COPAR

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PARTICIPATION

ACTION RESEARCH
GROUP 3
Alupani, Alisabelle
Antonio, Scharlize Nicole P.
Aquino, Jared Rod
Baniaga, Rhabiah Aina
Bunagan, Britney
Ferrer, Nicole
Hernandez, Zyla Mariella
Komowang, Daryl
Lustina, Aleja Jean
Mendoza, Janel
Narvaza, Judy Mae
Tailan, Donna Mae
 COPAR
Community Organizing Participation Action Research
Definitions:
• COPAR is a collective, participatory, transformative, liberative, sustained and
systematic process of building people's organizations by mobilizing and enhancing the
capabilities and resources of the people for the resolution of their issues and concerns
towards effective change in their existing oppressive and exploitative conditions (1994
National Rural CO Conference).
• A process by which a community identifies its needs and objectives, develops
confidence to take action in respect to them and in doing so, extends and develops
cooperative and collaborative attitudes and practices in the community.
 COPAR
Community Organizing Participation Action Research
• A continuous and sustained process of educating the people to
understand and develop their critical awareness of their existing
conditions, working with the people collectively and efficiently on
their immediate needs toward solving their long-term problems
PRINCIPLES OF
1. People, especially he most OPPRESSED, EXPLOITED, AND

COPAR
DEPRIVED ( women sectors, children, handicapped, elderly, youth ) open
to change, have the capacity to change, and are able to bring about change.

2. COPAR should be based on the interest of the POOREST SECTORS of

society.

3. COPAR should LEAD TO SELF-RELIANT COMMUNITY AND

SOCIETY.
IMPORTANCE OF COPAR
1. Tool for community development and people empowerment.

2. Prepares peoples for the management of a developmental programs

in the future.

3. Maximize community participation and involvement;

4. and community resources are mobilized for community services.

METHOD USED IN
A PROGRESSIVE CYCLE OF ACTION-REFLECTION-ACTION

COPAR
Which begin with small, local, and concrete issues identified by the
people and the evaluation and reflection of and on the action taken by
them.

CONSCIOUSNESS-RAISING
Through experiential learning is central to the COPAR process because it
places emphasis on learning that emerges from concrete action and
encircles succeeding action.
METHOD USED IN
COPAR IS PARTICIPATORY AND MASS-BASED
COPAR
Because it is primarily directed towards and based in favour of the
poor, the powerless, and the oppressed.

COPAR IS GROUP-CENTERED
And not leader-centered. Leaders are identified, emerge, and are
tested through action rather than appointed or selected by some
external force or entity.
 FUNCTIONS OF THE
NURSE AS COMMUNITY
1. Coordinates with the community and organizes barangay units for health clusters.
2. Coordinates with other health staff members in planning and implementing projects

ORGANIZER
at the community level.
3. Trains community researchers and community leaders regarding the conduct of
participatory action research .
4. Ensures conducts of all identifies activities
5. Evaluates program implementation
CRITICAL STEPS/ACTIVITIES IN
1. Integration
COPAR
the health care worker becomes one with the people in order to:

a) Immerse himself/herself in the community

b) Understand deeply the culture, economy, leaders, history, rhythms

and lifestyle in the community.
CRITICAL STEPS/ACTIVITIES IN
1. Methods of integration include:
COPAR
• Participation in direct production activities of the people
• Conduct of house-to-house visits
• Participation in activities like birthdays, fiestas, wakes, etc.
• Conversing with the people where they usually gather such as in
stores, water wells, washing streams, or in church yards
• Helping in household chores like cooking, washing dishes, etc.
 CRITICAL STEPS/ACTIVITIES IN
2. Social Investigation

