Community Organizing

COMMUNITY
ORGANIZING
and COPAR
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING
Community organizing
• is a process consists of steps or activities that instill and
reinforce the people’s self confidence on their own
collective strength and capabilities (Manalili, 1990).
• Is a process of educating and mobilizing members of the
community to enable them to resolve community
problems.
Emphasis of community organizing in PHC:
 People from the community working together to solve their
own problems.
 Internal organizational consolidation as a prerequisite to
external expansion.
Social movement first before technical change
 Health reforms occurring within the context of broader social

transformation.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT – the end goal
of Community Organizing
Basic values in community organizing

• Human rights – the right to life, self – determination and
development as persons and as a people.
• Social justice – means equitable access to opportunities for
satisfying people’s basic needs and dignity; requires
equitable distribution of resources and power
• Social responsibility – society has the responsibility to
ensure an environment for the fullest development of its
members.
Core Principles
 Community organizing is people-centered
 People are the means and ends of development, and
community empowerment is the process and outcome.
 Developing people thru education.
Core Principles
 Community organizing is participative
 The participation of the community in the entire process
should be ensured.
 The community is considered as the prime mover and
determinant.
 It is evident in the involvement of people in community
activities.
Core Principles
 Community organizing is democratic
 Community organizing should empower the
disadvantaged population.
 The decisions must reflect the will of the common
people rather than the leaders and the elite.
Core Principles
 Community organizing is developmental
 Community organizing should be directed towards
changing current undesirable conditions.
 Affords empowerment of the marginalized people.
 Beyond economic or health improvement, community

organizing seeks authentic human development.
Core Principles
 Community organizing is process-oriented
 Community organizing goals of empowerment and
development are achieved through a process of change.
 Community organizing is dynamic. With the evolving
community situation, monitoring and periodic review of
plans are necessary.
Phases of Community Organizing

I. Preparatory phase
• Area selection
• Community profiling
• Entry in the community and integration with people
II. Organizational phase
• Social preparation
• Spotting and developing potential leaders
• Core group formation
• Setting up community organization
Phases of Community Organizing
III. Education and training phase

• Conduct of community diagnosis
• Training of community health workers
• Health services provision and mobilization
• Leadership formation activities
IV. Intersectoral collaboration phase

• Networking
• Advocacy work
V. Phase out
COMMUNITY ORGANIZING PARTICIPATORY
ACTION RESEARCH (COPAR)
Definitions of COPAR
• 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 (Ross
1967).
Definitions of COPAR
• Is a community development approach that allows the
community (participatory) to systematically analyze the
situation (research), plan a solution, and implement projects
or programs (action) utilizing the process of community
organizing.
Importance of COPAR
C ommunity participation and involvement are maximized.
O ffers alternative solutions to health problems.
P repares the people to take over the management of

development programs in the future.
A n important tool for community development and people

empowerment.
R esources are mobilized for community services.

Principles of COPAR
are open to change

1 PEOPLE have the capacity to change
possess the ability to bring about change
2
should be based on the interests of the
poorest sectors of society
COPAR 3
Should lead to the development of self-
reliant community and society
Functions of a nurse a community organizer

• Coordinates with the community and organizes barangay
units
• Coordinates with other health staff members
• Trains community researchers and leaders
• Ensures conduct of all identified activities
• Evaluates program implementation

Methods used
• Action – Reflection – Action Sessions (ARAS)
 Begins with small, local, concrete issues identified by the people and the
evaluation and the reflection on the action taken.
• Consciousness – raising
 Put emphasis on learning that emerges from concrete action which enriches
succeeding actions
• Participatory and mass-based method

 Directed towards and biased in favor of the poor, the powerless and oppressed
• Group- centered
 Leaders are identified and tested through action rather than appointed or
selected
Critical Activities in COPAR
1. Community integration
2. Social investigation
3. Tentative Program planning
4. Groundwork
5. Meetings
6. Role play
7. Mobilization or action
8. Evaluation
9. Reflection
10. Organization

1. Community Integration (Pakikipamuhay)
• The process where the organizer may actually live in the community
in an effort to understand the community better and imbibe
community life.
• Integration Styles (Manalili, 1990)
A)Now you see, now you don’t style

• The organizer visits the community as per schedule but is not able to transcend the
“guest” status.
B)Border style
• The organizer rents a room or house in the village, lives his/her own life and does not
share the life of community.
C)Elitist style
• The organizer lives with the barangay chairman, or some other prominent person in the
community
D) Pagbabahay – bahay or occasional home visits

• This technique requires the organizer to
observe the daily schedule of activities of
households to avoid inconvenience.
E) Huntahan or informal conversations

• Can be done in a variety of venues (e.g. village
poso)
Critical Activities
F) Participation in the production process

