Community Organization

 Topical Outline:
 A. Definition of terms: Community ,
Organization, Community Organization,
Process, Method
 B. Historical Development of CO
 C. Elements of CO
 D. Goals and Objectives of CO
 E. Values and Guiding Principles
 F. Knowledge in CO
 G. Skills in CO
 H. Roles of CO worker
 I. STEPS in CO
 J. Core Phases in CO
 A. Definition of terms
Community – “ a group of people gathered
together in a geographic area, large or small, who
have common interests, actual or potentially
recognized in the social welfare field” (Arlene
Johnson)
 Organization – the orderly arrangement of group

effort to provide unity of action in the pursuit of

common purpose
 Method – the use of scientific procedures,
strategies and techniques to effectively address
problems and issues
 Process – means developing a partnership with
the community (ITN Phils:1); facilitates
participatory development in which stakeholders
can influence and share control over development
initiatives, and over the decisions and resources
that affect themselves (ADB, 1994:2).
 Community Organization defined:
“as a process of identifying problems and
needs, prioritizing them, formulating
solutions in solving problems/attaining
needs and implementing them through
cooperative and collaborative efforts
which results to improved capacity in
community problem-solving process and
community integration” (Murray Ross)
 Community Organization as defined:
“as a process of matching needs with
resources and as a conscious process of
social interaction concerned with three
types of objectives which are:
 1) task goals

 2) process goals

 3) relationship goals

(Arthur Dunham)
 Community Organization as defined:

 “as a process of finding solutions to social

problems by redistributing resources,
functions and decision-making power.”

(Perlman and Gurin)

 Community Organization defined “as a
method that uses the conscious process of
social interaction of meeting any or all of
the following objectives:
1) Meeting of broad needs and bringing
about and maintaining adjustment between
needs and resources in a community;
CO defined:
2) Helping people to deal more effectively
with their problems, needs and
aspirations by helping them develop,
strengthen and maintain qualities of
participation, self-direction, cooperation ,
and integration of efforts.
 CO defined:
3) Bringing about changes in community
and group relationship, in policies, and
in the distribution of decision-making
power.

(combined definition of several experts)

 What is
Community Organizing (CO)?
CO is the process by which the community identifies its
needs, problems and issues confronting them, sets
objectives and develops the confidence and will to work
with these problems, needs and issues,
finds the resources (internal
and/or external) and takes
Action collectively.
CO definition...
 It deals with problem-solving in response to
problems and needs.
 It seeks social change for the greater good.
 Involves the process of social interaction.
 It involves people’s participation in planning and
implementation
of plans.
 B. Elements of Community Organization

Education and
Training

Participatory
Development
Formation
Of People’s Mobilization of
Organization Resources
 C. 3 Elements of CO

1> Education and Training:

refers to various forms of

educational activities meant to
conscientize and develop people’s
critical awareness of their
existing conditions.
C. 3 Elements of CO

2. > Formation of People’s Organization

creation of functional structures that will
serve as venue for people to express their
power. Management of these organizations is
based on the principle of shared leadership
and those elected in the positions have been
carefully selected and agreed upon by the
majority.
 3 Elements of CO

 2.> Mobilization of resources:

This refers to tapping and maximum

utilization of human and material
resources necessary to achieve self-
reliance of people and power.
B. Historical Development of CO in the
Philippines
> Pre- Colonial to Colonial Era
> 1950s-60s Reconstruction Period
> 1960s-70s First Development Decade
> 1970s-80s Second Development Decade/

Participatory Development
> 1980s-90s Socio-Economic Work
> 1990s Sustainable Development and
Gender Development
 First organizations: tribes (Negrito,
Indones and Malay) and the
existence of balangay.
 Damayan and bayanihan were an

expression of mutual aid among their

clan and barangay. This helped to
foster cooperation and unity among
them.
Pre-Colonial Era to Colonial Era

