Authors: Argene A. Clasara and Arnaldo C. Relator
For organizations and groups involved in community development, youths are vital resources. Community organizations may help young people learn essential skills and prepare them to become more civically engaged adults by encouraging, enabling, and empowering young adults to be active and engaged community collaborators. In the past few years, little attention has been paid to youth involvement in community planning, decision-making, and actions; however, young people have become a growing part of development. In this module, we will be looking at community actions such as their overview, purpose, selected case of a community action initiative, and key values and principles of community action initiatives.
Most Esse
Content Standards
By the end of this module, learners are expected to demonstrate an understanding of:
- The integration of Social Science perspective and community action.
Performance Standards
By the end of this module, learners are expected to:
- Synthesize the integrative experience of implementing community action initiatives applying Social Science’s ideas and methods.
Most Essential Learning Competencies
- Recognize the value of undertaking community action modalities
- Explain the core values of community action initiatives
- Human rights
- Social equity
- Gender equality
- Participatory development

Lesson 1: Community Action
Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the student is expected to be able to:
- Differentiate community engagement, solidarity, and citizenship;
- Explain the purposes of community action; and
- Analyze selected cases of community action initiatives.
Key Concepts
- Citizenship – is a relationship between a person and a state to which the person swears his loyalty and in return is consequently entitled to the state’s protection.
- Community action – is the process of developing social bonds in the interest of common community goals and the enhancement of local life.
- Community engagement – aims to involve the members of the community in inclusive decision-making processes in order to create long-term and positive results and to strengthen connections and trust between the government organizations and the community.
- Community initiative – is an association of individuals and affiliated organizations dedicated to improving the well-being of a community and its welfare. It aims to address and mitigate the impact of social problems in order to improve the community’s quality of life.
- Solidarity – refers to the sense of oneness in a group or community in the understanding of shared interests, aims, standards, and sympathies.
Self-Evaluation Form (Part I)
Answer the following questions.
1. What do communities acting in concert can potentially do?
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2. What do you think are the purposes of community actions?
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Sub-lesson 1: Community Action: Overview
Both resident interaction and collective activity are necessary for the establishment of a community. According to Wilkinson (1991), community action is the process of fostering interpersonal connections in the service of shared community goals and the preservation of local culture. Because it includes intentional and constructive efforts created to address the general needs of all local citizens, community action is regarded as the process’s cornerstone. This procedure represents a variety of local interests and, as a result, offers a more thorough strategy for community development (Wilkinson, 1991). Because of this, the action process aims to benefit the whole society and to bridge any gaps (class, racial, or social), which frequently result from an emotional or social need (Phillimore & McCabe, 2015)
In order to produce sustainable results and equitable decision-making processes, community engagement aims to involve the community. It also aims to strengthen bonds and trust between communities and government agencies. Social capital, which is referred to as the structure of connections between people in a society that makes it work, is how community participation is put into practice. Solidarity and trust are the social capital’s cornerstones.
A psychological sense of oneness among groups or classes is created through solidarity, which is an awareness of shared interests, aims, standards, and sympathies. The foundations of group behavior and collaboration are peaceful, stable social ties, which are made possible through trust.
The idea of active citizenship entails trying to make one’s community better by being involved in efforts to make life better for all community members.
Sub-lesson 2: Purposes of Community Action
The lack of resources and income necessary to support a sustainable livelihood is just one component of poverty. The effects of poverty are starvation and malnutrition, restricted access to healthcare and other necessities, social isolation and prejudice, and a lack of involvement in decision-making. Poverty affects several social groupings more severely than others. Poor living conditions, homelessness, poor childcare, insufficient access to health care, dangerous neighborhoods, and underfunded schools are all associated with poverty and have a negative effect on the children of our country.
Participation in the community fosters empathy in young people, who may carry on the work when they grow up. Youth who give back to their communities also learn leadership skills, the value of assisting others, and gain employment.
Consider the following suggestions for encouraging youth participation:
- Give young adults a chance to participate and share their opinions.
- Allow youth and adults to work together actively; include them in committees with adults who can serve as mentors.
- Create connections with educators who educate students on local issues to boost youth involvement.
- By involving young people in the evaluation of existing and new policies, you can engage youth in policy activities.
- Encourage them to think about the things they enjoy doing and the areas where they might improve.
- Give young people the opportunity to tackle pressing social issues and participate in their communities.
