culture. It
introduces the concepts of social capital and communitarianism.
Social capital is defined as the networks of relationships among people who live and
work in a particular society for the effective functioning of the community.
communitarianism explains the connection between the individual and the community.
ORGANIC PERSPECTIVE- An organic perspective of community refers to local or grassroots groups
within a particular locale that are driven and organized because of community issues and concerns. They
are referred to as "grassroots" because of their local and capacity-building characteristics
CIVIL SOCIETY PERSPECTIVE
• People's organizations: Groups of citizens in a neighborhood tackling local problems.
• Civic organizations: Groups focused on broader issues like environmental protection or
human rights.
• Social movements: Large-scale efforts to bring about social change, like protests for equality.
INSTITUTIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Social institutions arise from voluntary shared agreements among individuals that generally
also shape their behavior as a collective.
Institutions are established rules that ensure the regular and predictable behavior of actors
within a community.
Formal institutions are explicitly communicated, embodied in legally codified
documents or artifacts.
Informal institutions, on the other hand, are practices, norms, traditions, culture,
conduct, and belief systems of a community.
FUNCTION OF COMMUNITY
Leader- the person who has the responsibility of controlling or taking charge of a particular group
Leadership-the process and qualities of command and decisiveness regarding the necessary actions that
ensure the welfare of the community
Influencer- the person with the most influence, who can lead others to achieve a goal or accomplish a
certain task
Social change- the changes that occur in the social order of a society. These are related to nature, social
institutions, social behavior or social relations, cultural, religious, economics, scientific or technology
Formal Leaders: Elected or appointed officials (President, Mayor, Governor, etc.) Authority derived from
formal positions and legal frameworks.
Informal Leaders: Influencers within the community. Gain respect and authority through personal
qualities
Formal Power Structure
• Legally defined roles and responsibilities.
• Hierarchical structure with clear lines of authority.
• Legal authoritative decision-makers are individuals or bodies whose authority is based on
formal rules and institutions.
Informal Power Structure
• Influence is derived from respect, trust, and personal relationships.
• Networks of influence that may extend beyond formal boundaries.
• Play a crucial role in community mobilization and social change.
Individual Dimensions of Community
Interrelationship: Leaders’ direct relation through familial ties, kinship, and social networks.
Organization: Leaders as part of institutions with specific community purposes.

WEEK 4 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: TYPOLOGIES OF COMMUNITIES

1. Formal and Informal Communities

FORMAL INFORMAL
The group is created as per official The group is formed according to the likes,
authority, fulfill certain goals or objectives interests, and attitudes of the members
The group possesses a systematic The group has a loose structure, and the
hierarchical structure members join to satisfy their social needs
The position of the member defines his/her Every member is important as any other
importance in the group member
There is professional relationship among There is a personal relationship among
members members
The flow of communication is restricted The flow of communication stretches in all
due to the chain of command directions

Social Space is defined as a physical or virtual space which members of the

community
visit or where they stay. Some examples of social space include the social center,
online
social media, or other gathering spaces where people gather or interact.
Some social spaces are owned by the government, such as town squares, parks, and
beaches. These are spaces generally open and accessible to people. Private social
spaces, on the other hand, are owned and regulated regularly, such as shopping
malls. These social spaces may be used by community residents for their gatherings
or simple recreation activities.
2. Rural-Urban Communities
RURAL AREAS:
a. Population density is found to be low, meaning few people populate the entire
community, and they tend to live far apart from each other.
b. The area is situated geographically distant from larger urban areas.
c. Each area typically specializes in a particular form of livelihood, such as
farming.
URBAN AREAS:
a. There is higher population density, with more diverse subgroups (ethnic, racial
cultural, age, sexual orientation)
b. Various industries and businesses are found in the areas.
c. A large portion of people lived in rented apartments or homes.
d. Transportation is readily available although this may be costly
e. Urban areas are highly developed with many buildings and structures
f. Traffic and noise levels are high in these areas
g. The large population gives rise to close interactions among many people as well
as more intense political involvement among citizens.
Community sectors are various groups or subdivisions of the larger community
divided based on characteristics such as political, economic, cultural, and religious
beliefs. The various sectors that exist in all communities may be categorized
according to the following sectors with their inclusions:
1. Health -medical and mental health professionals; pharmacists and pharmacies;
hospitals and other in-patient facilities, clinics, non-traditional health practitioners;
public health agencies and systems
2. Education - public and private preschools, K-12 schools, colleges and universities,
school committees, school administrators, teachers, other educational institution
employees; parents, students, state board of education; adult basic education (ABE)
and English as Second or Other Language (ESOL) programs
3. Law Enforcement -the local and state police, the court system- judges, probation
officers, prosecutors, court appointed defense lawyers, court-mandated program for
offenders.
4. Government - regional, provincial, state, local, and tribal government
bureaucracies, agencies, and officials, both elected and appointed.
5. Business - from the self-employed carpenter to the multinational corporation with
a local facility.
6. Youth - youth themselves (generally viewed as ages 18 and younger) and those
who work directly with them (youth violence prevention and outreach programs, Big
Brother/Big Sister, Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs, scouting, etc.) parents, human service,
culture, and sports/recreation sectors.
7. Religion - places of worship and their members, religious organizations (e.g.
Knights of Columbus, CBCP) of all faiths, may include the hierarchy of a national
church as well (a Roman Catholic archbishop, for instance)
8. Service/Fraternal Organization - the Lions, Masons, Rotary, Kiwanis, and other
local and national or international service organizations, college fraternities/sororities
or other local and national social clubs, as well veterans’ organizations and the like.
9. Community Activist Volunteer Groups - individuals for or against political issue,
supportive of existing institutions (“Friends of” the local park, a school playground
volunteer corps), oriented toward economics (groups that volunteer to help non-profit
and small business owners with financial and business plans), or more generally
concerned with the quality of community life (e.g. organizers of community festivals)
10. Agriculture
- confined to rural areas, may also include dairy farmers, cheesemakers, winemakers
and vineyards, and food processors and packers, including all consumers of the food
produced.

