Module 05: Principles of Community Organizing

Question 1

What are the principles of community organizing?

Answer 1

(A) Listening
(B) Relationship Building
(C) Challenge
(D) Action
(E) Evaluation
(F) Reflection
(G) Celebration

Question 2

This social development approach aims to transform a community into dynamic, participatory, and politically responsive community.

Answer 2

COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

Question 3

What is the definition of COPAR according to the 1994 National Rural Conference?

Answer 3

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 effecting change.

Question 4

How did Ross (1967) define COPAR?

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

How is COPAR described in “CO: A Manual of Experience, PCPD”?

Answer 5

A continuous and sustained process of educating the people to understand and develop their critical awareness of their existing condition, working with the people collectively and efficiently on their immediate and long-term problems, and mobilizing the people to develop their capability and readiness to respond and take action on their immediate needs towards solving their long-term problems.

Question 6

Why is COPAR important?

Answer 6

(A) .COPAR is an important tool for community development and people empowerment as this helps the community workers to generate community participation in development activities.

(B) COPAR prepares people/clients to eventually take over the management of a development programs in the future.

(C) COPAR maximizes community participation and involvement; community resources are mobilized for community services.

Question 7

What are the principles of COPAR?

Answer 7

(A) People, especially the deprived sectors are open to change, have the capacity to change and are able to bring about change.

(B) COPAR should be based on the interest of the poorest sectors of society

(C) COPAR should lead to a self-reliant community and society.

Question 8

What type of cycle does the COPAR process follow?

Answer 8

A progressive cycle of action-reflection-action, starting with small, local, and concrete issues identified by the people, followed by evaluating and reflecting on the actions taken.

Question 9

Why is consciousness through experiential learning central to the COPAR process?

Answer 9

It emphasizes learning that emerges from concrete action, which in turn enriches succeeding actions.

Question 10

Why is COPAR described as participatory and mass-based?

Answer 10

It is primarily directed towards and in favor of depressed communities, ensuring their involvement and benefit.

Question 11

How are leaders identified in the COPAR process?

Answer 11

Leaders are group-centered and emerge or are tested through action, rather than being appointed or selected by external forces.

Question 12

It is the initial phase of the organizing process where the community/organizer identifies communities to serve or help.

Answer 12

PRE-ENTRY PHASE

Question 13

Why is the Pre-entry Phase considered the simplest phase of COPAR?

Answer 13

It involves fewer activities, outputs, and strategies, and requires less time compared to other phases.

Question 14

What are the key activities in the Pre-entry Phase?

Answer 14

(A) Designing a plan for community development, including all activities and strategies.
(B) Creating criteria for selecting a site.
(C) Selecting the actual site for community care.

Question 15

What does the Entry Phase signal in the COPAR process?

Answer 15

It marks the actual entry of the community worker or organizer into the community.

Question 15

What are the key guidelines for community workers during the Entry Phase?

Answer 15

(A) Recognize local authorities: Pay visits to inform them of the worker’s presence and activities.
(B) Adapt appearance, speech, behavior, and lifestyle: Match those of the community residents while maintaining the role model standard.

Question 15

It is sometimes called the social preparation phase because it involves sensitizing people to critical events, encouraging them to share their dreams and ideas, and mobilizing them for collective action.

Answer 15

ENTRY PHASE

Question 16

It involves forming formal structures and adopting formal procedures for planning, implementing, and evaluating community-wide activities.

Answer 16

ORGANIZATION BUILDING PHASE

Question 17

What is the role of training during the Organization Building Phase?

Answer 17

Organized leaders or groups are provided with training (formal, informal, or on-the-job) to develop their skills in managing their own concerns and programs.

Question 18

What is the primary outcome of the Organization Building Phase?

Answer 18

The community becomes equipped with leaders and structures capable of independently addressing and managing community issues.

Question 19

What marks the start of the Sustenance and Strengthening Phase in COPAR?

Answer 19

Groups formed during the Organization Building Phase are expected to plan, implement, and evaluate their own programs with guidance from the community-wide organization.

Question 20

What strategies are used in the Sustenance and Strengthening Phase?

Answer 20

(A) Education and training
(B) Networking and linkaging
(C) COnducting mobilization on health and development concerns
(D) Implementing livelihood projects
(E) Developing secondary leaders