 Organized peasants from various

provinces in the country launched not
less than 200 peasant revolts against
feudalism and Spanish colonialism.
 Anti-colonialism organizations: La Liga
Filipina, KKK and HUKBALAHAP
 Community organizing was employed to
make adjustments between meeting
resources and need. Programs then were
relief distribution, self-help projects,
relocations and resettlements.
 Community development had its birth
through the initiative of the Social Welfare
Administration (SWA) with efforts focused
on social amelioration in the rural areas by
providing health care, education,
infrastructure and finance for the peasants.
 1950s – 1060s
Reconstruction Period

 The President’s Action Committee on

Social Amelioration (PACSA) was organized
to direct the government’s thrust on
rehabilitating and reconstructing
communities.
 During this period, the poverty situation worsen,
the oil price increased and the foreign debt
destabilized the economic and political condition
of the country.
 CO undertaken by various NGOs serves as venue
to express grievances to the government.
 However, the government’s organizing work
introduced a more organized social services to
promote order and minimize rallies and
demonstrations employed by sectoral based
organizations.
 Marked the institutionalization of CO as an
effective strategy in development work.
 Philippine Ecumenical Center for Community
Organizing (PECCO), a church-based org whose
main concern is to develop local organizers from
the urban poor.
 ZOTO, first PO formed since the
institutionalization of CO. Stopping the
construction of International Port in Tondo.
 People’s participation was given recognition.
 CO was influenced by Paolo Freire’s Liberative
Education.
 The peak of NGO work in the Philippines.
 CO adopted the two-pronged approach:
strengthening of people’s organization to gain
more power, and implementation of socio-
economic activities to support immediate
needs.
 Issue-based organizing also had its peak,
emerging from issues experienced by various
sectors such as the women, children, IPs, etc.
 Sustainable development framework: due to
alarming depletion of vital resources and
degradation of the environment, development
institutions strategized proper utilization and
conservation of resources to achieve goals of
SD.
 Community practice centered on sectoral
issues, the 90’s also marked the advent of
women’s movement due to the surfacing of
various women’s issues such gender
inequality, domestic violence, prostitution, etc.
 D. Goals of CO:
 Arthur Dunham had identified the
following goals of community
organization:
1) task goals
2) process goals
3) Relationship goals
 D. Goals of CO:
1) Task goals – concrete tasks to be undertaken to
meet specific needs and people’s aspirations, to
to solve particular problems
2) Process goals – helping people in a community
or group strengthen their quality of participation,
self direction and cooperation.
3) Relationship goals - changing patterns of
relationships and decision making process in a
community by diffusing power to a wider base.
(participative leadership rather than
authoritarian)
 Objectives of CO:
1) To continuously raise people’s awareness about
their poverty situation (and its effects) in order
to effect change;
2) To form structures or mechanisms that uphold
basic rights and interests;
3) To help people develop awareness of their
potentials and harness their human and
material resources to pursue programs and
projects meant to improve their quality of life;
4) To initiate actions (e.g. advocacy work and
social action) that will bring about changes in
community and group relationships esp. in the
distribution of decision-making power.
 E. Values in Organizing Work

1) Respect for Human Rights

2) Social Responsibility
3) Social Justice
 Guiding Principles in CO
1) Trust in the people.
2) Critical and active participation is crucial
to people’s empowerment.
3) The responsibility to direct change lies in
the people.
4) Seeing things not through our lens.
5) Avoid raising expectations and false
hopes.
 Guiding Principles in CO
6) Community organizing is not an end in itself, rather a
means to achieve a just, humane and democratic
society.
7) Organizing work is biased for the poor.
8) God is at work in the lives of people.
9) Start where the people are, and with their needs,
resources and capabilities.
10) People’s participation should be geared
towards the promotion of the interest of the
greater majority.
 F. Knowledge Base In CO

 characteristics of the population or target group

 nature and functions of the community and its
constituent groups
 People’s behavior in relation to social systems
 present and potential contributions toward the
control, prevention, and alleviation of problems
and needs
 roles, strategies, techniques and approaches
F. Knowledge Base In CO

