3. COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY is a social organization that is
characterized by a set of patterned human
interactions based on shared expectations,
values, beliefs, and meanings between and
among its members.
4. TYPES OF COMMUNITIES
URBAN – cities or big towns where there is a large,
high-dense, and heterogenous population. Not much
open space for vegetation, but space is maximized to
build public and private infrastructure
RURAL – small, low-density, and homogenous
population. There are lots of open spaces for vegetation
and natural environment. Mostly dedicated to
agriculture or fisheries.
SUBURBAN – residential or mix used areas located at
the outskirts or within the commuting distance of a city.
RURBAN – has both urban and rural characteristics.
Happens when people from different urban slum
communities are relocated in housing settlements found
in the outskirts of rural areas
5. SUBSYSTEMS OF THE COMMUNITY
HOUSING- includes the type and characteristic of
housing facilities in the community; availability of housing
facilities; presence of housing laws/ regulations
governing the people
EDUCATION- includes laws, regulations, facilities,
activities affecting education; ratio of health educators to
learners, distribution of educational facilities in the
community including a look into who utilizes these;
presence of informal educational facilities and activities
existing in the community
FIRE AND SAFETY -availability and accessibility of fire
protection and safety services and facilities
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT -existing political
structure, decision-making process/ pattern, leadership
styles observed, etc.
6. SUBSYSTEMS OF THE COMMUNITY
HEALTH -facilities and services/ activities and
its availability and accessibility; ratio of
providers and clients availing of the service
COMMUNICATION -systems, types of forms
of communication existing and how these
influence community health
ECONOMICS – occupations, types of
economic activities engaged by the people
RECREATION – activities and facilities
including types of consumers, appropriateness
of recreational activities
7. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTrefers to the
collaboration between institutions of higher
education and their larger communities
(local, regional, national, global) for the
mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge
and resources in a context of partnership
and reciprocity (Driscoll 2008, p. 39)
8. SOCIAL ORIENTATION AND COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT (SOCI)
Vision
Our Lady of Fatima University envisions itself as among the
top higher education institutions that provides extension and
outreach activities to its adopted communities through
meaningful and sustainable development programs.
Mission
Social Orientation and Community Involvement at the Our
Lady of Fatima University provides an avenue for the
promotion of volunteerism among students, employees, and
other stakeholders through its programs that are sustainable,
empowering, gender-sensitive, and issue-related. These
focus on the areas of Health, Education/ Environment,
Livelihood, Psychosocial, and Safety/Security targeted at its
partner communities.
9. OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIAL ORIENTATION AND
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
The Social Orientation and Community
Involvement at Our Lady of Fatima
University aims to implement programs that:
Instill the spirit of volunteerism among students,
OLFU personnel, and other university
stakeholders;
Result in the formation or development of
socio-civic minded community leaders and
residents;
Improve the general well-being of OLFU’s
adopted community as a result of the
partnership with OLFU.
10. KEY AREAS OF THE HELPS PROGRAM
The community programs of Our Lady of Fatima University are
clustered into what is called the HELPS Program. The different
OLFU colleges/departments are grouped into clusters that are
related to their program offerings. The Colleges of Nursing,
Physical Therapy, Medical Laboratory Science, Dentistry, and
Pharmacy comprise the Health cluster. The programs in the
Education cluster are led by the Colleges of Computer Studies
and Education. The Livelihood cluster is led by the colleges of
Business and Accountancy, Hospitality and Institutional
Management, and Maritime Studies. The Psychosocial cluster
programs are led by the College of Arts and Sciences. The
Safety/Security cluster has the College of Maritime Education
and College of Criminal Justice. The Safety/Security cluster
was previously under the education cluster but was separated
to its own cluster to give emphasis to programs related to
issues on safety and security in the community such as
11. HELPS PROGRAM
HEALTH
The main objective of the Health cluster is to increase awareness
on prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation of identified health
issues in the community. Essential aspects of health are woven
into daily activities including: exercise, personal hygiene, food
preparation, water safety, sanitation, and treatment of minor
ailments and injuries.
EDUCATION
Education is universally recognized as one of the most
fundamental building blocks for human development and poverty
reduction. When given the opportunity to learn, people are
empowered to contribute fully to the development of their lives,
their communities, and their country. Education remains one of the
efficient means in reducing poverty, social inequality, and helps lay
the foundation for sustained economic growth.
12. HELPS PROGRAM
As a learning institution, the university facilitates societal
development primarily through instruction. The students
who will graduate from the university will eventually
become productive members of the society. However, it is
a reality that not everyone is able to undergo formal
education. It is also a known fact that school children from
poor families are mostly poor performers in school. SOCI
intervenes through non-formal supplemental teaching
programs. The main concern on education deals in
promoting children’s delight in talking, listening, reading,
and writing. Children who have reading difficulties in the
primary grades often have limited early literacy learning
experiences. Aside from these, SOCI also assists in
providing necessary skills such as computer literacy for
children.
13. HELPS PROGRAM
ENVIRONMENT
Environment degradation is a major global issue. Our
country belongs to the most vulnerable areas in terms of
adverse impacts of weather-related calamities. With that,
advocacies on environmental protection and climate
change adaptation must be put forward as part of the
programs of SOCI. We all live in one major ecosystem,
and what we do echoes in all other areas of our society.
SOCI conducts environmental activities such as seminars
on climate change, coastal cleanup activities, tree
planting, and other activities.
14. HELPS PROGRAM
LIVELIHOOD
The majority of households in the communities
adopted by the university have low family income.
SOCI implements livelihood projects to help
augment the income of these families. The
livelihood projects implemented are based on the
needs and existing skills of the community. The
community is part of the decision-making process
on appropriate livelihood projects that will be
implemented in the community.
15. HELPS PROGRAM
PSYCHOSOCIAL
The psycho-spiritual program of SOCI is focused on
values formation, leadership training, and improvement of
the spirituality of the community. This program is aimed at
the young member of the partner community. Believing
that the youth is the future of the nation, we must help
shape the minds of our youth by providing meaningful and
productive activities. SOCI aims to create leaders in the
community that will take over the university’s role in
organizing community development activities once the
community becomes independent.
16. HELPS PROGRAM
SAFETY AND SECURITY
The university conducts trainings and
seminars in the community that will help
make the society safe and secure. Projects
and activities in this area include: disaster
preparedness seminars, seminar on crime
prevention, and other activities.
