communication

1. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT,
SOLODARITY AND CITIZENSHIP
Kay G. Losabia
Lecturer

2. Course Outline
1. Human Rights
2. Social Justice
3. Empowerment and Advocacy
• Participatory Development
4. Social Equity and Gender Equality

3. C. Core Values and Principles of Community –
action Initiatives
Objectives:
1. Explain the core values of community action initiatives;
2. Promote awareness of human rights in communities among
learners;
3. Appraise the value of social equity and gender equality in
the context of participatory development;
4. Analyze the strategies of empowerment and advocacy
through community action; and
5. Development commitment and conviction to participatory
development for community well – being.

4. Activity 1
Know your Rights
The UN has a Universal Declaration on the rights of a Child. The following are
some of the key rights identified in this declaration. Identify whether as a
young person, you have experienced the if the given right is available to you.
The right to a name and
nationality
The right to one’s own culture The right to education
the right to health and nutrition The right to own language The right to know your rights
The right to shelter The right to play and recreation The right to privacy
The right to express your opinion The right to know and be
informed
The right to a clean environment
The right to join groups and
organizations
The right to religious belief The right to be protected from
abuse

5. Activity 2
Advocating for Human Rights
Observe the children and youth in your community. Among the rights
enumerated in the table., identify which right should be improved. Draw a
colorful poster and write a slogan to advocate for the improvement of that
right.
Poster and Slogan

6. Activity 3
Gender Sensitivity
Individually accomplish the following lists. Identify
• Experiences that are unique to your own sex;
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
• Compared to the opposite sex, what activities can you do better because of your sex?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
• Compared to the opposite sex, what activities can the other sex do better than your own?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
• What problems or issues do you experience because of your gender and sexual orientation?
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________

7. 1. Human Rights
“The rights inherent in all human beings whatever our
nationality, place or residence, sex, national or ethnic origin,
color, religion, language or any other status”
OHCHR
• Universal Declaration of Human Rights
• Philippine Constitution (Bill of Rights)
• Sustainable Development Goals (SGD’s)

8. 2. Social Justice
“ The humanization of laws and the equalization of social and
economic forces by the state so that justice may at least be
approximated” Jose P. Laurel
“ Social Justice promotes the equitable use of the rights for all
individuals” Senator Jose W. Diokno
System of law that seek to attain the following objectives:
• Respect our rights and freedom as individuals and as a people;
• Eliminate poverty as quickly as our resources and abilities would allow;
• First, provide everyone with their basic material needs; then, improve
their standard of living;
• Challenge institutions and structures to address inequalities

9. 3. Empowerment and Advocacy
Pillars of Community Engagement:
Information
Consultation
Involvement
Empowerment

10. Participatory Development
It is a process through which stakeholders influence and share control over
development initiatives – and over decisions and resources that affect
themselves.
Four forms of participatory development
Passive
participation
Participation is at the minimum; stakeholders are merely
informed about the plans and progress of projects.
Participation by
consultation
Stakeholders answer queries. The decision making power
remains in the hands of the external parties.
Participation by
collaboration
Stakeholders with predetermined goals participate during
the discussion, analysis and decision making stages.
Empowerment
participation
Stakeholders are equal copartners with external experts.
Control and ownership of the process are in the hands of
the primary stakeholders.

11. 3. Social Equity and Gender Equality
Standard set or parameters applied to boost the participation
of a particular class or a select number of individuals. Social Equity
“ The equal rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women
and men and girls and boys”
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women
• The objective of participatory development is the
engagement of marginalized in development projects for their
own benefit.

12. Advocacy and People Empowerment
“People Empowerment aims to ensure that people have the
right set of skills and opportunities they need to live better and
dignified lives” UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
Advocacy refers to enabling marginalized groups and promoting their
individual rights.
• It is a process of supporting people and communities via access to
information and services and advancing and promoting their rights in a
larger and more institutionalized sphere.
• In the Philippines, advocacy is often centered on action sphere headed by
NGO’s aimed at advancing people empowerment.
CHALLENGES TO ADVOCACY AND PEOPLE EMPOWERMENT

13. Expected Task:
People Empowerment and Advocacy
Identifying Strategies for Community Action.
• Based on the results of the interview you have conducted and the
community profile survey, list down issues (e.g. environment and health)
or sectors (e.g. children and women) that need action and improvement.
• Using the table, identify community engagement activities that have been
done to address them. Do you think these activities sufficiently addresses
the issues or adequately helps the sectors listed?

14. Reflection and Feedback
• Based on the discussions, do you think you are empowered as
an individual? Do you think your community in general is
empowered?
• Do you have better understanding of the experiences of the
opposite gender? Do you believe that gender equality is
important? Why?
• In your community are there enough actions or activities
undertaken to improve the situation of marginalized sectors
or to respond to various social issues?
• Make a commitment list of things or actions that you can and
want to contribute to the improvement of human rights,
social justice, gender equality and people empowerment in
your community.

15. “ Until the great mass of people are filled with
great sense of responsibility for each others
rights and welfare, social justice can never be
attained”
Hellen Keller