Copar
Copar
Copar
A social development approach that aims to transform the apathetic, individualistic and voiceless poor
into dynamic, participatory and politically responsive community.
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).
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 (CO: A
manual of experience, PCPD).
Process
The sequence of steps whereby members of a community come together to critically assess to evaluate
community conditions and work together to improve those conditions.
Structure
Refers to a particular group of community members that work together for a common health and health
related goals.
Emphasis
Consciousness raising involves perceiving health and medical care within the total structure of society.
Importance
COPAR is an important tool for community development and people empowerment as this helps the
community workers to generate community participation in development activities.
COPAR maximizes community participation and involvement; community resources are mobilized for
community services.
Principles
People especially the most oppressed, exploited and deprived sectors are open to change, have the
capacity to change and are able to bring about change.
COPAR should be based on the interest of the poorest sector of the community.
Critical Steps
Integration
Social Investigation
Groundwork
Meeting
Role Play
Mobilization or action
Evaluation
Reflection
Organization
Phases of COPAR
COPAR has four phases namely: Pre-Entry Phase, Entry Phase, Organization-building phase, and
sustenance and strengthening phase.
1. Pre-Entry Phase
Is the initial phase of the organizing process where the community organizer looks for communities to
serve and help. Activities include:
Site Selection
2. Entry Phase
Sometimes called the social preparation phase. Is crucial in determining which strategies for organizing
would suit the chosen community. Success of the activities depend on how much the community
organizers has integrated with the community.
Recognize the role of local authorities by paying them visits to inform their presence and activities.
Her appearance, speech, behavior and lifestyle should be in keeping with those of the community
residents without disregard of their being role model.
Avoid raising the consciousness of the community residents; adopt a low-key profile.
Integration. Establishing rapport with the people in continuing effort to imbibe community life.
Living with the community
3. Organization-building Phase
Entails the formation of more formal structure and the inclusion of more formal procedure of planning,
implementing, and evaluating community-wise activities. It is at this phase where the organized leaders
or groups are being given training (formal, informal, OJT) to develop their style in managing their own
concerns/programs.
Key Activities
Election of officers
Planning Committee
Others
Occurs when the community organization has already been established and the community members
are already actively participating in community-wide undertakings. At this point, the different
committees setup in the organization-building phase are already expected to be functioning by way of
planning, implementing and evaluating their own programs, with the overall guidance from the
community-wide organization.
Key Activities
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Matt Vera, a registered nurse since 2009, leverages his experiences as a former student struggling with
complex nursing topics to help aspiring nurses as a full-time writer and editor for Nurseslabs, simplifying
the learning process, breaking down complicated subjects, and finding innovative ways to assist
students in reaching their full potential as future healthcare providers.
Reuben Mallinson
I would appreciate if you could check it out quickly and tell me what you think.
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RED
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For more information about the CO-PAR Process, please consider opening this link:
https://www.slideshare.net/rommelsuperstar/copar-process
I would be very much willing for further discussion with you. Thank you and may God bless you a
hundredfold.
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