COPAR
Otherwise known as community study - systematic process of collecting, collating,
analyzing data to draw a clear picture of the community - the health worker must remember
the following during social investigation:
• Use of survey questionnaires is discouraged
• Community leaders can be trained to initially assist the community worker in doing the
social investigation
• Secondary data should be thoroughly examined because much of the information might
already be available
• Social investigation is facilitated if the health worker is properly integrated and has
required the trust of the people
• Confirmation and validation of community should be done regularly
 CRITICAL STEPS/ACTIVITIES IN
3. Tentative Program Planning
COPAR
• CO to choose one issue issue in order to begin organizing the people
4. Groundwork
• Going around and motivating the people on a one-on-one basis to do
something on the issue that has been chosen
5. Meeting
• People collectively ratify what they have already decided in individual
individually. The meeting gives the people the collective power and
confidence. Problems and issues are discussed.
 CRITICAL STEPS/ACTIVITIES IN
6. Role Play
COPAR
• Means acting out the meeting that will take place between the leaders of the
people and the government representatives. It is a way of training the people to
anticipate what will happen and prepare them for such eventuality.
7. Mobilization or Action
• Actual experience of the people in confronting the powerful and actual
exercise of the people power.
8. Evaluation
• The people reviewing the steps 1-7 to determine whether they were
successfully or not in their objectives.
 CRITICAL STEPS/ACTIVITIES IN
9. Reflection
COPAR
• Dealing with deeper ongoing concerns to look at the positive values CO is
trying to build in the organization. It gives the people time to reflect on the
start reality of life compared to the ideal.
10. Organization
• The people’s organization is the result of many successive and similar actions
of the people. A final organizational structure is set up with elected officers
and supporting members.
COPAR PHASES AND ITS
1)Pre-Entry Phase

ACTIVITIES
Purpose: Identify the community and prepare for engagement.
Activities:
• Selection of the community based on criteria such as health needs, accessibility, and
willingness to participate.
• Preliminary research to gather initial data about the community.
• Initial contact and informal visits to observe community life and conditions.
• Identifying key persons, informal leaders, and influencers within the community.
• Understanding the community’s culture, dynamics, and potential issues.
• Building rapport with community leaders and gaining initial trust.
COPAR PHASES AND ITS
2. Entry Phase

ACTIVITIES
Purpose: Establish formal relations and gain the community’s acceptance.

Activities:
• Formal introduction of the COPAR program to the community.
• Gaining the community’s approval and support for the program.
• Conducting meetings with local leaders and influential members.
• Immersion of the organizing team in the community to better understand local
culture and daily life.
• Establishing mutual trust and respect between the community and the organizing
team.
COPAR PHASES AND ITS
3. Community Study/Diagnosis Phase

ACTIVITIES
Purpose: Assess the community’s health needs, resources, and problems.

Activities:
• Conducting a participatory community assessment with members’ input.
• Gathering data through surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and direct
observation.
• Identifying and analyzing the community’s problems and their causes.
• Assessing available resources, including local skills, knowledge, and existing
infrastructure.
• Prioritizing the identified problems that need immediate attention.
COPAR PHASES AND ITS
4. Community Organization and Capability Building Phase

ACTIVITIES
Purpose: Organize the community and enhance their skills for collective action.
Activities:
• Identifying and developing potential leaders from the community.
• Organizing community members into functional groups or associations.
• Conducting leadership training, team-building activities, and skills enhancement
workshops.
• Defining the structure, roles, and responsibilities within the community organization.
• Mobilizing the community to take part in collective decision-making and planning.
COPAR PHASES AND ITS
5. Community Action Phase

ACTIVITIES
Purpose: Implement community-led interventions to address identified problems.
Activities:
• Conducting participatory planning sessions to design community action plans.
• Mobilizing community resources and members for project implementation.
• Implementing community health programs and projects (e.g., health campaigns,
sanitation projects, livelihood programs).
• Coordinating with external agencies for technical and financial support.
• Monitoring and supervising the implementation of action plans.
COPAR PHASES AND ITS
6. Sustenance and Strengthening Phase

ACTIVITIES
Purpose: Ensure the sustainability of community programs.
Activities:
• Strengthening the organization’s capacity to manage programs independently.
• Institutionalizing programs by integrating them into local government units or
community structures.
• Ensuring that community leaders are capable of running programs without external
assistance.
• Facilitating linkages with other organizations and agencies for ongoing support and
resource mobilization.
• Conducting follow-up training and mentorship to improve the skills of community
leaders.
COPAR PHASES AND ITS
7. Phase-Out Phase

ACTIVITIES
Purpose: Gradually withdraw external support, leaving the community self-reliant.
Activities:
• Preparing the community for independence by transitioning responsibilities fully to
local leaders.
• Ensuring the community has established linkages with government bodies, NGOs, or
other institutions for continued support.
• Gradual withdrawal of external organizers and technical support.
• Conducting a final evaluation to assess community readiness and program
sustainability.
• Handing over program control to the community leaders and local government.
THANK YOU