- Regularly assess your efforts to engage young people in order to pinpoint your successes, build on your deficiencies, and encourage deeper engagement.
Sub-lesson 3: Selected cases of community action initiatives
Essentially, a community initiative is a network of people and partner organizations committed to enhancing the health and welfare of a community. It aims to address social issues and lessen their effects in order to raise people’s standards of living.
Examples of community initiatives are as follows:
CJFI’s Community Based Support Program (CBSP) is mainly for underprivileged and poor children in rural areas to help establish day care centers and support their needs during their early years of education and development.
In response to the financial and health effects of COVID-19, the Philippines Homeless People’s Federation (HPFPI) has taken action in 106 villages spread over 14 cities and towns around the Philippines, the federation has more than 9,000 members. They address issues concerning land, housing, income, infrastructure, health, and welfare, it brings together low-income community organizations with the support of the Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives, Inc. (PACSII).

List of Activities
Synchronous Activities
Activity 1: Social Capital and the Digital Age
Instructions. Write a two to three-paragraph essay that discusses how social capital and trust can be built in the digital age within digital communities. Consider the following guide questions.
Guide questions.
1. How is collective action possible in the digital age? What are the things that make collective action difficult nowadays?
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2. How will you build social capital and trust nowadays in the Philippine context? What would be the challenges that hinder in doing such endeavor? How will you overcome or transcend these challenges?
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Activity 2: Concept Mapping
Instructions. Identify the major issues affecting poor and marginalized communities. Use concept mapping and give a concrete example of each issue.
Guide Questions.
- What are the major issues affecting poor and marginalized communities?
- Choose one issue and propose possible solutions.
Asynchronous Activities
Activity 1: My Community Action Plan
Instructions. Make your own community action plan based on your own identified issues and problems in your own community
Note to Teacher:
- Ask the students to identify issues and concerns in their respective communities.
- Provide them with the action plan template.
- Complete the action plan.
Activity 2: My Non-Government Organization!
Instructions. As a community builder, propose your own non-government organization that will help your community to solve major issues and problems
Note to Teacher:
- Ask the student to make a proposal of forming a non-government organization
- Provide them with the proper format of the proposal.
- Make your NGO proposal comprehensive.
Self-Paced Learning (Optional Activities)
Activity 1: It is more fun in my Community
Instructions. Make a short video presentation about the community-based initiatives that are evident in your community.

Lesson 2: Core Values and Principles of Community-Action Initiatives
Lesson Objectives
At the end of the lesson, the student is expected to be able to:
- Explain the core values of community-action initiatives; and
- Analyze the principles of community-action initiatives.
Self-Evaluation Form (Part I)
Answer the following questions.
1. What do you already know about the core values and principles of community-action initiatives?
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2. How are you going to apply the core values in terms of human rights, social justice, empowerment and advocacy, participatory development, and gender equality?
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Sub-lesson 1: Human rights, Social justice, Empowerment and Advocacy, Participatory development and Gender equality
Human rights are inherent rights that no state has ever bestowed upon us; they simply exist because we are human. No matter our nationality, sex, origin, color, religion, language, or any other status, these universal rights are a part of who we are as people. The most fundamental of them is the right to life, while others include the rights to food, shelter, clothing, employment, health care, and liberty, among others.
The first legal declaration to outline the essential human rights that should be universally protected was the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948. All international human rights law continues to be centered on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Its 30 articles serve as the foundation for all upcoming and existing human rights conventions, treaties, and other legal documents.
Social justice – is a political and philosophical theory that revolves on the idea of fairness in interpersonal interactions and equitable access to resources, opportunities, and social privileges in a society.
Since there were significant financial and social class gaps that were being maintained by the social structure of the time, the idea of social justice first came into being in the 19th century.
Access to resources, equity, participation, diversity, and human rights are the five components of social justice.
Social democratic techniques like empowerment and advocacy help people get over obstacles and advance their work with a focus on social justice. They make it possible for social workers to assist with giving people life-changing opportunities and skills.
Gender equality is when all genders enjoy equal opportunities, rights, and responsibilities, this is known as gender equality. Gender inequality affects everyone, including men, women, transgender and gender-diverse individuals, children, and families. It affects people of various ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Gender equality is desperately required.