• The organizer participates in livelihood activities.
• Purpose: to gain firsthand information and share the daily

experiences of the ordinary people in the community
Critical Activities
G) Participation in social activities

• Social functions and activities help the organizer and the people to
get to know each other through face to face encounters.
• E.g. weddings, funerals

1. Community Integration
Guidelines:
• Recognize the role and position of local authorities
• Adapt a lifestyle in keeping with that of the community.
• Choose a modest dwelling which the people will not hesitate to
enter.
• Avoid raising expectations of the people; be clear with your
objectives and limitations.
• Participate directly in economic production.
• Make house calls and seek out people where they usually gather.
• Paricipate in some social activities.
2. Social Investigation/ Social analysis

• Is the process of gathering, collating, and analyzing data to gain extensive
understanding of community conditions, help in the identification of
problems of the community, and determine the root causes of problems.
3. Tentative program planning

• The community organizer should choose one issue to work on to begin with.
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. Meetings
• People collectively ratify what they have already decided individually. The
meeting gives the people collective power and confidence.
6. Role play
• Acting out the meeting that will take place between the leaders of the people
and the government representatives.
7. Mobilization or action
• Actual experience of the people in confronting the powerful and the actual
exercise of people power.
Phases of COPAR
I. PRE – ENTRY PHASE

II. ENTRY PHASE
III. ORGANIZATION BUILDING PHASE
IV. SUSTENANCE AND STRENGTHENING PHASE
Phases of COPAR
• The initial phase of the organizing process in which the community organizer looks for
communities to serve/help.
A. Site Selection (PAWIS)

• Peace and order situation; poor health status
• Area is free of similar programs to avoid duplication of services and
unnecessary competition
• With no strong resistance from the community
• Inaccessible or inadequate health services
• Site must be a depressed rural community
Phases of COPAR

B. Conduct of Preliminary Social Investigations
• aims to gather information about the different areas to determine
the site that best conforms to the criteria set.
C. Identification of Potential barangays

• Conduct informal interviews with community residents
Phases of COPAR
II. ENTRY PHASE
• Sometimes called the social preparation phase
• Activities include sensitization of the people, motivating

them to share their dreams and ideas, and mobilizing the
people to take collective action.
Phases of COPAR
II. ENTRY PHASE

Guidelines for entry to the community:
• Recognize the role of local authorities (pay visit)
• Adopt a low key profile
• Be a role model
II. ENTRY PHASE
A. Integration with the community
B. Conduct of Information Campaign about HRDP
C. Conduct of Deepening Social Investigation

• Also known as community study; the process of gathering, collating,
and analyzing data to draw a clear picture of the community.
II. ENTRY PHASE
D. Identification of potential leaders
• Potential leaders are considered the future community organizers and
possible partners in the delivery of health services to the community.
• Characteristics of potential leaders:
 Must belong to the poor sector in the community.
 Must be respected member of the community
 Must be responsive and willing to work for change
 Must have initial leadership and management skills

 Must possess good communication skills
II. ENTRY PHASE
E. Core group formation
Core Group Formation Phase – potential leaders are formed into core group, a
transition phase towards CHO formation.
Core Group – a group of 8-10 individuals/community residents who possess

leadership potentials formed into a cohesive working unit.
 Training – purpose is to develop or hone the leader’s skills, knowledge,

and attitude
 Education – aims to heighten their awareness on the prevailing
community situation
Core Group
SAMAHANG
PANGKALUSUGAN
CORE CORE
GROUP 1 GROUP 3
Kababaihan Kalalakihan
CORE
GROUP 2
Youth
II. ENTRY PHASE
Functions of the Core Group and its Members
• Social preparation of the community for health and development work
• Organization of a community research team for the conduct of community
diagnosis
• Setting up the community health organization (CHO)and the facilitation of
the identification of potential CHWs
• Sensitization and mobilization of the community
• Participation in the delivery of essential health services
II. ENTRY PHASE
F. Provision of Health Services
Purposes:
1. To respond to the acute health problems
2. To provide immediate interventions
3. To put emphasis on the preventive aspects of care
4. To draw out people’s interest in the health programs
5. Enhance the integration of the organizer in the community

III. ORGANIZATION - BUILDING PHASE

• This phase entails the formation of more formal
structures and the inclusion of more formal procedures
for planning, implementing, and evaluating community
– wide activities.
• Community Health Organization (CHO) – coordinating

body for all health and community development activities.