 8. research
 9. planning and policy formulation
 10. strategy design
 11. lobbying
 12. recording
 13. social education & action
 14. coordination (Agrinelda Miclat)
 G. Skills in CO

 1. working with people/one on one and

small groups
 2. organizing
 3. verbal and written communication
 4. committee work
 5. leadership
 6. administration
 7.interviewing
 H. Roles of CO worker:
 1. enabler
 2. helper
 3. guide
 4. initiator
 5. broker
 6. advocate
 7. consultant
 H. Roles of CO worker:
 8. intervenor
 9. planner
 10. researcher
 STEPS in
Community
Organizing
 STEPS in Community
Organizing:
1) Pagsulod dinha sa komunidad (Entry to the
community)
2) Mopuyo ug makighiusa sa katawhan diha sa
komunidad (Community Integration)
3) Katilingbanong Pakisusi (Social Analysis)
4) Pag-ila sa adunay kakayahan nga mangulo ug
pagpanday kanila (spotting and development
of potential leaders)
5) Pagporma ug grupo nga maoy magpasiugda sa
pag-organisa sa
komunidad (core-group formation)

6) Pagpalapad sa mga sakop (recruitment of

members)
7) Pagtukod sa organisasyon (setting up the
organization)
8) Pagpalig-on sa organisasyon (strengthening the
organization)
9) Pakighiusa ug pakig-alayon sa uban pang mga
organisasyon para sa kalamboan ( working with
other organizations for development)
STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

1. Pagsulod dinha sa komunidad

(Entry into the community)
 STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

2. Mopuyo ug makighiusa sa katawhan diha sa

komunidad (Community Integration)
STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

3. Katilingbanong Pakisusi (Social Analysis)

  STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

4. Pag-ila sa adunay kakayahang mangulo ug pagpanday kanila

(spotting and development of potential commty. Leaders)
 STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

5. Pagporma ug grupo nga maoy

magpasiugda sa pag-organisa sa
komunidad (core-group formation)
STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
6. Pagpalapad sa mga sakop (recruitment of
members)
 STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

7. Pagtukod sa organisasyon (setting up the

organization
STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

8. pagpalig-on sa organisasyon (strengthening the

organization)
STEPS IN COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

9. Pakighiusa ug pakig-alayon sa uban pang mga

organisasyon para sa kalamboan ( working with other
organizations for development)
Community Organization Method and Practice

 CORE PHASES in
Community Organizing
CORE PHASES in Community Organizing

 Social Preparation

 Institutional preparation
 Area selection
 Community Entry
 Community integration
 Social investigation
CORE PHASES in Community Organizing

 Leadership Development &

Capability Building

 Spotting of potential leaders

 Core group building
 Capacity building of core group
CORE PHASES in Community Organizing

 Organizational Development &

Management

 Setting up of the organization

 Committee formation
 Election of officers
 Establishment of organizational systems,
mechanisms & structures
 Formulation of Constitution & by-laws
 Direction setting
CORE PHASES in Community Organizing

 Consolidation & Expansion/ Phase out

 Strengthening organizational mechanisms
 Education & training
 Committee work & project development
 Resource mobilization
 Networking & advocacy
 Setting up of phase-out mechanisms &
structures
 CO Process: Four Interrelated Phases
 Institutional preparation
Social  Area selection
Preparation  Community Entry
 Community integration
 Social investigation
Leadership
Development &  Spotting of potential leaders
Capability  Core group building
Building  Capacity building of core group
 Setting up of the organization
Organizational  Committee formation
Development &  Election of officers
Management  Establishment of organizational systems,
mechanisms & structures
 Formulation of Constitution & by-laws
 Direction setting
Consolidation &
Expansion/  Strengthening organizational mechanisms
Phase out  Education & training
 Committee work & project development
 Resource mobilization
Inherent processes:
 Networking & advocacy
Documentation, Monitoring &
 Setting up of phase-out mechanisms &
Evaluation
structures
Prof. Desiree A. Fria , RSW, MSW
Resource Speaker