3. Local and Global Communities

A local community is defined by close social integration, physical proximity, and
shared environments. It consists of individuals who share beliefs, resources,
preferences, needs, and risks, which influence both personal identities and community
cohesiveness. Members may include residents, business operators, and public agency
staff, who interact through resource sharing, information exchange, mutual
assistance, and commercial relationships between businesses and consumers.
The global community is characterized by integration and interaction among
individuals and groups across time and space, connected by modern
telecommunications while remaining economically, socially, and politically
independent. Local and global communities often overlap, with local initiatives—such
as businesses, programs, or events—sometimes expanding to achieve global
presence, as exemplified by Jollibee. Successful local programs, such as outreach
activities and disaster response efforts, can also gain traction and impact the global
community.
WEEK 5 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: COMMUNITY ACTION
Stakeholder. It refers to an individual or organization who shares the same
interest in the fulfillment and success of a project in each community.
Civic Obligation. The responsibility of a citizen is comprised of actions which
include participation in government, non-government organizations, and
community activities.
Psychosocial Program. It helps individuals and communities heal the
psychological wounds and rebuild social structures after an emergency or a
critical event.
Community action involves collective efforts to address social problems and
promote social well-being. It includes activities that enhance community
understanding, engagement, and empowerment in service delivery. For example,
tree planting promotes environmental awareness and helps prevent natural
disasters like floods. Such initiatives foster collaboration, allowing community
members to share their knowledge, skills, and ideas to solve problems and
strengthen the community.
Community engagement involves building partnerships and relationships with
groups to address issues affecting well-being and work for the common good. It
thrives on the enthusiasm and active participation of all members, as seen in
initiatives like sports projects involving young individuals, schools, and
institutions. The involvement of diverse stakeholders strengthens collaborations,
and solidarity is key to achieving the goals of community projects and sustaining
their impact.
The goals of community engagement are:
1) To build trust;
2) To enlist new resources and allies;
3) To create better communication, and
4) To improve overall health outcomes as successful projects, evolve into lasting
collaborations.

Solidarity is the unity and mutual support among individuals with a common
interest. In the video, disaster victims faced socio-economic and psychological
challenges, prompting responses from the government, private sectors, and civil
society organizations. Solidarity enables these efforts, uniting community
members to participate in initiatives like sports as an intervention for disaster
victims. Additionally, community action is driven by citizenship, as individuals
engage in activities out of a sense of duty and responsibility to their community.
Citizenship is defined as legal status defined by civil, political and social rights.
This means that a person is free to act according to the law and has the right to
claim the law’s protection. In the context of the Philippines, we have given our
own individual rights and privileges with a much stronger sense of individual,
collective and communitarian duties and obligations. We have our civic
obligations as Filipino citizen to be responsible with our kapwa Pilipino. Being a
citizen requires us to have moral obligations with our community to build a
peaceful and humane society.
Volunteerism is a basic expression of human relationships. It is about people’s
need to participate in their societies and to feel that they matter to others.
Volunteers have come to the forefront in helping with natural disasters,
advancing human rights, and touching lives to eliminate poverty and
improve basic health and education.