Activities During Organization Building
 Preparing the community for organization building

 Done through groundworking
 Organizing the CHO
 Training and education for the CHO
 Setting up of the CHO

 Involves the preparation of legal and technical requirements

 Setting up of the CHO
A. Preparing legal requirements

1) Constitution and by laws
2) Guidelines for the election of officers
B. Preparing technical requirements

1) Health committee
2) Education and training committee

Participatory Research
• As an approach in community diagnosis means
actively involving the community in the planning,
implementation, and evaluation of the community
diagnosis.
• It was first introduced in the mid – 1990s.
Comparison of traditional research approach vs. COPAR
Points of comparison Traditional research approach COPAR
Top – down Bottom – up
Decision making Expert/nurse driven process Community-driven process
Emphasis Much premium is placed on the Premium is placed on the
data and output process
Nurse as researchers Community members as
Community members are researchers
Roles respondents of the research Nurse is a facilitator and
Data analysis is done by the recorder
nurse and presented to the Data analysis is done
community collectively by the
community
Comparison of traditional research approach vs. COPAR
Points of comparison Traditional research approach COPAR
Research tools and Research tools and
Methodology methodologies are methodologies are identified
predetermined/prepacked by and developed by the
the nurse organizer community
Upon completion, the study is Conclusions and
Output submitted to the agency and recommendations are made
published. by the community.
Recommendations are made Community members
by the researcher based on the formulate the
findings of the study. recommendations.
The whole research continues
until it becomes part of
community life, leading
towards community
development.
IV. SUSTENANCE AND STRENGTHENING PHASE

• Occurs when the community organization has already been
established and the community members already actively
participating in community wide undertakings.
Strategies
• Education and training
• Networking and linkages
• Community mobilization on health and development concerns
• Development of secondline leaders

• 1. Pre- entry phase
It involves the selection of the target community. It should at least
include 50 families and criteria are utilized to determine their need for
community organizing. Some preliminary investigation is conducted
through the use of secondary records and ocular inspection is done prior
to emersion. The nurse should first coordinate with the local government
unit during this phase.
• 2. Entry phase
It involves the integration process and the acquisition of relevant
information necessary for the conceptualization of the community
diagnosis. It is also during this phase that potential leaders are identified.
• 3. Formation phase
It is the phase when a core group is created – which then be trained to
develop their capabilities in leading their community.
• 4. Organization- building phase
This phase is the most crucial stage since it is during this time that the
people are mobilized through the creation of the community health
organization.
• 5. Sustenance and strengthening phase
It is the end portion of COPAR but the most important phase. It is during
this phase by which the community and its people are being developed to
be self- reliant.
Three Main Goals of Community Development
1. Enhancement of the people’s participation
2. Enhancement of the people’s capability
3. Enhancement of the people’s well - being

Basic Principles of Community Development Processes
S ustainable
Empowering
E fficient and effective
D emocratic and participative
L ocalized and equitably distributed benefits
I nter and intralinked
Non – threatening to the people’s culture
G ender sensitive

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COMMUNITY

 Health reforms occurring within the context of broader social

Basic values in community organizing

 Beyond economic or health improvement, community

Phases of Community Organizing

Phases of Community Organizing

III. Education and training phase

IV. Intersectoral collaboration phase

C ommunity participation and involvement are maximized.

O ffers alternative solutions to health problems.

P repares the people to take over the management of

A n important tool for community development and people

R esources are mobilized for community services.

are open to change

Functions of a nurse a community organizer

• Coordinates with other health staff members

• Trains community researchers and leaders

• Ensures conduct of all identified activities

• Evaluates program implementation

• Participatory and mass-based method

Critical Activities in COPAR

• Integration Styles (Manalili, 1990)

A)Now you see, now you don’t style

D) Pagbabahay – bahay or occasional home visits

E) Huntahan or informal conversations

• Integration Styles (Manalili, 1990)

F) Participation in the production process

• Purpose: to gain firsthand information and share the daily

G) Participation in social activities

• E.g. weddings, funerals

2. Social Investigation/ Social analysis

3. Tentative program planning

Critical Activities in COPAR

I. PRE – ENTRY PHASE

A. Site Selection (PAWIS)

I. PRE – ENTRY PHASE

C. Identification of Potential barangays

II. ENTRY PHASE

• Sometimes called the social preparation phase

• Activities include sensitization of the people, motivating

II. ENTRY PHASE

• Adopt a low key profile

B. Conduct of Information Campaign about HRDP

C. Conduct of Deepening Social Investigation

• Characteristics of potential leaders:

 Must belong to the poor sector in the community.

 Must be respected member of the community

 Must be responsive and willing to work for change

 Must have initial leadership and management skills

Core Group – a group of 8-10 individuals/community residents who possess

 Training – purpose is to develop or hone the leader’s skills, knowledge,

1. To respond to the acute health problems

2. To provide immediate interventions

3. To put emphasis on the preventive aspects of care

4. To draw out people’s interest in the health programs

5. Enhance the integration of the organizer in the community

III. ORGANIZATION - BUILDING PHASE

• Community Health Organization (CHO) – coordinating

III. ORGANIZATION - BUILDING PHASE