Participatory development places a strong emphasis on improving society’s level of cooperation as a first step toward the attainment of self-sufficiency, sustainable development, and social justice. It is a crucial strategy for promoting people-oriented development.

List of Activities
Synchronous Activities
Activity 1: My Core Values! My Principles
Instructions: supply the needed information to complete the chart below
Core Values/Principles |
Concrete Examples |
Asynchronous Activities
Activity 1: My Community Action Plan
Instructions. Make your own community action plan based on your own identified issues and problems in your own community
Note to teacher:
- Ask the students to identify issues and concerns in their respective communities.
- Provide them with the action plan template.
- Complete the action plan.
Self-Paced Learning (Optional Activities)
Activity 1: It is more fun in my Community
Instructions. Make a short video presentation about the community-based initiatives that are evident in your community.
Rubric for Discussions
Excellent | Above Average | Developing | Needs Improvement | |
Content:
The central theme/idea/argument of the student’s output is focused and supported by evidence which indicates mastery of the content. |
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Organization:
The flow of the discussion of the central theme/idea/theme is coherent. |
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Presentation:
The form and presentation of the central theme/idea is clear, persuasive, polite, and easy to understand. |
Learning Material
CNN Philippines (2020, March 10). The Story of the Filipino: Empowering the youth [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZX-Q3nxfyQ0&t=1s
COPA National (2017, November 16). What does Youth Empowerment mean to you? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxodaidzrCA
SALTO European Solidarity Corps (2020, May 7). Europe talks Solidarity: 4 main concepts connected with Solidarity and 7 supporting ones [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dORisRRkesA
References
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Community Initiative Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc. (n.d.). Definitions.uslegal.com. https://definitions.uslegal.com/c/community-initiative/
Community-led COVID-19 response: the work of the Philippines Homeless People’s Federation. (2020, June 9). International Institute for Environment and Development. https://www.iied.org/community-led-covid-19-response-work-philippines-homeless-peoples-federation
Corporate Finance Institute Team (2022, May 8). Social Justice – Overview, History and Evolution, Five Principles. Retrieved from https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/social-justice/
DepEd Educational Technology Unit (ECT) (2022, March 10). SHS Community Engagement, Solidarity and Citizenship – Thursday Q3 Week 4 #ETUlayLevelUp [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDphOWe92g4&t=1665s
DepEd Educational Technology Unit (ECT) (2022, April 21). SHS Community Engagement, Solidarity and Citizenship – Thursday Q4 Week 1 #ETUlayLevelUp [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoSTGfPWzpg
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(n.d.). Goal 1. No Poverty [Review of Goal 1. No Poverty]. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. https://www.iges.or.jp/en/sdgs/1-no-poverty-1#:~:text=Poverty%20is%20more%20than%20the,of%20participation%20in%20decision%2Dmaking
Office of the High Commissioner – Commission on Human Rights (n.d.). Statement of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on cooperation and assistance to Ukraine in the field of human rights | OHCHR. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23856&LangID=E
Office of the High Commissioner – Commission on Human Rights (n.d.). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Retrieved from https://www.standup4humanrights.org/en/declaration.html
Office of the High Commissioner – Commission on Human Rights (n.d.). What are human rights? Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights
OHCHR | What are human rights? (n.d.). OHCHR. https://www.ohchr.org/en/what-are-human-rights#:~:text=The%20Universal%20Declaration%20of%20Human%20Rights%20(UDHR)%2C%20adopted%20by
Pairman, E. (2023). What is Community Engagement? Granicus. https://granicus.com/blog/what-is-community-engagement/
Social Justice. (n.d.). Corporate Finance Institute. Retrieved July 24, 2023, from https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/esg/social-justice/#:~:text=Summary
State Government of Victoria. (2021, March 30). Gender equality: What is it and why do we need it? Vic.gov.au. https://www.vic.gov.au/gender-equality-what-it-and-why-do-we-need-it
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (2023, July 5). Citizenship | Definition, History, & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/citizenship
United Nations. (n.d.). Human Rights. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/human-rights
Urban Poor Fund International (n.d.). UPFI partner | Philippine Action for Community-led Shelter Initiatives (PACSII) & Homeless People’s Federation of the Philippines Inc. (HPFPI). Retrieved from http://www.upfi.info/partners/implementing/philippine-action-community-led-shelter-initiatives-pacsii-homeless-peoples-federation-philippines-inc-hpfpi/
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